Honda Accord Model Review
The Honda Accord is a top-selling family sedan known for its high quality, reliability and safety ratings. The current Accord was redesigned for the 2018 model year, with recent models costing between $17,795 to $27,792.
Honda Accord Pros
- Excellent quality, reliability and value
- Sublime blend of ride comfort and driver engagement
- Consistently high safety ratings
Honda Accord Cons
- Ride quality may be too firm for some
- Wind and road noise higher than some competitors
- Volume buttons instead of a knob (depending on year)
Is the Honda Accord a Good Car?
The Honda Accord is among the best midsize family sedans you can buy. This is reflected in the Accord’s reduced ownership costs and high resale value. It’s been a consistent leader in design, quality, fuel efficiency and safety, and it boasts a near-perfect balance between comfortable ride quality and engaging driving dynamics.
Which Honda Accord is Right for Me?
The Honda Accord is available in a variety of trims, ranging from the base LX model to the sporty (and appropriately named) Sport model, to the premium EX and Touring versions. There’s also an Accord Hybrid for shoppers seeking maximum fuel efficiency. Even the base Accord LX comes well equipped, while the top-of-the-line EX-L and Touring models include luxury amenities like leather seating, a sunroof, heated seats, and an upgraded audio system. Shoppers looking for a balance of value and features should consider the Sport or EX trims.
Does the Honda Accord have AWD?
The Honda Accord has never offered all-wheel drive. The Accord offers standard traction and stability control, making it fairly capable and confident on slippery surfaces, but not ideal for deep snow or off-pavement driving.
How Much Horsepower Does the Honda Accord Have?
The current Honda Accord offers either 192 horsepower from its 1.5-liter turbocharged engine or 252 horsepower from its 2.0-liter, turbocharged engine, both of them four-cylinders. Past Honda Accords have featured four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines with horsepower ratings ranging from 177 horsepower to 278 horsepower.
What Year Honda Accord is Best?
The Honda Accord has been a consistently safe, reliable and fuel-efficient midsize family sedan for decades, with no specific year offering a substantial advantage over other years. However, standard safety technology and driver-assist tech like radar cruise control, lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking appeared on the Accord during the 2018 redesign. Fans of the V6 engine will want to consider the 2013-2017 Honda Accord, as the V6 was dropped in 2018.
When Will the Honda Accord Be Redesigned?
Honda Accords are typically redesigned every 5 model years, which means the next Honda Accord redesign is due for the 2023 model year.
How Much can a Honda Accord Tow?
Honda Accords are not primarily meant to tow things, but if a proper tow hitch is attached to an Accord it might be able to tow between 500 and 1,000 pounds, depending on the year and engine power. Always check your owner’s manual or with your local dealer to determine an Accord’s tow capacity.
Current Honda Accord – 2018-Present:
The full redesign of the 2018 Honda Accord included an all-new body with a sleeker roofline and more aggressive front-end styling. The Accord coupe was dropped as part of this redesign, as was the V6 engine.
Two turbocharged four-cylinder engines, a base 1.5-liter offering 192 horsepower and an available 2.0-liter with 252 horsepower, provide motivation. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is paired with the 1.5-liter engine, helping it achieve 33 mpg, while a traditional 10-speed automatic is connected to the 2.0-liter and delivers 27 mpg. For enthusiast drivers, Honda offered a six-speed manual transmission in the Accord with either engine, a rare option in modern family sedans and (sadly) one that was dropped for the 2021 model year. An Accord Hybrid, providing 212 horsepower and 48 mpg, widens the Accord’s appeal to eco-conscious shoppers looking to cut their fuel bill.
