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#1 ·

Honda Motor Co. today unveiled an Accord Coupe Concept that foreshadows the styling of the production car set to arrive this year against stiffening competition.

The concept, shown at the Detroit auto show, sports a creased beltline, muscular rear fender and aggressive lower fog lights. Powertrain improvements will be a key selling point for the 2013 Accord, Honda says.

After the Accord's 17% drop in U.S. sales last year, Honda is counting on the next Accord to take on freshly redesigned mid-sized rivals, including the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu.

The coupe will be the same size as the current model. But the sedan will have a smaller footprint than today's version, with a shorter wheelbase and lower curb weight for better handling and enhanced fuel economy.

Interior space will stay the same, Honda pledges.

The timing of the sedan's U.S. launch hasn't been released.

The Accord's U.S. sales decline last year, to 235,625, stemmed largely from supply shortages following Japan's March 11 earthquake.

That dropped it to 4th place in the segment, behind the Camry, Fusion and Altima. The Camry held onto its No. 1 spot despite dropping 6 percent to 308,510 units, also because of supply shortages after the earthquake.

Honda needs a strong showing from the Accord after its redesigned Civic small car received a chilly reception last year for what critics said was a cheap-looking interior.

American Honda's total U.S. sales fell 7% in a market that increased 10 percent.

New Powertrains

The Accord will feature three new drivetrains.

The first will feature the initial U.S. use of the next-generation, direct-injection engine that Honda unveiled in late November at the Tokyo Motor Show. The so-called Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC 4 banger, will be combined with a new continuously variable transmission.

The engine delivers 181 hp and better fuel economy than the Accord's current base powerplant, an inline four. Honda did not release fuel-economy figures but said the engine aims to achieve class-leading mileage.

The 2nd drivetrain will consist of a re-engineered 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine paired with either a new 6-speed automatic transmission or an existing 6-speed manual. The automatic will achieve better fuel economy and horsepower than the outgoing model, Honda says.

The final variant is the 1st use of Honda's two-motor, plug-in hybrid system. In all-electric mode, the system's lithium ion battery and motor can power the car for up to 15 miles of city driving at speeds as high as 62 mph. The battery can be fully recharged in 4 hours using a 120-volt outlet or in 90 minutes with a 240-volt charger, Honda says.

For longer drives, the hybrid operates in gasoline-electric mode, drawing from a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, Atkinson-cycle engine combined with a CVT. For high-speed cruising, the car can run in gasoline-only mode with the engine directly powering the front wheels.

The Accord Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale in the winter of 2012, Honda says.

Honda canceled the previous Accord hybrid at the end of its 2007 model year.

Safety features

Honda says the next Accord also will sport several new safety features.

It will have Honda's first lane-departure warning system and 1st forward-crash warning technology. Both use cameras mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers of dangers.

It also will get Honda's 1st use of its LaneWatch blind spot display, which uses a camera mounted on the passenger mirror to keep tabs on that side of the car.

A multiangle rearview camera also will come standard.

Other new standard features in the next Accord:

• Bluetooth hands-free phone interface.

• Full color information display.

• An SMS texting function that reads messages aloud.

• iPhone-compatible Pandora Internet radio.

 
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#2 ·
SpyShots


Date: May 25, 2012 09:46
Submitted by: Jeff
Source: KGP Photography
Credibility Rating: Not Specified

Here's the first known set of spy photos of the 2013 Honda Accord, snagged by Brian Williams for KGP Photography. Here are the photos along with KGP's commentary. Please enjoy.


We've snagged the first-ever shots of a 2013 Honda Accord prototype being put through its paces. Sources tell us that this new Accord is a major overhaul of the current platform, with significant changes throughout the entire car.

We have heard 2 differing reports regarding the dimensions of the 2013 Accord. 1 source suggests that this latest iteration will be the first in a long time that doesn't grow, perhaps even showing signs of downsizing. Another source has reported that the new Accord will actually continue gain some size compared to the current model. To our eyes, this Accord looks to have grown a bit, but we'll leave the individual analysis of that to you, the editor.

The styling of this 2013 Accord sedan looks to be more expressive than the rather dowdy outgoing model. The honeycomb mesh of the lower air-intake takes some cues from Honda's Accord Coupe Concept that bowed at the last North American International Auto Show in Detroit. However, while that mesh covers the low intake, the upper grille gets large horizontal slats, appearing broadly similar to the new grille-work applied to the facelifted Accord Crosstour. Perhaps this new grille treatment will evolve as a new corporate face for Honda.

The new Accord has been designed with optimum efficiency in mind, leading to the introduction of a new CVT replacing the current model's 5-speed, and the current port-injection replaced in favor of direct injection on both the 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-4 and the 3.5-liter SOHC 24-valve V6. Honda promises that the CVT will still maintain a driver-focused demeanor, while improving fuel-efficiency by 10%.

The general sentiment is that Honda is losing its way a bit, while competitors like the 2013 Ford Fusion, the Hyundai Sonata Kia Optima grow more and more accomplished. Then there is a the improved 2013 Toyota Camry that has improved while its a perennial best-seller. The 2013 Accord is a hugely important car for Honda, a company whose luster has tarnished a bit over the passing years.​

 
#3 ·
Spied


Last week we showed you spy photos of the next-generation 2013 Honda Accord, caught out in the wild, but heavily camouflaged from the windows down. That left us speculating as to what exactly Honda had in store for its new Accord sedan.

We may have caught a glimpse over the weekend near Honda’s Torrance, California, headquarters. Doing some late-night testing, this gold-painted and lightly camouflaged Honda sedan sports a couple of things we couldn’t see last week. 1st, the nose appears radically different here, and much more similar to the Honda Concept C shown earlier this year at the Beijing Auto Show. It also goes against our impression of last week’s photo, which didn’t appear to have any of the “jowls” of the Accord Coupe Concept or the Crosstour Concept, both of which were shown at U.S. auto shows earlier this year.

So what gives? 2 possible explanations. 1st, the car shown here is clearly a plug-in prototype, judging from the extra “fuel” door on the front left fender. So it’s possible that Honda will be giving its plug-in model more radical styling than the standard gasoline-powered models, similar to how competitor Hyundai saved its cooler styling for the Sonata Hybrid. The other explanation is that Honda simply had an older-style nose on the car from last week, in an effort to throw off spy photographers.

Either way, we’ll get a closer look at the 2013 Honda Accord in a few months when the car is officially revealed for the 1st time.

 
#5 ·
Autonews


The redesigned 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale this fall with a shorter length, a new engine family and a continuously variable transmission -- huge engineering changes for a signature car that has slipped against mid-sized rivals.

Honda released the 1st images of the production version of the Accord sedan and coupe today but provided few additional details about the cars.

The 2013 sedan -- weighing less than the outgoing model, but with more passenger and cargo room -- features nearly flush windshield glass, flush-mounted windshield wipers and available LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights.

Honda -- clearly aiming for U.S. buyers attracted to the current Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Toyota Camry and 2013 Ford Fusion -- calls it the "most sculpted and dynamic Accord ever."

The side flanking and rear-window kink at the C-pillar resemble the styling of BMW's 3 series. But the front and rear fascias clearly signal a Honda product.

In addition to sportier styling, the 2013 Accord is being used to introduce several key pieces of Honda technology.

The 1st generation of the automaker's "Earth Dreams" engines -- offering improved fuel economy and lower emissions -- debut featuring direct injection and double overhead cams.


A hallmark of the Accord since its 1976 U.S. debut as a hatchback -- leading fuel economy -- is under attack by rivals such as the Sonata and Camry.

The base engine will be a 2.4-liter inline-4 with more than 181 hp and 177 pound-feet of torque, Honda said in January. That would mean a slight horsepower increase but considerably more torque, with at least 10% better fuel economy, Honda engineers have said.

All 4-cylinder versions of the Accord equipped with an automatic transmission -- a huge percentage of the model's sales mix -- will be equipped with a continuously variable transmission. The decision could prove to be a gamble because CVTs have not been widely accepted by American buyers and have been plagued with reliability issues in some vehicles.

Revamped V-6

Honda has also re-engineered the Accord's 3.5-liter V-6 engine and paired it with a new 6-speed automatic transmission or an available 6-speed manual gearbox .

Honda has said the V-6 will produce more horsepower than the current model while targeting class-leading fuel economy and an overall gain in fuel efficiency over the 2012 model.

The 2013 Accord will also be offered with a 2 -motor plug-in hybrid system that features three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive.


But perhaps the biggest question looming over Honda -- in an era of cost-cutting necessitated by the strong Japanese yen -- is what the latest Accord looks like inside. A repeat of the current Civic's overly plastic interior will not work well with U.S. customers.

Honda did not release images of the 2013 Accord's interior today, but Honda sources say the cabin is an upgrade from the current generation.

While the coupe will remain similarly sized, Honda says the sedan will feature a more compact exterior footprint. Both models will feature "increased passenger and cargo space," Honda said today in a statement.

The automaker said previously the 2013 Accord would be offered with lane departure warning, forward collision warning technology, blind spot detection, and a standard rearview back-up camera.

In January, John Mendel, head of sales for American Honda, vowed the 9th-generation Accord would "raise the bar again through a tour de force of new Honda powertrain and safety technologies, geared to ensure that Honda and the Accord continue to lead in fuel economy, safety and fun-to-drive performance."

Shrinking share

Sales of the Accord -- America's top-selling car in 1989-91 and again in 2001 -- have rebounded 28% this year through July to 183,817.

That is just ahead of the Nissan Altima, with sales of 183,703, but behind the top-selling Toyota Camry, with year-to-date sales of 243,816 units.

Last year, Accord was passed by the surging Altima in U.S. sales volume, partly because of inventory shortages stemming from the March 2011 earthquake in Japan.

The Accord's share of the mid-sized segment has slipped markedly over the past several years, from 17% in 2007 to 11% this year, according to data from R.L. Polk.

However, those numbers include fleet sales. If only retail sales are counted, the Accord's segment share has slipped from 21% to 14%, but it still holds a solid 2nd place, according to Polk.


Both the Accord and the segment-leading Camry have ceded a few points of share apiece to the Sonata, Fusion and Chevy Malibu, which analysts say is a sign of growing parity in the segment.

The Altima's share of retail sales has actually slipped over the same period -- indicating big fleet sales for the Altima as Nissan sold down the old model before its redesign this summer.

George Peterson, president of the AutoPacific consultancy in Tustin, Calif., said Honda has more to worry about from the 2013 Altima than it does from the Camry that was redesigned last fall.

"With the weight Nissan has put behind Altima, can Honda keep Accord close to Camry?"
Peterson asked. "The base Altima comes across as a credible car. There's a lot of stuff in that car."

