Gone are the days of the V6 engine that was synonymous with the Accord. 2018 Honda Accord comes standard with an Intercooled Turbo Inline-4 1.5 L that generates a power of 192hp with an FWD drivetrain. A 252 HP generating turbo four engine is also available for an extra $ 2,000 – $ 4,530 in the higher trims.
The looks are refreshing, the cabin is spacious, and the features just keep on coming. Accord has always been an Ace of Spades for Honda, and now it has evolved into something even grander.
Out of the 5 trims that Honda has to offer, all feature FWD drivetrain. The standard transmission is a CVT that simulates 10 speed automatic, with a manual transmission available in the Sport trim.
The Touring is the most luxurious and fully equipped trim out of the 5, but it does come at a cost. If you are looking for save a few bucks, then look for the Sport or EX trim. Both bring a lot to the table, with Sport bringing in solid infotainment and connectivity features, and EX being loaded with additional driver assistance tech and comfort upgrades.
| Trims |
LX |
Sport |
EX |
EX-L |
Touring |
| MSRP |
$23,570 |
$25,780 |
$27,470 |
$29,970 |
$33,800 |
| Features |
- Honda Sensing
- Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Push Button Start
- Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
- LED Headlights (Low-Beam)
- 7-inch Color LCD Screen
- 17-inch Alloy Wheels
- Eco Assist System
- Auto High-Beam Headlights
- LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
- CVT with Sport Mode
|
- + All features on LX
- 12-Way Power Driver Seat
- 19-inch Alloy Wheels
- LED Fog Lights
- Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
- 8-inch Display Audio Touch-Screen
- 180-Watt Audio System with 8 Speakers
- Sport Pedals
- Rear Spoiler
- Chrome Exhaust Finishers
- Available Paddle Shifters
|
- + All features of LX
- One-Touch Power Moonroof
- Heated Front Seats
- 8-inch Display Audio Touch-Screen
- Blind Spot Information System*
- Cross Traffic Monitor
- 12-Way Power Driver Seat
- Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock
- Remote Engine Start
- 60/40 Split-Folding Rear Seats
- Heated Power Side Mirrors
|
- + All features of EX
- Leather-Trimmed Interior
- Driver Seat Memory
- Available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System
- 450-Watt Premium Audio System with 10 Speakers
- Power-Adjustable Front Passenger Seat
- HomeLink Universal Remote
- Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirror
|
- + All features of EX-L
- Head-Up Display
- Ventilated Front Seats
- Wireless Phone Charger
- Adaptive Damper System
- Near Field Communication (NFC)
- Mobile Hotspot Capability
- Full LED Headlights
- Interior Ambient Lighting
- Heated Rear Outboard Seats
- Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
- Body-Colored Parking Sensors (front/rear)
- Side Mirrors with Reverse Gear Tilt-Down
- HondaLink Subscription Services
|
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Also, if you pride yourself on being old school and prefer the gear control to be with the driver, then the Sport trim with manual transmission is the car for you.
"The base engine has plenty of power for daily driving, but the more powerful engine provides quicker acceleration and a more fun driving experience" -Cars.usnews.com
Engine and Transmission
Under the hood of 2018 Honda Accord lies a 192 HP turbo four engine. A 252 HP generating turbo four engine is also available for an extra $ 2,000 – $ 4,530 in the Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims. Both engines provide smooth acceleration with almost unnoticeable turbo lag. The base engine is ideal for everyday driving, and the 252HP turbo four is always an option for those who want a little extra fun in their ride.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| MSRP |
$23,570 |
$24,000 |
$22,050 |
| Engine |
Intercooled Turbo Regular Unleaded I-4 1.5 L/91 |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.5 L/152 |
Regular Unleaded I-4 2.4 L/144 |
| BHP |
192 @ 5500 |
203 @ 6600 |
185 @ 6000 |
| Torque |
192 @ 1600 |
184 @ 5000 |
178 @ 4000 |
Accord, Camry, and Sonata are the midsize sedans that are going to be the standard against which all 2018 sedans will be judged. All three a luxurious and powerful experience. Just like the Accord, the 2018 Camry is also fully redesigned and provide two engine options. Both engines have an edge over Accord’s. That been said, both cars go head to head in every aspect and choosing the right one would be a matter of individual preference.
The Hyundai Sonata has also emerged as a leading mid-size sedan that proves to be a tough competitor. Although Sonata goes head to head when it comes to luxurious interiors or tech features, the Accord blows it away when it comes to performance. Although Sonata is a bit cheaper, it lacks Accord’s agility and solidity.
