Karan HaritContent WriterUpdated on: November 25, 2019
Honda claims the Accord to be "The most impressive Honda ever" and to be honest, they are being modest. Honda's brilliance and ability to build a mid-size sedan backed it with power and efficiency, and wrapped in practicality is an unparalleled deal. Hence, Accord is Honda's masterpiece for a family commuter but at the same time has a panache of something greater.
With a starting price of $23,720, the 2020 Accord receives minor changes after its 2018 revamp. The base engine remains the same with 1.5L Inline-4 engine mated to a CVT transmission. The power station musters nearly 200 horsepower and the same amount of torque.
Vehicle images are guides only and may not reflect the model's exact specifications/features– exact specifications/features should be confirmed with the seller.
The mid-sized sedan market is like the Roman Colosseum. Big names compete for glory with their top sedans. Cars like Kia Optima, Ford Fusion, and Toyota Camry are all set to retain and expand their share of the market. Each challenges the Honda for a different aspect, from power to available creature comforts. However, the Accord goes in strong this year and it won't be easy to win over it.
2020 Honda Accord Sedan Front Three-Quarter View2020 Honda Accord Sedan Rear Three-Quarter View
8.0/10 Features
8.4/10 Engine and Performance
9.2/10 Fuel Economy
8.0/10 Interior
8.5/10 Exterior
9.0/10 Safety
8.5/10 Final Verdict
2020 Honda Accord Features
8.0/10
Starting at the base price of $23,720 and going all the way up to $34,990, the 2020 Honda Accord is offered in 5 variants. The LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring, there are a lot of powertrain options on the Accord. For starters, you have the 1.5L Inline-4 cylinder engine and then you have the 2.0L Inline-4 engine both turbocharged. Backing the engine is three transmissions classified for different trim levels. You have a CVT, a 6-speed stick shift, and a mental 10-speed automatic transmission. Now, these trims are priced closely and feature a distinct set of features and power output which we will talk about in the engine segment.
Trim
LX
Sport
EX
EX-L
Touring
MSRP
$23,720
$26,180
$27,620
$30,120
$34,990
Key Features
Honda Sensing®
Apple CarPlay Integration Android Auto Integration
One-Touch Power Moonroof
Leather-Trimmed Interior
Head-Up Display (HUD)
17-inch Alloy Wheels
19-inch Alloy Wheels
Heated Front Seats
Driver's Seat Memory
Side Mirrors with Reverse Gear Tilt-Down
Eco Assist™ System
Chrome Exhaust Finishers
12-Way Power Driver's Seat
Automatic-Dimming Rearview Mirror
Body-Colored Parking Sensors (Front/Rear)
Auto High-Beam Headlights
180-Watt Audio System with 8 Speakers
Heated Power Side Mirrors
HomeLink® Remote System*
Interior Ambient Lighting
LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
12-Way Power Driver's Seat
60/40 Split Fold-Down Rear Seatback
450-Watt Premium Audio System with 10 Speakers
Near Field Communication (NFC)*
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® Audio*
8-inch Display Audio Touch-Screen
Remote Engine Start
Power-Adjustable Front Passenger Seat
LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off
USB Audio Interface
LED Fog Lights
Blind Spot Information System with Cross-Traffic Monitor*
Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers
7-inch Color LCD Screen
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
Apple CarPlay™* Integration Android Auto™* Integration
Heated Rear Outboard Seats
LED Low-Beam Headlights with Auto-On/Off
Sport Pedals
Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock®
Ventilated Front Seats
Push Button Start
Rear Spoiler
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera*
Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
We Recommend
The EX trim brings the most bang for the buck. You might have to stretch your budget a little but its totally worth the money. With features like a heated mirror, sports interior upgrades, and blind-spot monitoring at your disposal, it almost feels like an entry-level Merc.
2020 Honda Accord Engine and Performance
8.4/10
“The Accord has a lot of strengths on the road. The drivetrain responds quickly and provides sufficient power. The car corners well, sticking to the road with no drama, and the brakes feel natural and strong. Only the steering falls short: While it's accurate and easy, it also feels artificial”- Edmunds
Engine and Transmission
Every child in a family has a different personality with exclusive strengths and weaknesses. The same is true with the Accord. The entry-level Accord hides a turbocharged 1.5L Inline -4 engine mated to a CVT transmission. The powerplant drills out a 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The EX trim hides a similar powertrain under its hood.