Honda has said the 2013 Accord will offer more standard equipment compared to the current model, such as Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, a full-color intelligent multi-information display and SMS text messaging that reads received texts from compatible mobile devices aloud over the audio system.

Perhaps more worrying to Honda is that Accord residual values have slipped from 52% to 49% since 2007, according to Automotive Lease Guide.

Meanwhile, the overall residual values in the mid-sized segment have increased. As a result, the Accord's price premium over the segment average has slipped from 7 percentage points to 2 .

Honda also will have to get its dealers off the incentive juice. As part of its sell-down strategy, Honda spent $3,900 per unit in APR and lease incentives on the Accord in July, and $4,500 in April, according to TrueCar data.

Rival Toyota spent $2,180 apiece for APR and lease deals on the Camry in July.

You can reach Mark Rechtin at mrechtin@crain.com. -- Follow Mark on Twitter​
 
#6 ·
MotorTrend


After months of catching 2013 Honda Accord prototypes, the redesigned midsizer has finally been revealed. The 1st official 2013 Accord photos show more sophisticated styling that should work in the midsize Honda’s favor when the car rolls into showrooms this fall.

2013 Honda Accord Officially Uncovered! 2013 Accord Photo Gallery Inside imageJudging from the photos, the 2013 Honda Accord sedan appears to have evolved into a slightly more refined piece of machinery. The resculpted hood and revised lower front fascia give the sedan a more muscular look, while the previous model’s bulbous rear end has been smoothed out. Pictured is a new 2013 Honda Accord sedan in Touring trim, a top-of-the-line model we’ve seen on the Odyssey. A car like the 2013 Honda Accord Touring – with the available LED daytime running lights – could compete with higher-price offerings like the 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium and 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited.

The 2013 Honda Accord will be powered by a 2.4-liter inline-4 with at least 181 hp, mated to a continuously variable transmission or 6-speed manual. An optional 3.5-liter V-6 will produce at least 271 hp, and can be coupled to a 6-speed automatic or 6-speed manual transmission (the latter, likely only on the 2013 Accord coupe). As for the plug-in hybrid, that Accord will use a 2.0-liter i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine with an electric CVT and have an all-electric mode that could have a 10-15 mile range.


As we’ve previously reported, the 2013 Accord will feature the automaker’s latest cloud-based infotainment system called HondaLink. The new setup brings a variety of apps such as Yelp and Slacker Radio, as well as audio books, and podcasts to the cockpit through the use of steering-wheel-mounted controls, in-dash controls, and voice commands. Even on the go, Accord drivers stay in the loop thanks to Facebook and Twitter feeds that can be read aloud.

Stay tuned for full details on the 2013 Honda Accord sedan and coupe as its launch date approaches.
 
#10 ·
Press Release


Honda today announced the all-new 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe, a storied nameplate that will once again redefine sophistication, efficiency and driving joy in the midsize class. Completely redesigned for 2013, the all-new Honda Accord provides a host of powertrain, engineering, electronic and safety firsts combined with Honda's trademark visibility and smart design.

Better, not bigger, the completely new Honda Accord lineup includes Sedan and Coupe models powered by 4-cylinder, V-6 and hybrid powertrains, teamed to manual, automatic and continuously variable transmission (CVT) options. The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan goes on sale September 19, 2012, with the Coupe to follow on October 15, 2012. An all-new, 2-motor 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Sedan is scheduled to debut in early 2013, followed by a conventional hybrid based on the same powertrain architecture in the summer of 2013.

Using the most high-strength steel in the model's history, the 2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe bodies combine sophisticated and athletic styling with remarkable aerodynamic streamlining. Revised Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structures improve frontal crash safety, making the all-new Accord 1 of few midsize offerings expected to excel in the upcoming small-overlap frontal barrier crash test.

All-new Earth Dreams™ powertrains include the first U.S. application of Honda's next-generation 2.4-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder engine. The 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe will also offer a more powerful and efficient V-6, and in early 2013, an all-new 2-motor 2014 Accord Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) Sedan will debut. 4 transmissions are available, including the first-ever application of a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on 2.4-liter 4-cylinder models, a 6-speed automatic on V-6 models, and unique 6-speed manual transmissions on 2.4-liter 4-cylinder models and the 3.5-liter V-6 Coupe. Fuel efficiency is the best ever for an Accord in the EPA Midsize class, with 4-cylinder models earning up to an EPA 36 mpg highway rating1 and V-6 models getting up to an EPA 34 mpg highway rating.1

Other new Accord technologies include the 1st application of the all-new cloud-based HondaLink™ system, which lets drivers put away their smartphones and still stay connected to the people, music and social media they love. Also debuting on the 2013 Accord is the exclusive available Honda LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror for an enhanced view of the passenger-side roadway. The all-new 2013 Honda Accord also receives a rearview camera and an Expanded View Driver's Mirror as standard equipment.

New Accord Technology

Honda's first use of direct injection (DI) in North America contributes to the 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine's excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions.
A new Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), available with the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, contributes to the Accord's improved fuel efficiency. Honda's unique G-Design Shift logic creates a connected feel and provides a more immediate acceleration response than conventional automatics or other CVT designs.
New MacPherson-strut front suspension improves ride and handling qualities, while also reducing interior noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The new lighter aluminum and steel front subframe also uses a proprietary Honda friction-stir welding process.
3 features highly coveted by consumers are now standard on every new Accord: Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, USB/iPod® integration and rearview camera. No other manufacturer provides this level of standard equipment. Honda's Expanded View Driver's Mirror is also now standard equipment on every Accord.
All Accord models feature standard Econ button with Eco Assist™
Included on Accord EX, EX-L and Touring Sedan models and EX-L Coupe, Honda LaneWatch™ Blind Spot Display provides an expanded rear view of the passenger side roadway through the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID).
All-new Smart Entry & Push Button Start included on Accord EX, EX-L and Touring models.
Included on EX-L and Touring Sedan and EX-L Coupe models, Forward Collision Warning (FCW) alerts the driver when a potential collision with another vehicle ahead is detected.
Included on Accord EX-L and Touring models, Lane Departure Warning (LDW) alerts the driver when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use.
New SmartVent™ side airbags mitigate the risk of excessive airbag deployment force while eliminating the need for the prior Accord's Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). SmartVent also allows improved heating of the passenger seatback on EX-L and Touring models.
The Accord Touring Sedan offers Honda's first light emitting diode (LED) projector headlights for improved visibility. In addition, LED daytime running lights (DRLs) are found on V-6 powered models, while LED brake lights come on all EX-L and Touring models.
Exclusive to the Touring Sedan, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) allows the driver to set a desired speed and a distance interval behind the vehicle ahead.
The all-new available HondaLink™ connected-car system allows owners to put their smartphones away and still stay connected to their favorite digital content.

Model Lineup
The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan will be available in 6 model choices, including an all-new top-spec Touring trim (LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6, and Touring), with the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid Sedan arriving early in 2013. The striking 2013 Honda Accord Coupe will be available in 4 model choices (LX-S, EX, EX-L and EX-L V6).

The 2013 Accord Sedan is available in 9 exterior colors, including 4 metallic and 5 pearl colors. All-new colors include Champagne Frost Pearl, Hematite Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Obsidian Blue Pearl. The 2013 Accord Coupe is available in 7 exterior colors, including 2 metallic, 5 pearl and 1 solid color. All-new colors include Modern Steel Metallic, Still Night Pearl, Tiger Eye Pearl and White Orchid Pearl.

Powertrain
As in previous generations, 2 gasoline engines are available on the 2013 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe. These include a new Earth Dreams™ 2.4-liter 4-cylinder with Honda's 1st use of direct injection in North America, and an Earth Dreams™ 3.5-liter V-6 with revised VTEC + VCM functions. The base 185-horsepower (hp) 4-cylinder engine is coupled to a choice of an efficient new continuously variable transmission (CVT), or a new fun-to-shift 6-speed manual transmission on selected models. The Accord Sport Sedan model provides a 189-horsepower version of the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. Meanwhile, Accord V-6 models feature a 278-horsepower 3.5-liter engine coupled to a 6-speed automatic or, in the V-6 Coupe, a 6-speed manual transmission.

In early 2013, the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid will debut Honda's new 2.0-liter 4-cylinder 2-motor plug-in hybrid system. Available in the Sedan only, this system operates continuously through 3 modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive – to maximize fuel efficiency.

Body
Crisply styled and aerodynamically efficient, the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe body designs are the most sophisticated in Accord history. The 2013 Accord unit-body uses 55.8-percent high-tensile steel, more than in any previous Accord. In addition, 17.2-percent of the steel is now grade 780, 980 and 1,500 – extremely high grades that have never before been used in any Accord. This contributes to higher body rigidity and reduced weight, which directly benefits ride and handling, interior quietness, performance and efficiency and long-term durability.

With its contoured body-sides, the Sedan's exterior design is sleek, bold and decisive, while the Coupe's design is rakish, taut and athletic. Extensive use of under-covers improve aerodynamics for increased fuel efficiency, while other advances include available LED headlights, DRLs and brake lights, mirror-mounted turn signals, and the standard Expanded View Driver's Mirror that increases the driver's field of vision by 4.2 degrees.

Chassis
Literally every aspect of the Accord's chassis was reviewed or redesigned to create the best possible driving experience. Altogether, the highly rigid unit-body, refined suspension technology and advanced electronics define the 2013 Accord chassis as the most capable in model history. The new Accord is quieter and more responsive on city streets, smoother and more composed on the highway, and even more faithful to the driver's wishes on winding roads.

New features for Accord include a MacPherson strut front suspension, a steel and aluminum front subframe and electric power steering (EPS). Standard Active Noise Control (ANC) and Active Sound Control (ASC) on both 4-cylinder and V-6 models counteract engine noise, particularly at high rpm.

The lightweight MacPherson strut front suspension improves ride and handling qualities while also reducing interior noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The new aluminum and steel front subframe reduces weight and, in conjunction with the new independent multi-link rear suspension, further reduces NVH. Careful aerodynamic tailoring of the underbody and suspension systems provides additional noise reductions.

The new EPS setup uses an electric motor to assist the rack-and-pinion steering rather than the hydraulic assist of the previous Accord. The result is reduced steering effort and fuel consumption, with improved precision, feel and stability.

Alloy wheels are now standard across the Accord model range, and range in size from 16 to 18 inches. 4-wheel disc brakes are also standard, as is Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, a 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control, and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Hill start assist is also now standard on the Accord.

Interior
A completely new interior provides a level of luxury and craftsmanship never before seen in the Accord. Available in Black, Gray and Ivory cloth or leather, the interior combines welcoming comfort with an impressive range of available technologies. Standard features include redesigned seating, dual-zone automatic climate control and simplified controls and instrumentation.