Acceleration
The acceleration in the new Honda Accord is smooth and powerful. Both engine variants provide power and negligible turbo lag. Accord’s base model is quicker than that of Camry’s or Sonata’s. The stats only get better when you consider the more powerful engine option in Accord.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| 0 60 MPH |
7.6 seconds |
7.8 seconds |
8 seconds |
| Quarter Mile |
15.9 seconds |
15.9 seconds |
16.1 seconds |
Handling and Steering
Driving an Accord comes as a pleasant surprise for anyone who expects a bland driving experience that is associated with a mid-size sedan. Accord delivers a solid ride coupled with a luxurious comfort. The steering is sharp and the car holds a good grip on the road. A turning radius of 5.8 m makes it perfect to maneuver in tight spots.
Honda really paid attention to the feedback received by 2017’s Accord. It is easy to notice how much has changed since the last year. The response is much quicker, the steering is tighter and provides much more feedback than it used to. The nose-heavy understeer faced during pushing the car hard may be considered as the only fly in the ointment for an otherwise positive experience.
Braking
Accord’s basic trim comes with 11.5” ventilated disc brakes in the front and 11.1” in disc brakes in the rear. The brakes match Accord’s robust acceleration and do well to bring a car of Accord’s weight to a halt. The brake pedals feel nice and responsive to push. Accord surpasses many of its similar-sized competitors in this round, most of which tend to take a few extra feet to come to a complete halt.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| 70-0 MPH |
163 feet |
175 feet |
173 feet |
| Brakes – Front |
11.5” Ventilated discs |
12” |
12” |
| Brakes – Rear |
11.1” Ventilated discs |
11.1” |
11.2” |
"With the base engine and the automatic transmission, this Honda gets 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, which are better ratings than many competitors get" -cars.usnews.com
Accord does not compromise its fuel economy for the luxurious and comfortable drive that it provides. Most Accords will feature a new 1.5 liter turbocharged 4 cylinder engine with a CVT transmission. Honda’s CVT is noticeably better than other companies’ CVT. With a combined fuel economy of 33.6 and output of 192 hp, Accord is more desirable than most of its major competitors like Camry or Sonata.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| MPG (City) |
30 |
28 |
25 |
| MPG (Highway) |
38 |
39 |
36 |
| MPG (Combined) |
33.6 |
32.95 |
29.95 |
"The Accord’s interior is surprisingly spacious, and rear-seat passengers in particular will be happier in an Accord than in almost any other mid-size sedan" -caranddriver.com
Seating and Comfort
Accord is a true 5 seater, which means all the seats, even in the back, are roomy and comfortable for all sizes. The seats have a standard cloth upholstery, but there are options of a leather upholstery. The rear seats are expansive, with impressive legroom and shoulder room. The sloping roofline sometimes makes it hard for tall passengers to get in and out of the car, but otherwise, have a spacious and smooth ride.
| Honda Accord |
| Passenger Capacity |
5 |
| Passenger Volume (Ft.3) |
105.6 |
| Front Head Room (in) |
39.5 |
| Front Leg Room (in) |
42.3 |
| Front Shoulder Room (in) |
58.3 |
| Front Hip Room (in) |
55.3 |
| Second Head Room (in) |
37.3 |
| Second Leg Room (in) |
40.4 |
| Second Shoulder Room (in) |
56.5 |
| Second Hip Room (in) |
55.0 |
The Accord offers good space both on the Interiors and the Cargo aligning to Honda's principle of "Man Maximum Machine Minimum".
Interior Features
If looks were not impressive enough, Accord comes filled to the brim with both standard and available features. Some standard features of the car include dual-zone automatic climate control, push-button start, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a four-speaker audio system, a 7-inch display screen, and Siri Eyes Free. Buyers can also pay an extra buck for cool features like a moonroof, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, an eight- or 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and navigation.
Infotainment
While the touchscreen is the clear and obvious path for all interactive devices, it sure is a hassle for the driver to take his/her eyes off the road to control the infotainment system. Luckily, Honda was listening. The 7 inch display screen is fully touchscreen, but along with it come physical knobs to control settings like volume. An 8-inch display screen is also an option for buyers.
The touchscreen is user-friendly and touch is responsive. The two turning knobs and a total of 8 buttons give drivers full control of the system, without ever taking their eyes off the road.
