Honda has always been known for producing some of the most reliable and efficient vehicles at an affordable price and the current Accord is no exception. The 2021 Honda Accord is filled with all of the amenities that you would need, especially in its top-trim Touring form. But can the Accord add “luxurious” to its list of attributes?

I think so. Considering I’ve driven luxury cars like the Lexus ES and IS recently, I would say that the Accord Touring that I’m currently driving is on par. Here is why I think that the Honda Accord Touring is just as luxurious as a Lexus.

The Honda Accord Touring is a very well-equipped sedan

The 2021 Honda Accord comes in five different trim levels: LX, Sport, Sport Special Edition, EX-L, and Touring. At around $24,000 base trim does have a lot to offer, including an 8-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Carplay compatibility, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features. But if you want to really wring out the comfort that the Accord has to offer, then you’ll need to get the Touring trim level.

My Accord Touring test came standard with just about every feature that Honda has to offer. This includes features like a full-leather interior, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone auto climate control, and a premium sound system with 10 speakers. There’s even a head-up display, remote engine start, and a host of safety features like a rear cross-traffic monitor and parking sensors.

The Accord is spacious too

There’s no denying that the Honda Accord has grown over the years. For the 2021 model year, the Accord is now 192.2 inches long and 73.3 inches wide. By comparison, the 2021 Lexus ES – the brand’s mid-size sedan – measures the same width, but is around three inches longer.

The interesting part is that the Accord is actually more spacious than the Lexus, despite its slightly shorter length. There is more shoulder and hip room in the front and rear seats in the Accord, by two to three inches in some specs. So any of the five occupants sitting in an Accord will be a little more comfortable than in the Lexus ES. As we all know, comfort is one of the main attributes of a true luxury car.

The Accord is missing a couple of luxurious features

In my time spent with the Accord Touring thus far, I’m pleased with just how quiet the cabin is at any speed. I have detected a fair amount of road noise at highway speeds, however, that can also be attributed to the car’s large 19-inch wheels. Otherwise, I would say that it definitely falls into the category of “budget-minded luxury.”

However, it is missing a couple of features that you can find on most luxury cars today. The two main features that I feel it’s lacking are a 360-degree view camera and a more premium sound system. Of course, these are pretty trivial in comparison to what the rest of the car has to offer, but Honda would have kicked the Accord up a notch by adding these two features.

Is the Accord as luxurious as a Lexus?

Almost! When it comes to being a luxury car, the 2021 Honda Accord checks almost all of the boxes. It has a quiet and comfortable ride, a spacious cabin, and all of the amenities that you would look for in a luxury car. But, in my own opinion, a Lexus – like the ES – still has the Accord beat in terms of overall plushness and panache. Then again, there’s a reason that the Honda According Touring costs $37,000, and the Lexus ES costs around $10,000 more.