Compared to the prior edition, both the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe offer spacious accommodations for 5 passengers, and a roomy trunk with a flatter load floor for greater utility. Although the Accord's length has decreased over 3 inches and the wheelbase is almost an inch shorter, key interior dimensions grow. Rear legroom increases over an inch, both front and rear shoulder room increase, and trunk space is up over a cubic foot. Altogether, the interior is remarkably quiet, stylish and upscale, with high-quality materials, exemplary fit and finish, and advanced seating comfort and ergonomics.

Contemporary onboard electronics help the Accord driver seamlessly interface with the latest generation of compatible personal mobile electronics. Standard features on all Accords include a bright, full-color 8-inch (diagonal) "intelligent" Multi-Information Display (i-MID), Bluetooth®2 HandsFreeLink® phone interface, Pandora® internet radio interface and an SMS text messaging feature. A new available Audio with touchscreen display and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic is also available.

The 2013 Accord is also the 1st Honda product to offer available HondaLink™ technology, which works with the owner's compatible smartphone to connect the Accord with music and media resources such as Aha™ by Harman, internet apps, roadside assistance and more. Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are also available.

Safety
The 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe offer the greatest range of active and passive safety features in Honda history. Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) is standard on all Accord models, and available new technologies include Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW).

Collision safety engineering includes the updated Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which improves occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions, and the most extensive use of high-strength steel in Accord history. The Accord's impact-absorbing front body design can even help attenuate energy in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian.

Passive-safety features include 6 airbags, including dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags. New SmartVent™ side airbags reduce the risk of excessive airbag deployment force and eliminate the need for the Accord's previous Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).

Based on internal testing, both the 2013 Accord Sedan and Coupe are expected to earn a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and 5-star ratings in federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests3.

Manufacturing
Celebrating 30 years of Accord production in the United States, the all-new 2013 Honda represents the expanding capabilities of Honda in North America. Virtually every aspect of the Accord was developed, tested and finalized by Honda associates throughout California and Ohio. The Accord is produced4 in Ohio by Honda of America Mfg. Inc. using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Additional media information including detailed pricing, features and high-resolution photography of the 2013 Honda Accord is available at Honda Media Newsroom. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

Connect with Honda:
Media Newsroom (for journalists): Honda Media Newsroom - Accord
For consumers: Choose the 2012 Accord Sedan or 2012 Accord Coupe - Official Honda Site
YouTube: The Honda Channel - YouTube
Flickr: Flickr: Honda News' Photostream
Twitter: Honda (Honda) on Twitter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HondaAccord
Pinterest: Honda (honda) on Pinterest
On Google+
 
#11 ·
LLN


Americans really like Honda Accords. Even with a new model just weeks away from showrooms, more retail buyers took delivery of new Accords last month than any other car in the country.

So it's safe to say that expectations are pretty high for the redesigned Accord you see here, a more-than-meets-the-eye rethink that brings with it a degree of innovation we haven't seen out of Honda in a while.


For 1, value is finally part of the deal. Once-stingy Honda is now including alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth and a high-resolution 8-inch screen with a backup camera as standard on the entry-level $21,680 Accord LX. Clearly, change as afloat at an automaker that made buyers pay extra for air conditioning and a radio just a few short years ago.

This reinvigoration extends beyond just “on paper” changes. Although the 2013 Accord might have the same overall shape as its predecessor, the 2 are substantially different in person. A simpler, more elegant design permeates the Accord both inside and out, and even though the look isn't wholly original – we see lots of Hyundai Genesis, for example – it is far more cohesive than before.


Underneath, Accord now stretches more than 2 and a half inches shorter, a welcome change since the outgoing model was nearly a full-size sedan. In addition, the double wishbone front suspension setup has been shelved in favor of a more sophisticated MacPherson strut setup.

In the engine room, Accord ditches its outgoing motors in favor of 2 all-new units and 1 that has been thoroughly revised.


Most Accords will be motivated by a new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder developed under Honda's new “Earth Dreams” eco-friendly engine program. With direct injection and Honda's VTEC variable valve timing system, the 2.4 puts out 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft. of torque. A new Sport trim level adds dual exhaust for an extra 4 ponies.

Eschewing a trend away from manuals, a 6-speed stick shift is standard, while an all-new CVT (with paddle shifters on Sports) is optional.


The CVT/4-cylinder model is rated by the EPA at 27/36 mpg, which is impressive but still trails the 38 mpg Nissan Altima overall.

Upmarket Accords offer a revised 3.5-liter V6 that, with the new addition of VTEC and a carryover cylinder deactivation system, cranks out 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft. of torque. The V6 is mated only to a 6-speed automatic in sedans, but the coupe offers a 6-speed manual.That cylinder deactivation system reaps rewards on the highway, where the sedan is rated at 34 mpg. City consumption, at 21 mpg, is more V6-typical.


Exclusive to sedans is a new plug-in hybrid powertrain for the late-introduction Accord PHEV. Capable of motivating the Accord on solely electric power for around 10-15 miles, the hybrid is actually reasonably peppy at 196 horsepower and 226 lb-ft. from a combination of gas and electric motivation powering a CVT. EPA figures for the Accord PHEV are due out closer to its on-sale date early next year.

The Accord PHEV's battery takes up a good deal of its trunk space, though a quick charging system means the battery is full in less time than it takes to enjoy lunch as long as the sedan is plugged into a 240V outlet.


A bevvy of Accord trim levels are on offer, but we think the entry-level LX ($21,680) and step above Sport ($23,390) (which adds 18-inch alloy wheels, a dual exhaust and a few leather bits inside, but no chassis changes) represent the Accord's high-value sweet spot. On those models, selecting the CVT adds $800. Notably, navigation is not available until you step up to the $29,995 EX-L with navigation model.

Inner trappings


This latest Accord might not set the standard for style in the segment the way the Kia Optima does, but its cabin is undeniably a comfortable place to whittle away the miles.

Accord's interior is fresh and upmarket, with the new screen mounted high on the dashboard commanding the most attention. That screen's presence clears up the button-heavy dashboard of the outgoing Accord. Further improving matters is a general upgrade in materials quality throughout. Our only kvetch is that we would like to see more than 2 interior shades on offer.


Higher-trim versions with a new HondaLink infotainment system have a second, smaller touchscreen mounted on the center of the dashboard (which is pictured in the photo gallery), where it is framed by a metallic gloss black panel. Generally, the system is intuitive, but we would have preferred traditional switches for commonly-used functions like radio presets. At least Bluetooth pairing was a cinch.

Accord's excellent packaging was retained, meaning the new car has more usable space than its predecessor despite the smaller overall dimensions.

On the road


Accords have long been notable for their slightly more enthusiast-oriented driving dynamics and this latest model appears to continue that tradition.

Firm but nonetheless compliant suspension tuning and higher-effort electric power steering impart a feeling of confidence on the road lacking in softer or less precise rivals like the Hyundai Sonata and Chevrolet Malibu. Though the steering is a little dead right on center, effort builds predictably and, ultimately, the Accord proved a delight to toss around the curvy roads we encountered outside of Santa Barbara, California.


The 6-speed manual will account for a low take rate, and that's a shame since it could set the standard for the segment. Luckily, the CVT isn't a bad companion either. Set to become Honda's highest volume CVT ever, this unit did its best to keep the Accord within its power band without the elastic feel that plagued some earlier units by other automakers. We're still not used to the concept of not feeling shifts, but this ranks up there with the Nissan Altima's unit as 1 of the best efforts in the industry.

Power comes on strong and buttery smooth with either engine, but we did notice a bit more thrum at idle than we expected with the 2.4-liter. The V6 remains robust and torquey, not to mention a bit more refined than before. Similarly, the extra cog in the V6's conventional transmission made this a stellar combination. Our time in a V6/6-speed manual coupe was limited, but we found it to be capable if considerably less sporty than the 2 door proportions might suggest.


We also didn't get much seat time in the Accord PHEV. What little driving experience we did have showed it to be a robust performer. Notably, the PHEV has a steering wheel-mounted button to allow drivers to decide just when they want to use only battery power. In other words, drivers can use EV mode around town, where they'll get more miles out of it, and stick in normal hybrid mode otherwise.

EX ($24,405) and above models – that's 1 step above Sport – include an all-new blind spot monitoring system dubbed LaneWatch that, instead of flashing orange lights to warn drivers, uses a camera integrated into the passenger-side outside mirror. When a driver signals that he wants to turn right, the camera fires up and displays a live image of the blind spot in the upper dashboard screen. The camera can also be kept on at all times, presumably for passenger amusement. While there's undoubtedly some value in this system to salespeople looking to close a deal, we think a radar-based system with flashing lights is far less distracting.

Still, it's that kind of outside-of-the-box thinking that catapulted Honda to the top years ago – and it's finally back all throughout the 2013 Accord.


Leftlane's bottom line

After the disappointingly redesigned Civic arrived last year, we were prepared for the worst with this latest Accord. Fortunately, Honda has done more than just assuage our concerns: It has built a genuinely good vehicle that very well might put Honda at the top of its class.

Substantially upgraded inside, outside and underneath, the 2013 Accord pushes all the right buttons, especially in its new high-value lower specification models.

2013 Honda Accord sedan base price, range, $21,680 to $33,430.

 
#12 ·
AutoBlog


It's been a rough couple of years for Honda fans. Those of us who filed willingly behind the big H banner in days gone by have found ourselves making excuses for the death of the S2000, the inadequate mileage and compromised driving characteristics of the Insight hybrid, and the unworthy successor to the CRX throne, the CR-Z. But surely we could forgive Honda a few transgressions. After all, this is the manufacturer that my generation cut its driving teeth on. Hordes of us can recite engine, transmission and chassis codes at length and on command the way our fathers knew Chevrolet big-block VINs by heart because, after all, this is a manufacturer we love.

But with the addition of ungainly and uninteresting products like the Accord Crosstour, many of us couldn't help but take the company's missteps personally. When the 2012 Civic rolled out, even Consumer Reports, a publication that routinely hails Honda products as more crucial to living a fulfilled life than a quality washing machine, infamously didn't recommend the compact. Was our favorite automaker intentionally trying to piss us off? If so, it was working.

So when Honda announced the arrival of the 2013 Accord, we approached the reveal with measured skepticism. Like a dog suffering under the feigned throw-the-ball trick, we had no interest in going down the now familiar path of excitement and disappointment. This time around, Honda was going to have to prove it still knew how to build a competitive car.



Competitiveness starts with stylishness, which is something the Honda design department seems to have struggled with of late. Fortunately, the 2013 Accord is a remarkably good looking vehicle. Designers have managed to revitalize the exterior without making the sedan unrecognizable, which is important for a model that's sold 11 million units in the U.S. alone since Honda began manufacturing the Accord here some 30 years ago. Engineers shortened the new generation by 3.6 inches, which has done much to take the heft out of the design. With abbreviated overhangs front and rear, the new Accord doesn't look as portly as its predecessor, and that's a huge step in the right direction.

