Few cars on sale today blend comfort, convenience and playfulness quite like the Honda Accord. Now in its eighth generation, this family sedan has been winning hearts and minds here in America for more than 40 years, with millions upon millions gracing the roads over that time. Still, good as the Accord is, even loyal owners might reach a point where they start wondering what else is out there. Maybe they want more space, more power, more refinement; maybe they just want to try something new. We’re not here to judge, just to help you explore your options.
So if you’ve got an Accord parked in your driveway now but are thinking about taking a step up the automotive ladder, take heart: we’ve pulled together three cars that would make a great upgrade for about $10,000-$15,000 more than the $23,870–$36,100 that the Accord sells for.
If You Like How Roomy the Accord Is, Try the Toyota Avalon
Base Price: $35,800
Not long ago, the idea of recommending the Avalon to anyone under the age of 70 would have been absurd. When Toyota revealed the fifth generation version in 2018, however, it changed the game. The switch to the company’s new TNGA platform and Akio Toyoda’s maxim of “No more boring cars!” helped create an Avalon that was as capacious and comfortable as ever, but with an added dose of playfulness. (There’s even a TRD version now, for God’s sake.)
The styling may be a matter of taste — we’re fans of it, at least in person — but there’s no arguing with its comfortable ride, peppy 301-hp V6 and Lexus-grade interior, especially in higher trims.
