2020 Honda Accord

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

“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.

Honda never compromises on safety and the Accord is a live example. The stellar safety numbers from the 3^rd 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

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. 

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.