Trim levels start at the base Accord LX, with LED headlights and taillights, 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, push-button start and the aforementioned 1.5-liter engine. Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and lane departure warning with intervention. The Accord Sport adds a power driver’s seat, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and an upgraded audio system. The Accord EX provides heated exterior mirrors, a sunroof, heated front seats and keyless entry, while the EX-L adds driver-seat memory settings, a power passenger seat, leather upholstery and a 10-speaker audio system. Finally, the top-of-the-line Accord Touring adds a head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, front and rear parking sensors, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charging and adjustable multiple driving modes leveraging advanced suspension dampers. The Honda Accord Hybrid combines a 2.0-liter, Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to deliver 47 mpg. The Accord hybrid was offered in base, EX, EX-L and Touring trims. Shop for the 2018-current Honda Accord
2018-Current Honda Accord Trim Levels:
- Accord LX (Base): LED headlights, taillights, 17-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, keyless (push-button) start, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with emergency braking, lane departure warning with intervention, 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission, 192 hp, 33 mpg
- Accord Sport: adds fog lights, rear spoiler, 19-inch wheels, power driver’s seat, 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, upgraded audio system (larger 2.0-liter engine with 10-speed automatic, 252 horsepower and 27 mpg, is optional on Sport and above trims)
- Accord EX: adds a sunroof, heated exterior mirrors, heated front seats, keyless entry
- Accord EX-L: adds driver-seat memory settings, a power front passenger seat, leather upholstery, 10-speaker audio system
- Accord Touring: adds a head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, front and rear parking sensors, advanced suspension dampers with multiple driving modes, wireless phone charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, navigation, voice recognition
- Accord Hybrid: available in base, EX, EX-L and Touring trim
Running Changes to the 2018-Current Honda Accord
- 2018: Full redesign with sleeker exterior styling and a larger trunk, two turbo four-cylinder engines, 10-speed automatic debuts, more advanced safety and driver-assist technology, V6 engine dropped, coupe dropped
- 2019: 2.0-liter engine becomes standard in Tour trim
- 2020: No changes
- 2021: Small exterior styling updates, standard 8-inch display on all trims, standard Apple CarPlay/Android Auto with optional wireless connectivity, Sport SE trim introduced to replace dropped EX trim, manual transmission option removed
Honda Accord – 2013-2017:
A complete redesign of the 2013 Honda Accord included a slightly smaller body, but with a slightly more interior space. Offered in sedan and coupe form, the new Accord’s styling didn’t change much from the previous version.
The base 2.4-liter drivetrain received new direct-injection technology, which paired with the Accord’s first continuously variable transmission (CVT) to improve both performance and fuel efficiency. With 185 horsepower (189 in Sport models) this Accord offered strong acceleration, and a combined 30 mpg fuel rating (29 in Sport models) was a 10 percent jump over the previous Accord. A six-speed manual was also offered with this drivetrain, though combined mileage dropped to 28 mpg. The optional 3.5-liter V6 egnine, producing 278 horsepower, was paired with either a six-speed automatic (available on EX and above sedans) or a six-speed manual (but only on the coupe). This was the last version of the Accord to offer a V6 and manual transmission combination. Fuel efficiency ratings for the V6 dropped to 25 mpg with the automatic, or 22 mpg for the six-speed manual coupe. The Accord Hybrid used a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor to provide 196 horsepower and 47 mpg.
