2018 Honda Accord

The 2018 Honda Accord is offered in about 5 trims, namely LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L Navi, and Touring, with prices starting from $24,465 for the base trim and going all the way up to $34,695 for the Touring 2.0T trim. Only the Accord Sport models get you an option for the manual transmission at the same price. 

Having said that, all of the said trims are filled up to the brim with the latest set of features, which include the ones that look after the safety quotient of the midsize car. The EX-L Navi basically just adds a navigation system to the EX-L trim for the added price. Also offered across the trim range are two different turbocharged engines, along with 3 sets of transmission units.

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Our recommendation out of the five trims on offer would be to go for the Sport trim, solely because it gets the infamous 6-speed manual transmission setup. Back that with subtle sporty suspension bits and that impressive feature list, and for the price of $25,780, the 2018 Accord surely is a steal.

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

2018 Honda Accord Engine and Transmission

Under the hood of the 2018 Honda Accord lies an optional two turbocharged engine units, both of which have been refined for this year. The base engine is a turbocharged 1.5L Inline-4 unit that pushes out 192 horses and 192 lb. ft of torque. A 252 hp and 273 lb-ft generating 2.0L turbo-four engine is also available for an extra premium in the Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims. 

The 2018 Accord is also offered in a 2-motor hybrid system that couples the 2.0L engine with two electric motors, so as to push out a decent 212 hp. Transmission wise too, there are about three options in place. While the much-awaited 6-speed manual is available with both the engines, but its is only privy to the Sport trim. Moreover, the 1.5L unit gets a CVT, whereas the 2.0L unit gets a more efficient 10-speed AT. All the engines come with a standard FWD setup.

All of the said engines provide smooth power delivery with almost unnoticeable turbo lag. The Accord is the midsize sedans that is going to be the standard against which all 2018 sedans will be judged. Just like the Accord, the 2018 Camry is also fully redesigned and provides two engine options. Both engines have an edge over that of the 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.

2018 Honda Accord Acceleration

The 2018 Honda Accord can sprint from 0-60 MPH in just about 7.6 seconds, and complete the quarter-mile run in about 15.9 seconds. This is with the base 1.5L turbo unit in place. Opt for the 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder engine and then the 0-60 MPH times drop down to 6.2 seconds. As both engine variants provide power and negligible turbo lag, the acceleration figures are thus impressive.

Having said that, the Accord is also allowed to overtake quite easily, courtesy of its negligible turbo lag. This proves out to be quite useful in freeways. 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 options in Accord.

2018 Honda Accord Ride and Handling

Driving an Accord comes as a pleasant surprise for anyone who expects a bland driving experience that is associated with a mid-size sedan. The 2018 Honda Accord, coupled with that infamous 6-speed manual setup does deliver an inspiring driving dynamics. Courtesy of the brand-new platform, the Accord's chassis is much more responsive, thus aiding in athletic cornering ability. Body roll is also negligible. Combine that with a steering that is as responsive as they come, and you have the perfect recipe. It also features adaptive dampers too for a more responsive ride.

2018 Honda Accord Braking

The 2018 Accord’s basic trim comes with 11.5” ventilated disc brakes in the front and 11.1” in disc brakes in the rear. This allows the 2018 Honda Accord to come to a complete dead stop from 70 MPH in just 163 ft. 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.

Honda really paid attention to the feedback received from the 2017 Accord. It is easy to notice how much has changed since the last year. 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.

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

The 2018 Honda Accord can deliver up to 30 MPG in the city and about 38 miles to that gallon out on the highway. This is with the 1.5L turbocharged unit in place along with the rather seamless operating CVT. The 1.5L engine when coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission unit is able to deliver 26 and 35 miles to the gallon in the city and highway respectively.

Naturally so, the hybrid 2018 Honda Accord will deliver even better MPG figures. Coming onto the 2.0L turbocharged engine in place, the 2018 Accord with this engine setup delivers 22 MPG in the city and 32 miles to the gallon out on the highway. The base engine's EPA-rated MPG figures when combined with the 14.8-gallon fuel tank is able to stretch out to 562 miles on the go-between fuel stops.