Up front, the 2013 model can't help but look attractively aggressive thanks to its swept headlamp arrays and inset fog lamps. Of course, the chicken-wire mesh lower grille of our Sport trim tester helps in that department, too. All in all, the front clip seems to have cribbed from the Acura design playbook of 2004, which is by no means meant as a slight. We dig it.



That aforementioned Sport trim is one of 2 new lines in the Accord stable. Higher up the chain, buyers will now find Touring models available on the order sheet. Snugged between the lowly LX and slightly nicer EX, the Sport trim delivers a range of aesthetic adjustments outside that include the 18-inch wheels you see here, as well as a deck lid spoiler and a whopping 4-horsepower nudge in grunt from the direct-injection 4-cylinder engine under the hood. Be still our beating hearts. The interior also gets a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle-shifters on CVT-equipped models. Honda says the new trim line is an effort to lower the age of the average Accord buyer.

Viewed broadside, it's easier to get a glimpse of the sedan's massive passenger cell and expansive greenhouse. Honda managed to maintain the Accord's cavernous cabin and actually expand trunk volume while clipping the vehicle's overall length thanks to some packaging cleverness, and the result is a bit of a bubble roof. Surprisingly enough, the 2013 Accord has managed to maintain its slim A and C pillars even in the face of harder-to-ace roof-crush safety tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Given how readily engineers have come to embrace chunky arches, the thin lines are a welcome sight.

Step to the vehicle's rear, however, and the design begins to look awfully familiar. The sedan's stern has more than a little Hyundai Genesis in the mix thanks to a set of sweeping tail lamp arrays that reach around the rear quarters. It's difficult to tell the 2 machines apart in a quick glance, especially when the Accord is wearing the dark silver paint of our tester. We aren't typically fans of faux chrome, but the bright strip along the trunk deck didn't hurt our feelings as it serves to tie the aft to the side sill treatment and front grille. The Sport trim serves up a set a dual exhaust outlets that deliver a nice burbly note on start up, which is a nice trick for the 4-cylinder.



I'll admit, I actually sighed with relief when I plopped myself into the driver's seat. After wincing my way through the schizophrenic Picasso dash of the ninth-generation Civic, I was prepared for all manner of cabin travesties inside the 2013 Accord. Instead, I was met with a mature and attractive instrument panel without an overabundance of buttons. Snappy faux brushed-metal accents separate control clusters for the climate controls and stereo, though higher trims get a new touch-screen interface for the media system. All models get a huge 8-inch LCD display to handle video from the standard rear-view camera, as well as a new optional blind spot camera system.

LaneWatch is a new piece of safety tech that uses a small camera in the passenger-side mirror to keep an eye on the vehicle's blind spot. Hit the right turn signal when changing lanes and the 8-inch display immediately switches to the side-view feed, complete with helpful distance markers to let you know if it's clear to get over. You can also leave the feed on all the time or turn it off completely if you find it too distracting. Make no mistake, this tech is going to show up on every car on the market very soon. LaneWatch is standard on EX models and above, and while our Sport tester did not come equipped with the gear, we shot a quick video of the tech in action on an EX model. Check it out below.

Otherwise, the 2013 Accord offers comfortable seats with plenty of adjustment as well as lots of head room and leg room for both front and rear passengers. The sedan gives front passengers 42.5 inches of leg room and rear occupants 38.5 inches. That's an extra inch in the way back compared to the 2012 model, and gives the Accord an extra 2.4 inches of leg room in back over the also-new 2013 Nissan Altima. The Altima makes up that gap up front, however, with an extra 2.5 inches of leg room for front occupants. Even so, buyers opting for either sedan would have to struggle to feel cramped inside. Even with full-grown adults up front, there's ample room in the rear for jolly-green passengers.

Honda has also stretched the rear cargo area 1.1 cubic feet by re-engineering the trunk floor. The flat load surface combines with a redesigned trunk spring mechanism that intrudes on the rear space by just 1.2 inches. The old hardware required 3.9 inches of travel to function properly.

In the engine department, Honda has finally stepped out of the last century by gracing its volume model with a direct-injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. The lump is good for 185 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 181 pound-feet of torque at 3,900 rpm in standard trim. Our Sport model made 189 horsepower at the same revs while turning out 1 more pound-feet of torque at the same engine speed. The base numbers mark a jump of 7 horsepower and 20 lb-ft of torque over the 2012 model. More importantly, Honda managed to pull 27 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway from machines equipped with the new CVT gearbox.


For comparison's sake, the old 5-speed automatic delivered 4 mpg less in city driving and 2 mpg less on the highway. Models boasting the 6-speed manual of our tester, meanwhile, get along with 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway – a jump of one mpg in both categories. The Accord loses out to the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima in highway fuel economy by 1 and 2 mpg, respectively, but ties the Ford and falls one mpg behind the Nissan in combined driving.

Like Honda engines of old, the 4-cylinder loves a good caning with plenty of pull well into redline at just under 7,000 rpm. Likewise, the 6-speed manual feels fantastic, proving Honda hasn't forgotten how to make a gearbox that's both tactile and accurate without being too course. Clutch throw is a bit on the soft side, but appropriate for a family hauler with aggressive pretentions. As nice as the 6-speed manual is, we were more impressed by the CVT. Make no mistake, there are few acronyms in the automotive vernacular that can send us wincing quicker than that of the continuously variable transmission, but this band box isn't a curse on driving.

At mid to 3-quarter throttle, engineers have programmed simulated steps to make the CVT behave like a standard automatic transmission. The idea was to expunge any of the notorious "rubber band" sensation from the drivetrain. Smother the carpet with the throttle, however, and the CVT will put the engine where it makes the most power and hold it there in perpetuity. Not a bad compromise.


No matter which transmission buyers settle on, they'll be greeted with a car that feels incredibly quick for the segment – quicker than competition like the Toyota Camry. Jumping up to interstate speed takes no effort, and launches from a dead standstill are executed with just a little torque steer at very high rpm. We imagine most drivers will never get there. Brakes are crisp and linear with good initial bite, which help give the 2013 Accord a confident feel. At highway speeds, though, the Honda continues to struggle with road and wind noise. The company's engineers say they've done plenty of work to quiet the cabin down, but it falls well behind competitors like the Volkswagen Passat and Chevrolet Malibu.

But what the Accord lacks in cabin civility, it largely makes up for in driving dynamics. The new generation bows with a MacPherson strut design up front and an independent multi-link set up in the rear, giving the sedan enough compliance to comfortably overcome broken and uneven pavement without sacrificing handling. Unfortunately, engineers also saddled the new model with electronic power steering, and while the system is precise enough for our needs, it also feels incredibly synthetic. The driver gets very little in the way of feedback from the steering wheel, diluting an otherwise excellent driving sedan in the pursuit of better fuel economy.


Buyers looking to step into a 2013 Honda Accord will need to cough up $21,680 for an LX model with a 6-speed manual gearbox, though stepping up to the CVT will add an extra $800 to the bottom line. LX guise includes Bluetooth, a rear-view camera, USB connection and dual-zone climate control as standard equipment. Our Sport tester, meanwhile, carried a base price of $23,390, and all prices exclude a $790 destination fee. At $1,710 over the base LX, the Sport is a good value given the aesthetic adjustments inside and out. With the excellent manual gearbox, a little extra pep and a set of attractive wheels, this is likely the Accord we'd have for daily duty.

So where does all this put the 2013 Accord in the mid-sized fray? Coming into this model year, the Accord's place among the segment's top 3 sellers was Honda's to lose, but the next-generation sedan has the chops to ensure long-time Honda buyers will drive away from the dealer with a machine worthy of the badge on the hood. This is the Accord as we know it best. While there is no revolutionary engineering on hand, the model delivers plenty of power, solid fuel economy, lots of space and a compelling drive for accessible money.
 
#13 ·
AutoWeek


What is it?

The 9th-generation Honda Accord debuts just in time to take on an onslaught of new competition for the 2013 model year, including the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima. In addition, there's the Toyota Camry that was redone for 2012 and strong Korean entries in the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima.

The Accord lineup again comprises sedan and coupe models. Significant highlights are a fresh powertrain lineup developed under the company's Earth Dreams banner that includes a new direct-injection 4-cylinder, updated V6; revised transmission portfolio, including a continuously variable transmission; and a couple of hybrid offerings.

The 2.4-liter engine is based on a new lightweight architecture. It gains direct injection to produce 185 hp and 189 lb-ft of torque, improvements of 8 hp and 28 lb-ft over the outgoing car's base 2.4-liter engine. Connected to the 4-cylinder is a standard 6-speed manual (compared with a 5-speed in the 2012 model) or a CVT that replaces the 5-speed automatic. Fuel economy ratings for the Accord sedan with the manual come in at 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, while the CVT helps return a 27-mpg city rating and 36 mpg on the highway.

It's worth noting that the four-cylinder and CVT combo, which will be the volume drivetrain, falls short of the non-hybrid fuel-economy title in the midsize sedan category. With the city fuel economy rating of 27 mpg and highway rating of 38 mpg for its 2.5-liter 4-cylinder and CVT, the new Altima has bragging rights.

Unlike competitors such as the Sonata, Optima and the upcoming Malibu and Fusion, Honda sticks with a V6 as the upgrade engine option instead of moving to a force-induced 4-cylinder. The revised 3.5-liter V6 gains an expanded variable cylinder management range for improved fuel economy and sees a small horsepower bump from 271 to 278 hp. Together with a new 6-speed automatic gearbox, the sedan receives a 21-mpg city rating and 34-mpg highway rating.

For hybrid fans, Honda is working on 2 hybrid Accords -- a plug-in and a regular hybrid. Both are developed around a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder with a 13:1 compression ratio, a 2-motor hybrid system and lithium-ion battery pack. In the plug-in, the engine and electric motors are good for a combined 198 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque. On a fully charged battery, Honda says electric-only range for the plug-in is between 10 to 15 miles. Complete details on the regular hybrid aren't available yet.

Another concession to fuel economy is the move to electric power steering in place of a hydraulic system. And packaging and weight reasons see the front suspension convert from a double wishbone setup to MacPherson struts.

Dimensionally, the new Accord sedan isn't as big as the car it replaces in most measurements, with a wheelbase that's 0.9 inches shorter and overall length down by 3.5 inches. However, cabin space grows slightly by 0.5 cubic feet, and trunk space is up by 0.8 cubic feet.

Inside the cabin for all models are standard automatic climate controls and a rearview camera. To quiet the cabin -- an area Honda admits it needed to work on -- active noise and sound controls are standard.