The EX-L trim again can either feature a 2.0L Inline-4 engine mated to a 10-speed automatic or the standard powertrain. Now the Sport trim has a couple of combinations. You can either have the standard powertrain or swap the CVT for a 6-speed manual transmission or a 10-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged 2.0L Inline-4 engine can also be paired with these transmission options on the Sport trim.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
MSRP
$23,720
$22,900
$22,840
$18,100
$18,700
$20,250
$20,240
$18,870
Engine
1.5L Inline-4
2.4L I-4
2.5L I-4
2.0 L inline-four
1.8 L inline-four
2.0 L inline-four
2.0 L inline-four
1.4L Turbo Inline 4
Transmission
CVT
6-speed automatic
6-Speed Automatic
6-speed Automatic
CVT
CVT
6-speed Auto
6 Speed Automatic
Horsepower
192 @ 5500
185@ 6000
175 @ 6000
147hp @ 6200 rpm
132hp @ 6000 rpm
158hp @ 6500 rpm
155hp @ 6000 rpm
153hp@5600rpm
Torque
192 @ 1600
178 @ 4000
175 @ 4500
132 lb.-ft. @ 4500 rpm
128 lb-ft@4400rpm
138 lb.-ft @ 4200 rpm
150 lb.-ft. @4000 rpm
177 lb.-ft. @4000 rpm
The Touring trim does not enjoy any such customization, a Turbocharged 2.0L Inline 4 engine paired with a 10 -speed automatic is standard on the Touring Accord. For the record, the Touring power station is more potent with its 252 horsepower and 273-pound-feet of torque. You may like the idea of the 6-speed manual but it’s the CVT and 10-speed automatic transmission which keeps the engine on the boil and pumps out the best in the Accord.
Acceleration
Accord is a pretty mediocre sedan on paper, its 7.6-second acceleration test is decent but not jaw-dropping. Any other sedan in the lot can close in the gap between the Accord at any time. Though what separates it from everybody else is its seamless power delivery to the front wheels of the car. In drag, the Accord takes a full 16 second to hit the quarter-mile light. However, others are not far behind, it will be a nasty fight for sure.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
0-60 MPH(sec)
7.6*
6.8*
8.9*
8.3
9.4
8.2
8.0
7.7
Quarter mile(sec)
15.9*
15.2*
15.2*
16.4
17.2
16.3
16.2
16.3
Emission
(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)
5.3*
6.1*
7.1*
10.2
9.8
8.4
11.2
5.6
Curb Weight (lb..)
3131*
3411*
3431*
2767
2840
2742
2899
2870
* - 2018 figures used for reference purposes
Honda’s 7.6-second acceleration is the best in the class followed by the Ford Fusion and the Elantra. The acceleration feels uninterrupted even after it hits the 60 mph mark. However, other sedans catch up to the Accord in the quarter-mile run.
Ride and Handling
Behind the wheel, the Accord’s electric-powered steering is precise and accurate but the feel is not natural and the minimal road communication feels like a liability on the Accord. The top Touring trim comes with a lot of perks when it comes to performance, the adaptive suspension changes the game in favor of Honda. The sedan becomes more precise and keen to your command.
Around the turns the Accord is entertaining, merging lanes and overtaking is not a problem for this compact sedan. Despite its large dimensions Honda manages the city’s traffic with ease and is quite maneuverable compared to its competitors in the segment. Around the corners, the Accord inspires confidence with minimal body roll.
Honda’s transmissions are becoming a phenomenon in the mid-size sedan segment. All three transmission options are paired to the new turbocharged Inline-4 engine lineup which is itself an improvement this year. However, the 6-speed manual is not that sporty and on high speeds turns the engine is out of breath, the CVT, on the other hand, is eager for the next gear for the sake of efficiency. The slick 10-speed automatic is by far the sportiest option and our pick for your Accord this year.
Braking
Honda’s reliability is possibly its best suit and its braking implies that perfectly. The pedal feel is nice and composed and has a big bite to it. Around the city, the pedal is easy to modulate and predictable for the majority of the time. The front brakes are rated at 11.5 inches and the rear brake rotors are rated at 11.1 inches. From a speed of 70 mph, the Accord takes 163 feet to come to a standstill.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Brake Front (in.)
11.5*
12
11.8
10.3
10.8
10.2
10.7
10.8
Brake Rear (in.)
11.1*
11.2
11.9
9.7
9.1
9.8
9.5
10.4
70-0 MPH (ft.)
