IT’S A BEST BUY BECAUSE:
The Honda Accord offers a fine mix of cutting-edge technology features, polished powertrains, outstanding rear legroom, and class-leading all-around refinement.
BUT…
The seating position is rather low, and not all drivers like the unconventional push-button gear selector on the Hybrid and 2.0-engine models.
WORTH NOTING:
The Accord’s top-line Touring trim level has one of our favorite interiors in the mainstream midsize-car segment.
WHAT IS IT?
The Accord is Honda’s long-running midsize sedan; the Accord nameplate dates back to 1976, and the redesigned 2018 model inaugurated the car’s tenth generation. All Accords are sedans with 4-cylinder engines; with the Accord’s redesign for 2018, the coupe body style and available V6 engine were both discontinued. The 2021 Accord model lineup ascends through LX, Sport, Sport SE, and EX-L models with turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder base engine, and Sport 2.0T and Touring models with a step-up turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder. The 1.5-liter engine is paired with a CVT automatic transmission, and the 2.0-liter engine is teamed with a 10-speed automatic. The Accord Hybrid is offered in base, EX, EX-L, and Touring trim; it is powered by a non-turbo version of the 2.0 engine paired with two electric motors and a CVT automatic. The Accord’s available features include a head-up display, rear cross-traffic alert, 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity, remote engine start, and heated/ventilated front seats. The Honda Sensing suite of safety features is standard on all Accords—it includes forward collision warning and mitigation, lane-departure warning and mitigation, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition.
WHAT’S NEW?
All Accords get a freshened front fascia with a wider grille, and some models get new LED headlights. Honda’s 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen is now standard on all Accords, as is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability (wireless on higher trim levels). Trim levels are shuffled, and a new Sport SE model is added to the line. The previously available 6-speed manual transmission is discontinued. Honda says the Accord Hybrid’s powertrain has been updated for better throttle response, and the Hybrid Touring model gets 19-inch wheels.
FUEL ECONOMY
With the CVT transmission, the base 1.5-liter engine is rated at 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway in LX and EX-L form, and 29/35 in Sport and Sport SE models. The 2.0T engine is rated at 22/32. The Hybrid is rated at 48 mpg in both city and highway driving, save for the Hybrid Touring—it’s rated at 44 mpg city/41 mpg highway. In Consumer Guide® testing that consisted of around 60-percent highway driving, we averaged 30.8 mpg in an EX-L 1.5T, 25.8 in a Touring 2.0T, and 50.0 in a Hybrid EX-L.
VALUE IN CLASS
All Accords offer excellent passenger space, engaging road manners, and a fine selection of available features. Plus, the interior ambiance in the top-line Touring models is genuinely luxurious. What cinches the Best Buy status of these standout sedans is their excellent, economical powertrains—the base 1.5-liter four is smooth and satisfying, the 252-hp 2.0 turbo is delightfully quick and responsive, and the Hybrid’s fantastic 2.0 gas/electric powertrain is one of the most seamless hybrid systems we’ve ever driven. In any of its flavors, the Honda Accord sedan should be at the top of your test-drive list.
| BASE PRICE RANGE | $25,725 – $37,195 |
| BODY STYLES | 4-Door Sedan |
| AVAILABLE ENGINES | 192-HP, Turbo 1.5-Liter 4-Cyl.; 252-HP, Turbo 2.0-Liter 4-Cyl.; 212-HP, 2.0-Liter 4-Cyl./Electric |
| DRIVE WHEELS | Front-Wheel Drive |
| BUILT IN | USA |
| EPA FUEL-ECONOMY RANGE | 22-48 MPG |
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