Other available features include a LaneWatch system that monitors two lanes of your right-side blind spot and displays an image on the central screen. There also are forward-collision and lane-departure warnings, adaptive cruise control and HondaLink, and an in-car interface that works with Android and iPhone devices.

In an attempt to give the Accord sedan a sportier flavor, a new Sport trim is added. It builds on the LX model and adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, slightly stiffer suspension tuning, fog lights, rear spoiler, paddle shifters for CVT-equipped models and a dual-exhaust system. With the freer-breathing exhaust, the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gets a 4-hp jump to 189 hp.

If you want the sportiest Accord, look to the coupe, offered with both the 4-cylinder and the V6. Like the sedan, the 4-cylinder in the coupe can be paired with a 6-speed manual or the CVT, while the V6 can be had with either a 6-speed automatic transmission or a coupe-exclusive 6-speed manual -- the hottest Accord ticket by far.

Sales of the Accord sedan begin officially on Sept. 19, with the coupe following on Oct. 15. The plug-in hybrid is expected to hit showrooms in early 2013, while the conventional hybrid will land sometime next summer.


What is it like to drive?

1st we sampled a sedan equipped with the base 4-cylinder engine and standard 6-speed manual transmission. This powertrain combination was fairly engaging for this class of midsize sedan. The manual shifter feels excellent with crisp shifts and an easy-to-work clutch. The direct-injected 4-cylinder provides adequate power and, like a typical Honda 4-cylinder, it's smooth and doesn't mind running up near the top of the rev range.

The electric power steering is light and has a dead spot on center, but once more angle is dialed in it gets weightier and more responsive. On curvy roads outside of Santa Barbara, Calif., the new Accord feels confidently planted, with some roll tuned into the suspension that takes the edge off of all but the nastiest of bumps. Brakes easily slow the Accord down with firm pedal feedback.

On the freeway, the cabin is quiet and well isolated from road and wind noise. The front bucket seats are supportive and kept us comfortable on our four-hour drive route. Outward visibility is good and all climate and entertainment controls are clearly labeled and easy to work.

1 fear many had about the new Accord was that it would fall short in the interior quality category following the disappointing makeover Honda gave the Civic for 2012, but thankfully it doesn't. Almost all major surfaces throughout the spacious cabin are soft-touch and appear to be built from quality materials. However, we could do without the chrome trim around the shifter area -- the sun reflection is distracting.

During our test drive, we found the optional LaneWatch system handy to easily check if there were any vehicles in our right blind spot or the possibility of moving over two lanes as we maneuvered through freeway traffic.

We also spent a good amount of time with the 4-cylinder and CVT combination and were pleasantly surprised. When driving, normally there are well-placed steps programmed into the CVT to simulate gear changes. The transmission is quick to change ratios for merging and passing, and it won't drive you insane with rubber band-like operation. Of course, under heavy throttle the transmission will keep it pegged at a certain rpm and buzz like mad, but in all other situations it does a fine job. The majority of Accord sedan buyers probably won't notice the difference from a traditional automatic gearbox.

We had a brief stint in the Accord Sport sedan and while we won't claim to notice the 4-hp bump in output from the four-cylinder, we will say that it does feel a smidge tighter when thrown into corners, with more grip before giving way to understeer thanks to the wider 18-inch tires and lightly altered suspension tuning. However, we will say the fog lights, rear spoiler and wheels make this basic 4-door sedan look a tiny bit more exciting.

A little time was also spent with the hottest V6 and 6-speed manual coupe. With 278 hp going to the front wheels, some torque steer is to be expected, though it's manageable, and the manual shifter again is exceptionally fluid and a joy to use. The power helps pull the coupe along to the speed limit and beyond in short order, and the engine is among the smoothest V6 powerplants available today. Understeer is again present in tight corners but the coupe handles gradual bends well with some roll, and ride quality is quite comfortable.

Our day ended with a brief stint behind the wheel of a prototype plug-in hybrid. On the roughly seven miles we covered, the brakes offered good modulation through the pedal, which is nice instead of the on/off switch performance of many other hybrids. Power is sufficient to get up to expressway speeds when you put your right foot into it, and overall operation was good for a prototype.


Do I want it?

Many people will want the 2013 Honda Accord, and the good news is there are many reasons for them to want it. Unlike with the Civic, Honda didn't disappoint with the new Accord and has delivered a fuel-efficient vehicle lineup that caters to a wide audience without compromising in key areas such as interior quality. The new direct-injected 4-cylinder is powerful enough and when paired with the new CVT should please the heart of the market, while the potent V6 remains at the top of the range for sedan shoppers willing to give up a bit of fuel economy for more power.

The coupe is there for customers looking for a sportier 2-door that has serviceable back-seat space for 2 adults and is offered with the hot V6 and 6-speed manual drivetrain combo.

And for the really green crowd, 2 hybrid options will be out by next summer. With all those options, the Accord lineup is stacked and more than ready to take on all the new competition emerging for the 2013 model year.

2013 Honda Accord

On Sale: Sept. 19 (sedan), Oct. 15 (coupe)

Base Price: $22,470 (sedan), $24,140 (coupe)

Drivetrain: 2.4-liter, 185-hp, 189-lb-ft I4; FWD, six-speed manual

Curb Weight: 3,192 lb (sedan), 3,186 lb (coupe)

0-60 mph: n/a

Fuel Economy (EPA): 24 mpg city/34 mpg highway​


 
#14 ·
CNET


Honda built a reputation on economy cars that displayed a touch more quality than the competition. To this day, Honda's lineup consists of practical, well-built cars. However, the company has not had a new idea in years. The 2013 Honda Accord heralds the revivification of Honda's collective brain cells, bringing with it new technologies necessary for the company to face off against its already modernized competition.

At a press preview, I drove a few of the many variants of the 2013 Accord about to be unleashed on the American public. Honda's sales model has always been a bit different from other automakers'. Rather than adding options piecemeal, Honda buyers have to settle for whatever equipment comes with the trim levels they select. Even navigation is considered a different trim level within the Honda system.

However, this lack of optional equipment does not mean there is little choice. The body of the new Accord can be had in sedan or coupe styles. Honda makes 2 engines available, a direct-injection 2.4-liter 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V-6. For all but one body style and engine combination, buyers can choose an automatic or manual transmission, and that automatic comes in 2 flavors, continuously variable (CVT) and 6 fixed gears. Then there are the different trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, EX-L with Navi, Sport, and Touring. And coming soon will be a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid.

I drove 4 of these models on a sunny day in California, tackling freeways, back roads, and light-traffic suburban streets. Starting with the navigation-equipped top-trim EX-L V-6 sedan, the 1 engine body combo that can only be had with Honda's 6-speed automatic, I immediately noticed an area of improvement I had long awaited: Honda has finally implemented a truly integrated dashboard electronics suite.

Honda's current cars were designed in such a way that navigation was an add-on, which leads to duplication of buttons and displays. These cars generally have a voice-command Bluetooth system standard, with an additional, separate voice command system brought in as part of the navigation system. Likewise, the cars would keep a radio display, which would show similar information as on the navigation LCD.

LCDs for all
For the 2013 Accord, Honda puts an 8-inch LCD at the top of the dashboard, standard at all trims. Models without navigation use that display to show phone and stereo information. Only the EX-L and V-6 Touring trim get navigation, a hard-drive-based system on which I noticed maps much improved over Honda's current offering.

1 odd addition to the interface in the top-trim Accords is a monochrome touch screen just above the climate controls. A jog dial, similar to that used by Acura, operates the color LCD at the top of the dashboard. Honda could easily show all infotainment functions on the 8-inch LCD, so I don't understand the necessity of the smaller screen, except as a means of showing current audio information while the main LCD shows route guidance. The models without navigation get a slightly altered control interface, lacking the monochrome touch screen but keeping the big, color LCD and jog dial.


The navigation option adds a touch screen below the standard, color LCD.
(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)

Although Honda actually shortened the Accord sedan by 3.6 inches from the outgoing model, the cabin felt roomy enough that my co-driver and I never had to brush elbows. And in EX-L trim, which includes power-adjustable leather seats and a pleasant interior design, the Accord seems to threaten Acura's place as Honda's premium brand. To help reduce interior noise, Honda included a technology it has long used in its Acura models, active noise canceling. A microphone in the cabin picks up road noise, and the stereo emits frequencies that cancel it out. While driving the car, I could easily hear my co-driver as he related story after story from back in the day. Maybe that noise cancellation is not always a benefit.

The Accord uses a fixed suspension, but Honda revised it to deliver a better ride than the current car. The results were good, and I found it so smooth that it was often difficult to judge the car's speed without looking at the speedometer. A 3.5-liter V-6 may sound familiar from the current Honda lineup, but this engine now includes i-VTEC technology, which controls valve timing and lift to deliver better efficiency. However, the engine only makes 278 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque, plenty for the Accord, but only 7 horsepower over the previous engine. Honda estimates fuel economy with this engine-transmission combination at 21 mpg city and 34 mpg highway, a gain of up to 4 mpg over the current V-6 Accord.

I tried for a "VTEC kicked in, yo" moment but found that the 6-speed automatic transmission did not include manual gear selection, just a standard Drive and Sport mode, making it difficult to wind up the rpms. The engine offered easy power for hill climbing and passing other traffic, aided by a slight reduction in curb weight from the outgoing model.

Honda talked up how it refined the electric power-steering system for the new Accord. A noncontact torque sensor is supposed to make the steering feel linear. I have not found other electric power-steering systems to lack a linear feeling, so I did not quite get this improvement. In general, the steering wheel felt a bit overboosted, light and easy to turn. Handling was good, if typical for a modern midsize sedan. The front-wheel-drive Accord did not roll much in the turns, but it felt like the front end would wash out if really stressed.

Camera for a side mirror
1 really intriguing feature in the car was Honda's new blind-spot monitoring system, called LaneWatch. Unlike other automakers, Honda puts a camera in the right side mirror, and shows the view from that side of the car on the center LCD. I could see the lanes next to the Accord on the display without having to look across to the right side mirror, or turn my head around to look through the rear side windows. The left side does not get the same treatment, as Honda says it would be counterintuitive to look to the right when trying to make a left lane change. I found myself undecided about this type of blind-spot monitoring, and preferring that used by other automakers, which lights up a warning icon somewhere around the side mirror if a car is in the next lane over.

Honda is putting LaneWatch in lower-trim models as well. I took the wheel of a 4-cylinder model with 6-speed manual transmission, which lacked navigation. It also had the LaneWatch feature, along with a Bluetooth phone system and a USB port for iPod and USB drives. For app integration, the car had Pandora and the new HondaLink service, which comes standard in all EX-L and Touring trim sedans, and in the EX and EX-L Coupes. HondaLink uses the driver's own smartphone as its data connection.