122 feet(60-0)
124(60-0)
122(60-0)
182
183
180
179
110(60-0MPH)
Everything seems so nice about the accord that its middling braking prowess seems a bit pale. Though the car matches the Fusion with its 122 feet of braking distance it’s not the class leader. Though it doesn’t make a lot of difference the Optima turns out the lager with its 124 feet performance.
2020 Honda Accord Fuel Economy
9.2/10
No engine option on the Accord compromises with efficiency. One might be few points higher on the mileage scale but every trim stands right into the Accord’s legacy of clean cars. The 1.5L Turbo-4 engine generates a 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway mileage with the CVT transmission. The top Touring trim gets a bigger engine and is only offered in 10-speed automatic which shears a couple of points by mustering 23 mpg city and 27 mpg of highway mileage.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
MPG (city)
30
24
21
28
28
32
27
30
MPG (highway)
38
33
32
37
35
42
36
39
MPG (combined)
33
27
25
32
31
36
30
33
Fuel Tank Capacity(Gal.)
14.8
18.5
16.5
14
13.2
12.39
13.2
13.7
The class-leading mileage numbers lay it bare. Its direct competitors like the Optima and the Fusion deliver much less on the economy front. Honda wins here big time.
2020 Honda Accord Interior
8.0/10
“Some small points aside, the interior of the Accord offers modern design, quality soft-touch materials, lots of room, and a user-friendly infotainment system and control layout. Taller drivers will want to test the seating position since their knees may rub on a piece of hard plastic trim”- Edmunds
Seating and Comfort
Accord’s interior is not its main attraction but it contributes to its class-leading persona. The cabin is an amalgamation of upmarket interior elements with a lot of soft-touch materials and a contemporary design. All the features are controlled through physical buttons and knobs, all located in vicinity to the driver with no puzzling features and menus. The doorsills are higher than the usual height and the wide front and rear door opening are fair for comfortable entry and exit. The cabin feels large with a lot of options to customize and find your ideal driving position, though the telescopic steering is limited to a certain level.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Passenger capacity
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
39.5/58.3/42.3
39.8/58.1/45.5
39.2/57.8/44.3
38.8/56.2/42.3
38.3/54.8/42.3
39.3/57.0/37.1
38.3/54.8/42.3
38.9/54.8/42
Rear(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)
37.3/56.5/40.4
37.8/56.4/35.6
37.8/56.9/38.3
37.3/55.0/35.7
37.1/55.0/37.4
37.1/55.0/37.4
37.6/54.4/35.8
37.3/53.7/36.1
The front seats are large and comforting with 39.5 inches of headroom and 42.3 inches of legroom space. Passengers over 6 ft. will suffer from a limited legroom space resulting in their knees banging on some hard plastic. The rear cabin is superb in terms of legroom as it’s a fair 40.4 inches, however, the headroom is limited for taller boarders.
Infotainment
Honda offers a 7-inch infotainment screen as standard on the Accord. The LCD infotainment screen nicely blends in with the gauge cluster and heads up display on the higher trims. However, you don’t get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard features on the base trim. The screen is responsive without any delay and all the menus and simplified with clean graphics and no baffling features.
Cargo Volume
Reliability and Practicality are 2 things the Accord is known for. Honda’s name secures reliability and the generous trunk volume safeguards the latter. The class-leading 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space is excellent. The cabin utility is not far behind, you get sizable door pockets, cubby holes with space for multiple cell phones, a standard glove box, and a big armrest bin. Frankly, there are so many sections that you might not even use in the long run.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Cargo Capacity (lb..)
16.7
15.9
16
14.4
13.0
15.2
12.4
14.8
Honda built the Accord for a family so the cargo space is more than enough. Kia and Ford had a similar idea for their cargo bay.
2020 Honda Accord Exterior
8.5/10
“The 2020 Honda Accord is among the best-looking sedans available today. One year removed from a complete overhaul, the 2020 Honda Accord still wears some of the best looks we’ve seen among sedans”- The Car Connection
Design and Styling
Possibly the most good looking sedan in the segment, Honda Accord keeps its coupe-like styling alive. Though its younger cousin Civic propels on a similar ideology, it’s the Accord who actually pulls it off. It's built more sporty than its fellow executives in the segment without compromising on practicality. The Sport trim takes things to another level with its chrome exhaust, and decklid spoiler and more. Some trims feature grille shutters on the front fascia to enhance the aerodynamics of the car. A 17 inch allow wheels come standard on the Accord with an option for 19-inch alloy wheels.
