These days, everyone wants a crossover or SUV. So midsize sedans like the Accord and its chief rival, the Toyota Camry, have got to do even more to be attractive to buyers. Both are redesigned for 2018, and both have never been better. Frankly, shoppers who think they want a compact crossover for the family should think again and check out these sedans!
Like the Camry, the Accord has been around for decades. The Accord was first introduced in 1976 with more than 13 million sold in the U.S. since then. The Accord has always provided good value, peppy driving dynamics and comfort, all at a competitive price. Now for 2018, Honda makes an already good thing even better.
The five-passenger Accord looks modern and elegant with its sloping roofline and more athletic exterior. It’s lower to the ground than it used to be, with a wider body and longer wheelbase.
It’s available in five trims: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring. Starting prices range from $23,570 to $35,800. A hybrid is also available with starting prices ranging from $25,100 to $34,710. All models have front-wheel-drive.
Two four-cylinder engines are available; gone is the V6. One is a 1.5-liter that makes 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque paired with a continuously variable transmission. My tester has the 2.0-liter that produces 252 hp and 273 pound-feet mated to the world’s first 10-speed automatic transmission on a front-wheel-drive car. At a time when most car makers have eliminated their manual transmissions, Honda has made a stick shift available on the Sport models.
The 2.0-liter engine has a push button shifter while the smaller engines get a traditional gear selector.
The Accord is peppy off the line with little turbo lag and delivers smooth power whenever needed for accelerating and passing. The automatic transmission shifts up and down smoothly and quickly. Forget the notion that sedans are boring family haulers. This is a surprisingly agile ride that’s eager to go when you want to have a little fun, and also a very pleasant daily driver. Visibility is good to the front and sides thanks to the thin A-pillars, but visibility to the rear is hampered somewhat by the sloping roofline.
EPA ratings for my tester are 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with a combined rating of 26. I got 25 mpg during my week with more city than highway driving.
The cabin is clean and modern with high-quality materials. Seats are very comfortable and passengers in both rows of seating enjoy excellent legroom and decent headroom, although taller passenger may have to duck a bit when getting into the back seat because the door openings feel a bit small. The cabin is nice and quiet.
My top-of-the-line Touring trim is so posh that it rivals what you’d find in a luxury brand. The leather seating, faux wood, satin metallic trim and LCD digital displays would be at home in Honda’s upscale Acura brand. The infotainment screen is large and attractive with colorful graphics you can customize. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all but the LX trim.
Honda has finally added buttons and knobs to the infotainment system—hooray! Previously, the infotainment system was a touchscreen with no buttons or knobs—even simple volume adjustments had to be made through the touchscreen. It was my biggest peeve with Honda products. So happy to see this user-friendly system!
Standard features on all Accord trims include push-button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a four-speaker audio system, a seven-inch display screen, and Siri Eyes Free.
Available features include a head-up display, navigation, moonroof, wireless device charging, Wi-Fi hot spot, an eight- or 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, HD Radio, an eight-inch touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Standard active safety features include driver drowsiness monitoring and the Honda Sensing system, which includes forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.
Available driver assistance features include blind spot monitoring, front and rear parking sensors, and rear cross traffic alert.
The Accord has 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space. The trunk opening is a little narrow making it difficult to load large items. A split-folding second row is available.
It’s good to see the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry upping their games. These two are so good that maybe some buyers will forgo the crossover or SUV and go back to a midsize sedan.
The good:
Sleek and handsome looks
Excellent handling
Good fuel economy
A manual transmission is available for driving enthusiasts
Attractive, upscale cabin
New infotainment system much better than the outgoing version
Lots of available driver assistance technologies
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard on all but the LX trim
The not-so-good:
Lower seating may make it difficult for some to get in and out of the Accord
Rear visibility slightly reduced by sloping roofline
Trunk opening is a bit narrow
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $35,800. Destination fee is $890 bringing the grand total to $36,690.
Bottom line:
Handsome, well designed, nimble performance, upscale and spacious interior and many driver assistance technologies—the 2018 Honda Accord sets the bar high among midsize sedans. It needs to be on your shopping list if you’re looking for a nice sedan or family vehicle. The slow pace of sedan sales means you’ll probably find a good deal on this excellent car.