Honda gives the driver a camera view out of the right side of the Accord.
(Credit: Honda)

HondaLink is based on the Aha service, and delivers a variety of Internet-based audio channels into the car. Beyond just music, the audio channels include podcasts and audiobooks. Even more innovative, Aha takes usually text-based Internet sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and translates them to audio. Drivers can listen to their own Facebook updates or Twitter feeds. HondaLink also has some Yelp functionality, narrowed down to searches for nearby restaurants or coffee shops. Again, the driver listens to the search results. The Yelp search is also smart, in the sense that it takes into account the direction and the road on which the car is traveling, only serving up results ahead of it.

Direct-injection efficiency
What I was really looking forward to in driving the 4-cylinder Accord was trying out the new direct-injection engine. This 2.4-liter engine makes 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. That is only 8 more horsepower than the previous 2.4-liter, but 19 more pound-feet of torque. This Accord drove as easily as the V-6 version, and the 6-speed manual was enjoyable to shift, as the gate felt precise yet comfortable.

With the hood up, the clatter of the injectors was very audible, but that sound did not intrude into the cabin. The only spot where I noticed the lessened power was on an ascent. Forced to downshift to 3rd, I found the rising engine speed sounded off with an unholy whine that overcame the fancy noise cancellation in the cabin.


Honda reduced the number of buttons on its steering wheel and dashboard.
(Credit: Honda)

After the 4-cylinder with the manual, I took a shorter drive in 1 with the new CVT, the automatic transmission option for all the 4-cylinder Accords. As CVTs do, this 1 delivered linear acceleration, without any big rpm drops for big gear changes. When I put the gas pedal down, the CVT dutifully grabbed a lower ratio to give the car more speed. It did not eliminate the struggle I had felt with the other 4-cylinder when trying to get the power up.

Honda says the CVT-equipped 4-cylinder will do 27 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, very nice for a midsize sedan, while the manual transmission delivers a slightly lower 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. The real mileage leader among the new Accords will be the plug-in hybrid, which we'll take up in a separate article.

Honda needed the technology boost represented by this new generation of Accord. But rather than lap the midsize sedan competition, Honda seems to be merely keeping pace. Honda's style of blind-spot monitoring and app integration technology is certainly different than other automakers', and I am not sure buyers will take to the split. However, Honda has its reputation and the apparent quality of its interiors to use against the likes of the new Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion. The prices for the new Accord models, ranging all the way from $21,650 to $33,340, also keep Honda competitive in the midsize sedan segment.
 
#15 ·
LapTopMag



2013 Honda Accord Review: Equal Parts Fun and Smart
September 10th, 2012 by Daniel P. Howley, LAPTOP Staff Writer
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It’s been 29 years since Honda’s 1st American-built Accord rolled off of the assembly line. Since then the iconic vehicle has won the hearts of drivers across the country thanks to its exceptional driving capabilities, styling and affordability. For its 30th year, Honda is pulling out all of the stops, giving the Accord lineup an all-new look, a cavalcade of new powertrain options and a plug-in hybrid edition. But the real star of the revamped Accord (starting at $21,680, $29,995 as tested) is its impressive array of new tech.

From its new HondaLink hands-free connectivity system to the inventive LaneWatch Blind Spot Display, the 2013 Accord is the closest thing you can get to a supercomputer on wheels. We packed our bags and headed to beautiful Santa Barbara, C.A. to try out the new Accord, and see if its 30th is its best yet.

Design
From a design standpoint, the 2013 Accord has a far more athletic look than the previous generation. You’ll definitely recognize it as an Accord when you first lay eyes on it, albeit 1 that’s seems to have been hitting the gym hard. Standard daytime running lights and a reworked grill give the 2013 Accord a more aggressive face, while a character line running upward from the front fender to the rear helps build on its muscular appearance.

HandsFreeLink
The Honda Accord’s new smartphone integration system, HandsFreeLink, allows users to connect their smartphones to the vehicle’s infotainment system via Bluetooth or USB. Once connected, users can access any music stored on their phones, as well as listen to text messages and make hands free calls using a steering wheel-mounted call button.


The Accord’s infotainment system has 1 of the most unique layouts on the market. Instead of giving users 1 large display from which they can control their music and navigation systems, Honda gives you 2. The 1st, a beautiful 8-inch 800 x 480 VGA screen dubbed the “intelligent” Multi-Information Display (i-MID) sits at the top of the center stack and is used solely to display information such as track listings, directions, phone numbers and system settings. Below the 8-inch display is a smaller 6-inch touchscreen used to control the Accord’s audio system.



Underneath the touchscreen sits a large rotary knob that allows users to navigate the i-MID’s various menus. Additional physical Nav, Phone, Info and Audio buttons situated just above the knob allow you to quickly switch from listening to your favorite artist to entering an address in the navigation system with a single button press.


In addition to Bluetooth streaming audio, the Accord offers streaming music via Pandora, as well as XMSirius Satellite Radio. Don’t have your smartphone on you? An available USB port allows you to connect any USB-enabled device to the infotainment system, letting you stream music and even upload photos for use as a background for the i-MID display. The USB port also lets iPhone users control all aspects of Pandora via the Accord’s touchscreen, including skipping, liking and disliking tracks. If you connect via Bluetooth, you’ll only be able to control the volume of your Pandora station, which is pretty lame.


Having 2 displays and a series of knobs and buttons to for the infotainment system, not to mention the physical controls for the HVAC system, can seem overwhelming the first time you get behind the driver’s seat of the Accord. But in actuality, Honda has made the center stack both ergonomically pleasing — nothing was out of reach — and intuitive to use. We did find ourselves having to stretch a bit to reach the controls while in the passenger seat, but it wasn’t bad enough to be a knock on the setup.

HondaLink with Aha
While smartphone connectivity and a gorgeous navigation system are all well and good, you need to bring something extra to the tablet to wow car shoppers. In the Accord’s case, that something is Honda’s new cloud-based HondaLink connectivity system. Whereas HandsFreeLink lets you just listen to music stored natively on your device and make hands-free phone calls, HondaLink takes advantage of your smartphone’s data connection to bring apps stored on your phone into your car.


Custom user settings are uploaded from your HondaLink app to the automaker’s HondaLink Data Cloud servers, letting you store information such as points of interest, routes and preferences for the Navigation system, among other settings. This allows each driver to have a more personalized experience than they would if their settings were saved natively.

The 1st app to get the HondaLink treatment is Harman’s Aha Radio. Available for iPhone and Android devices, the app helps you curate on-demand radio stations, audio books, podcasts, news and even stream audible Facebook and Twitter updates. We got to use the Aha app for HondaLink and were impressed with both the presentation and simplicity of the controls. Users navigate Aha using the Accord’s touchscreen.


Want to listen to a radio station in L.A., but you live in New York? No problem, just find the station on Aha and start rocking out. Hungry? Navigate to the Hungry station and start looking for restaurants via Yelp Location Services. Honda reps told us that the Yelp feature calculates your car’s direction and will only provide restaurant options located ahead of you, so you won’t have to turn around to find a place to eat.

The coolest part of Aha is the ability to listen to your Facebook and Twitter newsfeeds. Before you listen to either service, you’ll have to add them to your Favorite stations list in the Aha smartphone app and connect to HondaLink. Select Aha as your audio source on the Accord’s touchscreen, and the display will switch over to show you your Favorite stations. Tap the Facebook station and Aha will begin reading your newsfeed.


A brief description of each post will also be displayed on the Accord’s i-MID display, including how long ago it was posted. If a post contains a link, Aha will skip over it and simply say, “A link was posted.” HondaLink also lets you “Like” posts via the touchscreen, although you can’t yet post to your own newsfeed.

Safety
Honda has outfitted the 2013 Accord with variety of new safety features. Forward Collision Warning uses sensors located at the front of the Accord to detect other vehicles and uses your speed to determine if a collision is possible. If the system thinks an accident is imminent, it will automatically provide you with visual and audio warnings alerting you to stop.


Honda’s new Land Departure Warning system uses cameras mounted in the Accord’s rearview mirror to read lane markers as you drive down the road. When you cross over a marker without using your turn signal, the system will alert you with audible and visual prompts. We found found this feature to be more sensitive than the 1 we tried on the 2012 Mercedes Benz E350, which will certainly be welcome for safety minded drivers.

Like many cars on the market, the 2013 Honda Accord features a backup camera that automatically streams video to the 8-inch i-MID display when you put the car in reverse. If the standard view isn’t to your liking, the Accord allows you to switch between 2 other available angles, an overhead view and a wide-angle view.


The Accord’s most ingenious safety feature is its LaneWatch Blind Spot Display. Using a camera mounted under the Accord’s right side view mirror,the system automatically streams video to the i-MID display whenever you flip on the right turn signal. Honda says LaneWatch helps reduce the driver’s blind spot by providing an unobstructed view of the 2 adjacent lanes. Pressing the LaneWatch button on the turn signal stalk causes the camera to continuously stream video to the i-MID display.

The Ride


During our time in Santa Barbara, we drove both the automatic and manual versions of the Accord EX-L V6 Sedan and Accord EX-L V6 Coupe. As we drove past lush vineyards and picturesque mountain vistas, we were continually struck by how well the Accord handled both the sweeping curves of the Pacific Coast Highway and the sharp banked corners of the region’s back roads. Although the coupe was the clear leader, thanks to its sport-tuned suspension, the sedan proved it was no slouch.

The 278 hp V-6 packs a hefty 252 lb-ft of torque. Hit the accelerator and that power grips you tight and doesn’t let go until you slam into the red line. The 6-speed automatic transmission knew just when to hold shifts and when to kick down for a quick getaway. As we tooled around in the 6-speed manual coupe we cackled maniacally as we smashed the accelerator and dumped the clutch, blurring Santa Barbara’s undulating hillsides and sending rows of grapevines flying past the Accord’s windows.


Ride comfort in the sedan was top-notch. The driver’s seat hugged in all the right places. Wind noise, a problem in the previous generation Accord, was nearly undetectable. We did notice that the sedan tended roll over ruts and bumps in the road, though nowhere near enough to have you reaching for the Dramamine.

Pricing
1 of the Accord’s biggest selling points is just how much you get for it’s relatively low $21,680 starting price. All models from the base LX to the top-of-the-line Touring edition receive Honda’s HandsFreeLink connectivity system, USB/ iPod integration, a single-angle rearview camera, 8-inch 480 x 320 information display, Pandora integration and auto-reply text messaging functionality.

Step up to the$24,605 EX model and you’ll get all of the aforementioned features, as well as the inventive LaneWatch Blind Spot display. The $24,604 EX-L model comes with all of the previous features and adds the slick HondaLink interface, XM Radio, a multi-angle rearview camera and the Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems.