The Honda Accord’s familiar LX trim was the base model, with standard equipment that included 16-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, an auxiliary audio jack, a CD player, and iPod integration through a USB port. The LX-S trim (offered only on the coupe) mirrored these standard features. A Sport trim bumped horsepower to 189 and added 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler and a power driver’s seat, along with paddle shifters when equipped with an automatic. The EX trim gave the Accord 17-inch wheels, a sunroof, heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, a six-speaker audio system and LaneWatch technology, including an exterior video camera that displayed the car’s blind spot in the gauge cluster. The EX-L trim added leather seats, along with a power passenger seat, a 7-speaker premium audio system, Hondalink with smartphone integration and safety technology in the form of forward-collision and lane departure warnings. EX-L with Navi added a navigation system while the top-line Accord Touring added LED headlights and adaptive cruise control. Shop for the 2013-2017 Honda Accord
2013-2017 Honda Accord Trim Levels:
- Accord LX (Base): 16-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth phone connectivity, auxiliary audio jack, CD player, USB port with iPod integration, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission (CVT), 185 horsepower, 30 mpg
- Accord LX-S: same features at LX in coupe form only
- Accord Sport: adds 18-inch wheels, rear spoiler, power driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, paddle shifters for automatic cars, 189 hp, 29 mpg
- Accord Sport SE: introduced in 2017 with heated front seats, leather upholstery and unique badging
- Accord EX: adds 17-inch wheels, sunroof, heated mirrors, keyless start, keyless entry, 6-speaker audio system, LaneWatch
- Accord EX-L: adds leather seats, driver’s seat memory, power passenger seat, 7-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HondaLink connectivity with smartphone integration, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning
- Accord EX-L with Navi: adds a navigation system with voice recognition
- Accord Touring: adds LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, 3.5-liter V6 with 278 hp and 25 mpg
- Accord Hybrid: available in base, EX, EX-L and Touring trim, 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motor, 196 hp and 47 mpg
- Accord Plug-in Hybrid: same equipment as Touring trim, 47 mpg, 13-mile range on 6.7-kWh battery
Running Changes to the 2013-2017 Honda Accord
- 2013: Full redesign with a slightly smaller exterior size, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines, continuously variable transmission introduced on four-cylinder models, standard Bluetooth and USB port, optional HondaLink connectivity
- 2014: Accord hybrid and plug-in hybrid models introduced, Accord LX seat fabric upgraded
- 2015: HomeLink now standard on EX-L and EX-L Navigation trims, Honda LaneWatch becomes standard on EX coupe four-cylinder, auto-dimming rearview mirror now standard on Accord EX-L and above coupes
- 2016: Updated exterior styling, new wheel designs, LED foglights on Sport and above, revised suspension tuning, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto introduced, Honda Sensing offered on all trims
- 2017: Sport SE trim introduced
Honda Accord 2008-2012:
The 2008 Honda Accord redesign resulted in the largest Accord ever, officially putting it (just barely) in the “large car” category according to EPA specifications. This Accord was offered in coupe and sedan body styles with four- and six-cylinder engines.
Two versions of the Accord’s 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, plus a larger 3.5-liter V6, gave buyers plenty of powertrain choices. The base four-cylinder produced 177 horsepower and delivered 21 city and 31 highway mpg. The upgraded 2.4-liter, offered on EX sedans and all coupes, delivered 190 horsepower and same (21/31) fuel economy. Those fuel efficiency numbers reflect the Accord’s five-speed automatic, but a five-speed manual transmission was offered with either four-cylinder engine. The V6 engine provided 268 horsepower and delivered 19 city or 29 highway mpg when paired with the five-speed auto. A six-speed manual transmission was available with the V6 engine, delivering 17 city and 25 highway mpg, but only in coupe form.