Models
Honda Accord
Kia Optima
Ford Fusion
Hyundai Elantra Sedan SE
Toyota Corolla L Sedan
Honda Civic LX Sedan
Mazda 3 Sport Sedan
Chevrolet Cruze Sedan L
Curb weight (lb..)
3131
3219
3411
2844
2840
2724
2899
2870
Length(in)
192.2
191.1
191.7
181.9
183.1
182.3
180.3
183.7
Width(in)
73.3
73.2
75.6
70.9
69.9
70.8
70.7
70.5
Height(in)
57.1
57.7
58.1
56.5
57.3
55.7
57.3
57.4
Ground clearance (in)
5.5
5.3
5.3
6.7
6.3
6.1
6.4
Wheelbase (in)
111.4
110.4
112.1
106.3
106.3
106.3
106.3
106.3
Dimensions and Weight
Honda’s engineers sized the Accord at 192.2 inches in total length. The width and height are rated at 17.3 inches and 57 inches respectively. Though it does not make a lot of difference on paper the Honda Accord is inches longer than its direct competitors like the Kia Optima and Ford Fusion. However, it has a similar 111.4-inch wheelbase.
Accord is the most sizable sedan in the market but so is Optima and Ford. There is not much difference when you consider the exterior dimensions.
2020 Honda Accord Safety
9.0/10
Honda never compromises on safety and the Accord is a live example. The stellar safety numbers from the 3rd party crash testing say it all. NHTSA awarded the Accord with an all-star rating, the IIHS agreed on this one as they too gave Accord their top “Good” rating on every aspect of their crash test. The rich safety feature list pushed the envelope with a standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking and more.
Safety Features
Stability Control
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests
Remote Anti-Theft Alarm System
Auto Delay Off Headlamps
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Traction Control
Pre-Collision Safety System
4-Wheel ABS
Front Fog/Driving Lights
Rear Center 3-Point Belt
Post-Collision Safety System
Child Seat Anchors
Lane Departure Warning Accident Avoidance System
Front And Rear Head Airbags
Emergency Braking Assist
Dusk Sensing Headlamps
LED Headlamp
Ventilated Front Disc / Solid Rear Disc Brakes
2020 Honda Accord Competition
Kia Optima vs Honda Accord
With sufficient power, fair price, and well-rounded practicality, Kia has created a solid offering in the sedan segment. Optima is a family car at its core, you can pick your kids, go shopping, and drive around the city with ease. As much Optima looks lucrative to a customer, Honda goes the extra mile with the Accord. Honda backed the Accord with more power and a number of engine and transmission options. And not just that, Honda beats Kia in terms of efficiency and practicality by delivering more mileage and cargo volume. Though Kia is a solid choice but the real bang for your buck lies with the Accord.
Ford Fusion vs Honda Accord
Ford is long known for its heavy-duty commercial vehicles but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a threshold on sedan market. The Ford Fusion is a blend of the upmarket interior, composed ride quality, and a geeky feature list. On the other hand, Accord delivers an amplified version of the same. There is not much difference in price but a big one in the power output The Accord can muster 17 more ponies more than the fusion. The shoppers favoring efficiency over power can also rest assured, the Accord’s got an edge here too.
Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord
Being a fellow Japanese and the Accord’s archenemy, the Toyota Camry matches every bid the Accord makes and raises the bar with its 200 plus horsepower. The bigger engine is possibly its biggest point of market as every other brand is focusing on practicality and features. However, the base level Camry can be a little overpriced if you look at the Accord.
The buyer of mid-sized sedans will look for something more than a barebones. Considering that and the fact that as you climb the trim ladder both cars balance out on price. In that case, Toyota is a better choice.
2020 Honda Accord Final Verdict
8.5/10
The rise of the crossover market has increased options for the budget shoppers, however, the 2020 Honda Accord still remains in the top 5 cars of every buyer’s list. Hence, Honda is dominating the mid-size sedan market for quite some time. The brand value backed with suffice power, decent ergonomic numbers, and uninterrupted comfort level is the knack for Honda. All that under the 25 grand spectrum is truly a great deal.
Honda gives you 2 engine and 3 transmission options classified amongst each trim level with a competitive price. By that logic, Honda is catering to a variety of buyers looking for different things in the same segment. So, if you are looking to buy a midsize sedan go no further, the Accord is the car to buy.