Moving up to the the $29,995 EX-L V6, the same models we drove, will get you access to the sleek Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation system. The addition of the navigation system also gives the Accord’s 8-inch display a resolution bump from 480 x 320 pixels to 800 x 480 pixels.

Rounding out the lineup is the top dog, Accord Touring edition. Priced at $33,430, the Accord Touring gets you all of the tech and safety features available in the EX-L V6 and Honda’s Adaptive Cruise Control.

Finish Line


It’s been 29 years since Honda first began building the Accord in the U.S., and its 30th year is looking just as good as the first. With its improved styling, aggressive V-6 engine and competent body control, the 2013 Accord both looks and feels like a car that should cost twice as much. Add to that more tech than most competing mid-sized cars and a host of compelling safety features and you have an exceptional vehicle that’s equal parts fun and smart.
 
#16 ·
Road & Track


In the automotive world, the euphoria that goes with launching a bestseller is short-lived, usually lasting until the day after, when the development team members sit down to start planning the next generation.

This cycle has been repeating itself at American Honda roughly every 5 years since May 7, 1976, when the company unveiled the 1st Accord. Each time, the task has been daunting: the creation of a car that’s improved in every way, easily perceived as superior to its competitors, within the constraints of budget.


So here’s generation number 9, and this Honda is all-new. The question is how well the Accord’s all-newness will stand out in a mid-size sedan arena crowded with other all-new offerings.

At a Glance

This brings us to the element that’s the starting point for a huge percentage of new car sales—what you see. All-new should register with the viewer like switching on the light in a dark room, creating a powerful gotta-have-it urge in the beholder.

Does the new Accord generate that kind of curbside wattage? There’s not a shred of carryover sheetmetal. The front fascia has been redesigned with LED accents, the hood sports some sculpting, the beltline is lower, and the character creases running down the sides are more strongly defined.


Moreover, the latest Accord sedan is substantially smaller—and a smidge lighter—than generation eight, 3.6 inches overall at 109.3 inches, on a wheelbase that’s been reduced almost an inch to 109.3. Tidier dimensions, with shorter front and rear overhangs, give the new sedan a more athletic look, an answer to those who perceived the previous generation as a little bloated.

But against a backdrop of uninhibited designs emerging all over the mid-size class, the new Accord comes across as quietly evolutionary. The coupe, whose dimensions have also diminished, is sexier, and Honda is playing from strength—the Accord has been a perennial segment leader for decades.

Still, though it’s handsome, and readily identifiable as an Accord, the new car’s newness can’t be called electrifying. The gotta-have-it-factors lie elsewhere.


The Inner Athlete


A key trait that’s made the Accord a winner over the years is its agility. Compared to most other cars in this size/price class, especially sedans, Accords have always ranked at or near the top in terms of athletic response, and the latest generation builds on that tradition.

The agility index varies according to model—some trim levels are tuned for softer ride quality, and tactile information delivered by the new electric system is programmed for more road feel with the sport suspension package—but even the most basic Accord LX is quick on its feet.

Similarly, body motions are well controlled, inspiring confidence in quick maneuvers—a critical active safety element in any car—and with the firmer suspension and more aggressive tires that go with the performance package, the Accord becomes a credible sports sedan. Or coupe.


While the foregoing isn’t surprising , how Honda got there represents a departure from recent practice. The rear suspension is a familiar multilink, but there are MacPherson struts up front, rather than the double wishbone setup that’s distinguished previous Accords.

Heresy? Keep in mind that BMW has been using struts for many years, albeit with rear-drive cars (the Accord, of course, continues with a front-drive layout). And did we mention that Honda claims a 40 percent improvement in torsional rigidity? That’s an almost incomprehensible increase over a chassis that was far from tofu.

The bottom line: it works.


Powertrains

The Accord’s new hood shelters 2 engine choices: the company’s 2.4-liter 4, updated with direct fuel injection, rated for 185 horsepower (189 with sport package); and the familiar 3.5-liter V-6 option, up seven horsepower to 278. Both engines are paired with 6-speed manual transmissions as standard equipment, and the V-6 continues to offer a 6-speed automatic option. The option for the 4, however, is a new continuously variable automatic, or CVT, and this combination yields the Accord’s best EPA fuel economy ratings: 27 mpg city, 36 highway.


However, the CVT/4-cylinder combo will be upstaged in early 2013, when a new plug-in hybrid joins the Accord lineup.

The manual transmissions are typically Honda—snick-snick, short throws, precise engagements, sweet clutch. The CVT is one of the best yet, with artificial shift points programmed in. But in full throttle applications, there’s still that slipping clutch feeling, as the transmission works to catch up with the engine.


Volumetric Sleight-of-Hand

Though the new Accord is smaller outside, it’s bigger within. Honda’s designers have worked their usual magic, creating a roomy interior that seems almost bigger than the exterior dimensions could possibly allow. It also has a more open, airy feeling compared with competitors, as well as its predecessor, thanks to the lower beltline and reduced cowl height.

The lower cowl is reminiscent of Honda designs from decades past, affording excellent forward sightlines, an active safety plus. And as expected, the new Accord will maintain the brand’s tradition of top safety ratings.


From basic LX to top-of-the-line EX-L trim levels, the new Accord interiors are markedly improved, with better materials, extensive soft-touch surfaces, a unique one-piece (i.e., rattle-free) dashboard, supportive seats, enhanced telematics, and a long list of new features that includes active noise cancellation.

Though the noise cancellation could use a little more work—some road noise finds its way into the car depending on pavement composition—the new car is generally quiet, comfortable, and refined, with a generous dollop of fun-to-drive.

New Accords are due in showrooms September 16, priced from $21,605. Meanwhile, Honda product planners are already toiling on Gen Ten.

 
#17 · (Edited)
Popular Mechanics


On-Sale Date: Sept. 19 (sedan), Oct. 15 (coupe), early 2013 (PHEV)

Price: $21,680–$33,430

Competitors: Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu, Ford Fusion, and Hyundai Sonata

Powertrains: 2.4-liter I-4, 185 hp, 181 lb-ft; 3.5-liter V-6, 278 hp, 252 lb-ft; 2.0-liter PHEV, 196 hp total system

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy):
27/36 (I-4 CVT), 24/34 (I-4 MT), 21/34 (V-6)

What's New: For each of the past 8 generations, Honda's midsize sedan stalwart, the Accord, has always grown larger. The reason? Money being equal, Americans want everything bigger. But no more. It seems as though the midsize sedan has grown to the perfect size. In fact, the new 9th-generation Accord sedan is actually shorter than the old 1 by 3.6 inches and weighs nearly 60 pounds less, and yet engineers have carved out more room inside, including the larger 15.5-cubic-foot trunk.

The Accord sedan and coupe ride on a new chassis with, for the 1st time, a MacPherson strut front suspension. Honda says the new suspension, which replaces the more sophisticated and tunable multilink design, saves weight, improves ride comfort, and improves handling. We suspect it's also less expensive. The rear suspension remains a multilink design similar to the 1 used on the outgoing model. The front of the Accord's new chassis has a steel and aluminum bonded subframe that uses 55.8% high-tensile steel. Honda hopes the new Accord will receive the highest rating, a "good," in IIHS's new small overlap barrier crash test.

The Accord might be smaller than its predecessor, but it feels spacious on the inside. Part of that comes from the larger greenhouse. The Accord has a lowered beltline (the bodywork below the glass) to expose more area for windows. The result is a cabin that feels airy with great visibility. A large 8-inch central information display is standard, and the interior generally looks and feels less plasticky than the old Accord's.

Under the hood there are 3 powertrain choices, with a 4th on the way. Most Accords will roll off the Marysville, Ohio, assembly line with the new direct-injected 2.4-liter 4-cylinder mated to a CVT transmission. Although only a handful will use a slick new 6-speed manual instead, we applaud Honda for keeping the option available. The 3.5-liter V-6 essentially remains the same but gets a small bump in power. The big news is that for the 1st time the Accord will have a Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) model with a 6.7-kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers an EV driving range of 10 to 15 miles. Honda says it can recharge to an 8-mile electric range in just 30 minutes, and that overall the gas and electric system can provide a total range of 500 miles. The 4th version of the new Accord, a traditional hybrid, comes later.


Tech Tidbit: This Honda has a full suite of optional safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. And a new system, Lane Watch, uses a camera mounted below the side mirror to show a wide-angle view of the passenger's side of the car, which it displays on the dash. Now you'll be able to see that car hiding in your blind spot.

Driving Character: Compared to the outgoing Accord, the 2013 felt smaller and lighter on its feet while driving the sun-soaked country roads near Santa Barbara, Calif. It provides the sensation, at least dimensionally, that you're driving a smaller Accord from the early 1990s, rather than the cumbersome (dare we say a little bloated) outgoing model. Typically, we like the feedback of hydraulic power steering over electric assistance, but the steering in the old car is just too heavy. The new Accord's steering is pleasantly light, and while the system won't deliver Miata-like feedback, its not egregiously numb either.

The base 4-cylinder is equipped with a typical CVT: It isn't particularly fun to operate, but it reaps fuel economy benefits. The hot rod of the lineup is the V-6 coupe—it really hauls. With the 6-speed automatic in "S" mode, it aggressively downshifts.

On the Streets of Willow racetrack in Rosamond, Calif., we found the new Accord to be an engaging player compared to many in its class. We especially enjoyed the 4-cylinder Sport model equipped with a 6-speed manual—it's 1 of the best transmissions and coolest shifters in the industry. This is the true sport sedan of the group. It reminded me of a less expensive version of the Acura TSX.

Favorite Detail: The Accord PHEV has a discreet "HV" mode button on the console that stops the battery from going into pure EV mode and instead lets it perform within the parameters of typical hybrid (blended gas and electric) operation. IT gives the driver control over when to deploy full EV mode.

Driver's Grievance: We like the new sheet metal, but the rear of the Accord is a dead ringer for the Hyundai Genesis. We had a hard time distinguishing the 2 on the road.


The Bottom Line: The new Accord is a smaller, quieter, more fun to drive and more refined package than the outgoing model. It's a clear nod to drivers who appreciated past Accords but thought the sedan grew a little too large. The broad range of models is impressive, and we can't wait to spend more time with the Accord PHEV and the upcoming Accord Hybrid.

But when it comes to fuel economy, the Accord doesn't offer best-in-class numbers. The 4-cylinder CVT offers solid economy at 36-mpg highway. But the competing Nissan Altima delivers 2 mpg more (though if you're shopping V-6 sedans, the Accord beats the Nissan by 3 mpg on the highway). We'll have to test both sedans back to back in the real world to see if those fuel economy numbers hold up.

 
#18 ·
CarConnection


If there's been some kind of communique planning out the obsolescence of V-6 engines in mid-size sedans, Honda must have missed the memo.