The base Honda Accord LX sedan included 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry and a six-speaker audio system with auxiliary input and a single CD player. The Accord LX-P sedan featured aluminum 16-inch wheels, a power driver’s seat and auto up/down front windows. The LX-S, as the base coupe trim, added a 6-disc CD changer but doesn’t include a power driver’s seat or auto up/down passenger window. The Honda Accord EX sedan and coupe featured a sunroof and 17-inch wheels, with the coupe also gaining a more powerful audio system with a subwoofer and the sedan getting the 6-disc CD player. The EX-L trim included automatic headlights, leather heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and satellite radio on both the coupe and sedan. A navigation system with voice control and Bluetooth connectivity was available as an option on EX-L models. Shop for the 2008-2012 Honda Accord
2008-2012 Honda Accord Trim Levels:
- Accord LX (Base): 16-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, 6-speaker audio system with CD player and auxiliary input, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 hp and 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
- Accord LX-P: 16-inch steel wheels, power driver’s seat, auto up/down front windows
- Accord LX-S: same features as LX but in coupe form, with 6-disc CD changer and no power driver’s seat or auto up/down windows
- Accord EX: adds 17-inch wheels, sunroof, and coupe gets upgraded audio system with subwoofer, standard 2.4-liter engine upgraded to 190 hp, optional 3.5-liter V6 produced 268 horsepower with 19 city mpg, 29 highway mpg
- Accord EX-L: adds automatic headlights, leather heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio
Running Changes to the 2008-2012 Honda Accord
- 2008: Full redesign with a larger body, sleeker styling, roomier interior, more powerful and fuel-efficient engines
- 2009: Revised V6 horsepower ratings
- 2010: Rear-seat ventilation ducts on EX and EX-L, standard Bluetooth for all EX-Ls
- 2011: Revised styling and engine/transmission tuning results in improved fuel efficiency, new features include optional USB port for iPod connectivity, rearview camera, shift paddles and driver’s seat memory
- 2012: USB connectivity standard on all trims
Honda Accord versus the Competition
Honda Accord versus Honda Civic
While the Honda Accord and Honda Civic are both cars from the same manufacturer, they occupy different slots in Honda’s lineup. The Honda Accord is a midsize family sedan with plenty of room for four or five adults, a comfortable ride quality and a large trunk. The Honda Civic is a compact sedan with adequate space for four adults, more engaging driving dynamics and less noise insulation.
Honda Accord versus Toyota Camry
The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are both high-quality, highly refined family sedans with excellent safety equipment and high fuel efficiency. The Camry edges the Accord on pure refinement, ride quality, and resale value, while the Accord wins on driving dynamics, interior design and exterior styling.
Honda Accord versus Mazda 6
If there’s a midsize sedan that consistently outguns even the Accord’s excellent driving dynamics, it’s the Mazda 6. The Mazda 6 also features consistently attractive exterior styling and intuitive interior controls, along with fuel efficiency on par or better than the Accord. But resale value and refinement aren’t quite at Honda’s levels.
Honda Accord versus Acura TL
The Honda Accord and Acura TL are both four-door sedans engineered and sold by American Honda. The Honda Accord is a midsize family sedan while the Acura TL is a sporty luxury sedan. Both offer roomy interiors and a refined ride, but the Acura TL has more luxurious interior materials and can be ordered with all-wheel drive. The Honda Accord is priced lower than the Acura TL, both as a new or used car when comparing similar years, miles and condition.
Honda Accord versus Nissan Altima
The Nissan Altima matches the Accord on horsepower and interior space, while arguably outclassing it on style. But it’s drivetrain is not as refined as the Accord, interior materials have often lagged behind the Honda, and the Altima’s quality/reliability, while strong, isn’t up to the Accord’s level.
Honda Accord versus Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai’s Sonata has long offered excellent value, and over the last decade it’s been able to meet, or arguably beat, the Accord on styling, too. Hyundai quality and reliability has also been on the rise, as have interior material quality and safety tech, putting these two much closer in overall desirability in recent years.
Honda Accord versus Kia Optima/K5
The Kia Optima holds up well against the Accord, with exterior styling, interior design and material quality, and value-for-the-money on par (or better?) than Honda’s family sedan. The Optima doesn’t quite match the Accord in terms of drivetrain refinement, but Honda’s advantage here is minimal.
Honda Accord versus Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu has improved dramatically in recent years. And while recent models have displayed quality, refinement and fuel efficiency on par with segment benchmarks, like the Accord, the Malibu’s longstanding reputation of struggling in these areas always hurt its resale value, giving the Accord the advantage in ownership costs.
Honda Accord versus Ford Fusion
The Ford Fusion’s exterior styling and driving dynamics are where it holds its own against the Honda Accord. In the areas of refinement, quality and longevity the Fusion can’t live up to the Accord’s high standards, as reflected in the Fusion’s much lower resale value compared to the Honda.