Cargo
Accord offers 16.7 ft3 of available trunk space. The rear seats fold to further extend the storage for longer items. The seats, however, don’t stay completely flat. Another problem that you might face is storing larger items, due to the narrow opening of the trunk.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| Trunk Volume (Ft.3) |
16.7 |
15.1 |
16.3 |
"The new Accord's fastback profile and pronounced styling lines make it look more luxurious and European than the norm" -cars.usnews.com
Dimensions
The new design on Accord gives it a firm, strong look. Honda engineered the front of the car with strong character lines and beautifully integrated LED headlights and fog lights. The LED fog lights are a standard feature in Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim. The EX and EX-L trims are equipped with Active Grille Shutters and Air curtains to further improve the aerodynamics.
| Model |
Honda Accord |
Toyota Camry |
Hyundai Sonata |
| Curb Weight (lbs.) |
3131 |
3340 |
3250 |
| Length (in) |
192.2 |
192.1 |
191.1 |
| Width (in) |
73.3 |
72.4 |
73.4 |
| Height (in) |
57.1 |
56.9 |
58.1 |
| Wheelbase (in) |
111.4 |
111.2 |
110.4 |
| Track Width – F/R (in) |
63 / 63.4 |
62.6 / 62.8 |
63.5 / 63.8 |
The long and lean body of Accord will surely make heads turn with its fastback inspired design. Even from the back, the wide stance and the bold lines that run along the length of the car give an impression of constant motion.
To further add finesse to an already outstanding design, the LED taillights fit in perfectly with the strong features of Accord. And if that was not enough, the Sport, Touring, and 2.0T models come with a standard Chrome Exhaust Finishers at the dual-outlet exhaust bring out the sporty look of Accord.
2018 Honda Accord comes with many standard safety features. Accord has received an overall 5-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Accord also scores well on the safety test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
NHTSA Rating
|
Overall rating
|
5 star
|
|
Overall frontal barrier crash rating
|
5 star
|
|
Frontal barrier crash rating driver
|
5 star
|
|
Overall side crash rating
|
5 star
|
|
Side barrier rating
|
5 star
|
|
Side pole rating driver front seat
|
5 star
|
|
Combined side rating rear seat
|
5 star
|
|
Rollover rating
|
5 star
|
|
Side barrier rating driver
|
5 star
|
|
Frontal barrier crash rating passenger
|
5 star
|
|
Combined side rating front sea
|
5 star
|
|
Side barrier rating passenger rear sea
|
5 star
|
IIHS Ratings
|
Small overlap front driver side
|
Good
|
|
Small overlap front passenger side
|
Good
|
|
Moderate overlap front
|
Good
|
|
Side
|
Good
|
|
Roof strength
|
Good
|
|
Head restraints & seats
|
Good
|
|
Front Crash Protection & seats
|
Superior
|
|
Headlights
|
Acceptable
|
|
Child seats anchors (LATCH)
|
Good
|
Here is a list of safety features in the 2018 Accord:
- Lane Departure Warning
- Adjustable Pedals
- Rear Head Airbag
- Traction Control
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Auto Levelling Headlights
- Rear Tow Hooks
- Night Vision Camera
Honda Accord vs Toyota Camry
The Honda Accord has the Toyota beaten in the braking category as it has good overall braking performance than the Camry. However, the Toyota redeems itself when we talk about power output on paper. However, the Honda still has better 0-60 time and an identical quarter mile time.
Also, the Toyota offers better fuel economy than Honda and overall, the Toyota engine has an edge over the Honda. In the ride and handling department, both cars are equally matched and due to the updates received, both these cars have a good amount of standard features as well.
Honda Accord vs Hyundai Sonata
It's difficult to sign off the Hyundai just by saying that it's a Hyundai. The Sonata offers a lot of standard equipment and space which is on par with Honda. The Hyundai has good space at the back and in the cargo as well.
So if you plan to spend your most of the time on the back seat, the Sonata can be your pick. However, if you are to drive your car yourself and go on occasional drives, the Honda is a clear winner just because the drivability is far better on the Honda as comapred to the Hyundai.
Accord has always been in the top tier of mid-size sedans for years now, and the redesigned 2018 edition is definitely one of the best Accords yet. It is better in every aspect. Be it the remodeled exterior, the spacious interior, or the plethora of safety and entertainment features of the car, the 2018 Accord is sure to be a top pick for anyone looking for a midsize car that offers more and costs less.
