Accord EX or Civic EX?

My wife's T&C is old and troublesome and it eats a lot of gas--average 14 to
15mpg.
Time to change to a more economical car under the condition to make her half
way happy.

We drove Civic hybrid and she hates it, slow start, heavy wheel and brake.
Now we are back to traditional car, she still prefer that feel better.
Another Accord EX-V6 we have only gets 17 to 19mpg from her commute between
N.VA to DC on slow speed (less than 40mph mostly) with a little hilly local
roads all the way.

I am wondering what is the real world gas mileage between Accord V4 vs.
Civic in her situation? Pure local, no highway. Which one is better in
handling stop and go traffic? I know the EPA is 24 vs. 30 city (Accord vs.
Civic), realistically, I am guessing one maybe better than the other in this
condition.

 

First of all there is no Accord V4, only a V6 and an I4 (Inline 4).
Comparing EX automatic trim (similar but not the same content) on both 4
cylinder models, the Civic is rated 30/40 and the Accord is rated 26/34.
Roughly $20k for the Civic and $23k for the Accord.

Both have hybrid variations, but the Accord is a V6 that switches off 3
cylinders, mostly when cruising on the highway. Both are at EX trim levels,
complete with sunroofs. The Accord has a conventional 5 speed automatic
while the Civic as a CVT. The Accord is a veritable rocket, having more
horsepower than the standard V6 Accord, 255 hp. The Civic Hybrid is rated
at 49/51 while the Accord Hybrid is rated at 29/37. Civic is approximate
$22.5k and the Accord is about $9k higher. You pay your $2-9k and takes
your choice.