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

The 2018 Honda Accord is based on a new platform, and hence the wheelbase has also increased by 2.1-inches, which goes to show that the cabin space has increased. Honda has also updated the interior with loads of the latest features. Seating-wise, the 2018 Accord is the most practical car in this segment. The midsize sedan is adequately spacious. The front bolstered seats hold you in place comfortably, as they are 6-way electrically adjustable.

The rear seats have adequate space too, although, it loses out on the headroom front, because of the fastback coupe design. The base trim seats are draped in cloth, while the top-most trims have also the option of leather upholstery. Both heated and ventilated functions are standard across the trim range. The Accord offers good space both on the Interiors and the Cargo, aligning to Honda's "Man Maximum Machine Minimum" principle.

Some of the interior features included are-

• Dual-zone automatic climate control,
• Moonroof
• Leather upholstery
• 6-way power-adjustable front seats
• 4-way power-adjustable rear seats
• Heated rear seats

2018 Honda Accord Infotainment

The 2018 Honda Accord gets a new updated infotainment system. 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 new touchscreen is quite user-friendly and extremely responsive too. 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.

Some of the infotainment features on offer are-

• Bluetooth
• Two USB ports
• A 10-speaker premium audio system
• 7-inch display screen
• Wireless device charging
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay

2018 Honda Accord Cargo Capacity

The 2018 Honda Accord is able to deliver a segment-best 16.7 cu. ft 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. The Toyota Camry, on the other hand, due to its shorter wheelbase has the smallest trunk in the midsize segment.

The new Accord's fastback profile and pronounced styling lines make it look more luxurious and European than the norm - cars.usnews.com

The 2018 Honda Accord is as impressive as advertised. Its couped-back silhouette is what the rest of the cars in the segment crave for. It's unlike any other car in the segment appealing to the masses in terms of style and driving dynamics. A firm and athletic look, on the whole, Honda has again redesigned the 2018 Accord completely. 

The creases and character lines flowing throughout the side profile further accentuate its impressive styling quotient. The immersive front-end with the swooped-up headlights adds character to the design layout. Furthermore, with the new platform, the 2018 Accord is 2.1-inches longer, which adds space to its cabin for comfortable seating. Further additional features also include new 19-inch and 21-inch patterned wheels.

Some of the exterior features included in the 2018 Honda Accord are-

• 19-inch wheels
• Chrome exhaust tips
• Rear spoiler
• LED exterior lighting
• Chrome exterior trim
• Illuminated door handles
• Sunroof

Being a practical family midsize sedan, the 2018 Honda Accord does focus on the safety front quite a lot. The NHTSA awarded it a full 5-star rating, while the IIHS honors it with the 2018 Top Safety Pick award. Packed with the latest updated active and passive safety features as standard, the 2018 Accord is believed to be adequately safe.

Some of the latest driver-assistance features on offer are-

• Lane Departure Warning
• ABS and Driveline Traction Control
• Blind Spot Monitor
• Night Vision Camera
• Collision Mitigation Braking system
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
• Low Tire Pressuring warning system

2018 Honda Accord vs 2018 Toyota Camry

The Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry have had a long-lost rivalry. Both of them are at the top of their game and have had a stronghold at the top best-selling spot. The 2018 Camry has the best power figures out of the two, although what the Accord loses out on power, fully makes up for in braking.

 Nevertheless, despite, the Camry's better power figures, it loses out to Honda in terms of acceleration. Both these cars have been revamped for 2018, and thus the choice between the two boils down to the feature list they both offer.

2018 Honda Accord vs 2018 Hyundai Sonata

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.

Moreover, Sonata is a bit cheaper, and it lacks Accord’s agility and solidity. So if you plan to spend most of your time in the back seat, the 2018 Hyundai Sonata can be your pick. However, if you are more of a driving enthusiast yourself, then the Honda Accord can be the way to go forward.

The midsize Honda Accord holds an undaunted reputation for practicality. There is in fact none that can even come close to the legacy, that the Accord has set. Spacious, consumer-friendly price tag, and best of all good-looking, the 2018 Honda Accord has ticked all of the boxes. Add to it the plethora of extra features on offer, that Honda has introduced for this year, and the 2018  Accord is surely a top pick.