With the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima already 2 years into an all-4-cylinder engine lineup, and for 2013 the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion both banishing V-6 engines from their lineup in favor of turbo 4s, here we were, climbing 1st into a 2013 Honda Accord V-6.

And as we found, it's in the top V-6 models that the 2013 Accord surprisingly hits an Acura-like strut and stride. The powertrain is even smoother than before, with a refined responsiveness that could carry a luxury badge. And with the adoption of i-VTEC valve controls for the 3.5-liter engine, it now makes 278 horsepower and 252 pound-feet of torque, so the Accord is quicker yet.

Now's when we should tell you why quite a few shoppers might still consider the V-6: because it earns an astounding EPA highway rating of 34 mpg—the same number as the 4-cylinder engine last year, and essentially the same as the Sonata Turbo.


Smooth, relaxed, and efficient with the V-6

Over several hours of real-world driving with the V-6—a mix of expressways, 2-laners, and mountain roads, and some of it spirited—we managed an impressive 29 mpg overall; that's a figure we can't imagine beating in those turbo 4s, and we much prefer the smooth, relaxed demeanor of the V-6 most of the time. And the new 6-speed automatic has better calibration than the 5-speed before it; there are no stumbles on light throttle, and it's decisive but not obtrusive.

The V-6’s gains in fuel economy are due to the wider ratio spread of the 6-speed automatic transmission, as well as an expanded range for the Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system. Yet with the additional power and the 6-speed, the V-6 can get to 60 mph about 0.5 seconds earlier than the 2012 model. And seriously, it's about all the torque that this front-driver can handle; nail the accelerator and it even squawks the tires dramatically shifting from 1st to 2nd.

The base engine on Accord Sedan and Coupe models is a direct-injection, 2.4-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, making 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet in standard form or 189 hp and 182 lb-ft in Sport guise. The addition of direct injection gives some additional torque in the mid-rev range, as well as a small boost in efficiency, but the even bigger news for those who scrutinize EPA ratings (earning 27 mpg city, 36 highway) is the new continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which completely replaces the 5-speed automatic transmission for 2013.

Before you rush to judgment about this Honda-engineered-and-manufactured CVT, hold on; it’s probably a powertrain that will fit the bill just fine provided you don’t expect high performance. While the combination of the 4-cylinder engine and CVT is by far the least exciting powertrain offered in the new Accord, it’s way more refined than we expected, and it feels more responsive and ‘natural’ from the driver’s seat than many other models with this kind of transmission.


CVT feels more 'natural'

Under typical light-to-medium acceleration in traffic, the Accord’s CVT lets revs rise quite rapidly to the 2,500-3,500-rpm range, then revs almost stop climbing for a moment, after which they rise again, as if now engaged to a particular gear (as long as you’re still at part throttle). Even though Honda might have given a half a mile per gallon or so in calibrating it this way, rather than just keeping the engine in its sweet spot, it’s clever as it keeps the seat-of-the-pants G-forces more constant, while also avoiding the drone of constant-rpm revs. If at any point you mash the accelerator to the floor, all bets are off and the tach pins to redline, 6,600 rpm, and stays there until you’re at the desired speed.

We also found it interesting that in a 4-cylinder model with the CVT we averaged pretty much the same 29 mpg as with the V-6, in a comparable loop for distance and terrain—so while the 4-cylinder combination returns better EPA ratings it might not be as impressive in real-world conditions.

In a back-to-back drive with the Nissan Altima and its 4-cylinder/CVT combination, we noticed that from about 15-20 mph—effectively rolling around a tight corner—then flooring the accelerator, the Accord managed to take off a lot faster, while it took the revs longer to rise in the Altima. We look forward to comparing these models—and their mileage—in future drives.


A controversial change to struts—but excellent steering

While introducing an essentially all-new CVT in the volume models of the Accord lineup might seem like a pretty risky move, loyal Honda fans might find it more unsettling that Honda has at last given up its worshipped double-wishbone setup in the Accord, instead opting for more tunable MacPherson struts that it claims will improve ride and handling while cutting cabin noise and harshness. Honda has also reduced weight and keeps away harshness with a new aluminum-and-steel front subframe and some careful underbody aerodynamic work.

The electric power steering that all Accord models now have is another case of technology that’s not loved in other models, but it’s done right here. We really could see or feel no issue with the steering in 4-cylinder or V-6 models, and it behaves as electric systems should, with a mostly linear weighting, a good sense of center, and a sense of the road surface and the cornering loads. It also has a nice natural feel, and Honda points to a non-contact torque sensor as 1 of the keys to this.

Honda acknowledges a weakness with cabin noise for the Accord, compared with some other models in this class, so it’s added more sound deadening—and, especially noteworthy, all 2013 Accord models receive active noise cancellation. The instrument panel itself is now made in-house for the 1st time, in 1 continuous piece (instead of 4 separate ones), so as to get a consistent texture and grain, and keep excess noise or rattles away.


Inside-out design approach

Of course, for those considering a mid-size sedan, passenger comfort, interior space, and cargo space are important differentiators. While some models in this class, like the Sonata might have a swoopy roofline that can cut into rear headroom, Honda is very intent on noting that the Accord was developed from the inside out, with a new man-machine approach that established packaging (front and rear seating) first and then had designers pen an exterior based around that.

And it all does lead to some very quantifiable improvements. While Honda has shortened the Accord just a bit, rear legroom increases about an inch, while shoulder room in front and in back is improved. And a couple of design traits that Honda draws attention to—the near-level beltline and ample window glass, with thinner-than typical front and rear pillars—not only keeps your rear passengers from needing Dramamine but also helps you stay safe with a better view outward. Trunk space is up somewhat, but the real news here is usability, as the cargo floor is now completely flat and better-shaped.

On the other hand, what they ended up with, from the outside, looks merely evolutionary. Walk around this new 2013 sedan—even with the badging removed—and even those who don’t know cars would be likely to call it out as an Accord. That said, there's a lot of interest in the side sheetmetal, including some expressive lift in the side sheetmetal—giving the car more of an aggressive, wedge-like look even if the greenhouse is mostly level—and creasing that flows around and into the contours of the taillamps.


If you like to row your own...

After spending a full day crawling behind the wheel, and around the interior of different variants of the 2013 Honda Accord lineup, the best of the bunch is the 4-cylinder model with the manual transmission. With such a precise gearbox, neat clutch takeup, and the responsive, rev-happy feel, this Accord feels far more refined than other base-model. A manual gearbox is also offered with the V-6 in Coupe models only, but there it includes a rather heavy clutch pedal that we could see being more tiring in the commute. Meanwhile, the V-6 models are among the best highway-commuter and road-trip cars ever.

Instrument-panel design feels simplified and cleaned-up compared to the current car, and in the lower-cost models we felt a sense of the packaging charm of earlier Accord models. The base layout is superior, in our opinion, with the dual-screen layout you get in upper trim levels quite confusing, as between the 2 screens, 1 is touch screen and 1 uses the controller, but the controller below the lower screen is actually for the upper screen—and the 2 screens have different brightness settings. And the glittery black trim you get around the lower screen looks out of place and doesn't match the trim anywhere else inside.

You can indeed get a 2013 Honda Accord Coupe, and Honda put quite a lot of thought and design effort into it. While intentionally designing a more athletic package, engineers and designers managed to pack a little more cargo space and back-seat space than before; there's actually adult-size space back there, but getting into the space is difficult.

Especially considering the new packaging philosophy in the 2013 Accord, we had trouble making sense of why the Accord Sedan only has a 1-piece folding backseat—no matter which trim. As a Honda official told us, is that none of the Accord's rivals offer it. But it is the sort of 'innovation' we'd like to see.


LaneWatch: Why hasn't this been done before?

As we drove onto a multi-lane highway, 1 of the most interesting and handy features proved to be the LaneWatch system, which only when you click the turn signal, displays on the screen a wide view alongside and farther back along the lane just to the right of the vehicle. It really is 1 of those features that, once you use it, you'll wonder how you lived without. Honda says it’s the 1st feature of its kind. Other available extras in the Accord include Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning. LED headlamps are also offered at the top of the lineup, and they're the first ever in a Honda, but daytime running lamps are included in all V-6 models and LED brake lights are fitted to EX-L and Touring models.

The 2013 Honda Accord Sedan will be offered in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, V6, and Touring trims, with the Coupe available in LX-S, EX, EX-L, and EX-L V6 models. Bluetooth, and a USB port are offered in all Accord models now, along with dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera system, the eight-inch i-MID info display. Among all of these, we tend to think that LX, Sport, and EX models are the best deal. Sport models in particular are new for 2013 and add a more upscale look—18-inch alloys, a dual exhaust, fog lamps, a rear spoiler, paddle-shifters (CVT), and a power driver's seat—for a relatively affordable price. To get the trick LaneWatch feature, you need to go for the EX (EX-L Coupes) or above, though otherwise the EX includes a moonroof, push-button start, and heated side mirrors. EX-L models are what you need to step up to for the V-6, or for HondaLink and Aha streaming Internet audio.


Prices range from $21,680, for the LX Sedan all the way up to $33,430 for the Accord Touring.

Honda has positioning the Accord in a way that will win over both repeat Accord owners as well as comparison shoppers on the test-drive. While it's taking a different path that stays away from overly swoopy styling and turbocharged engines, there's a lot of sophistication and appeal—and, quite simply, lots of evidence of the charming driving personality and technological prowess that Honda needs to tap into with all of its vehicles.

 
#19 ·
InsideLine



Honda needs a winner.

Between a drift from its traditional engineering-driven principles and the tsunami that devastated its factories, the last 4 years haven't been kind to the H brand.

Nonetheless, the company has redesigned its Accord midsize sedan for the 8th time in its history. It's hardly an overstatement to say that the Accord is both the bread and butter of Honda's lineup, as Americans snatch these babies up at a rate of more than 1,000 per day.


The 9th-generation 2013 Honda Accord sedan arrives September 19 with new looks and new bones underneath. Struts replace its traditional double-wishbone front suspension and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) takes the place of a traditional automatic transmission on models with the all-new 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine. There's also a revised V6 Accord with an all-new 6-speed automatic.

In other words, in 4-cylinder guise, the new Accord is now virtually identical to every other volume-selling midsize sedan peddled in the U.S.


Different. Just Like Everybody Else
Nearly every car in the midsize segment offers a similar-size 4-cylinder engine, ample interior space and about the same fuel economy as the new Accord. Progress, it seems, is measured less on fundamentals and more on feature content and styling. And few manufacturers venture far from vanilla when it comes to styling their volume models.

Even so, the ever-increasing pressure to deliver miserly fuel consumption is the driving force behind Honda's 1st-ever direct-injected 4-cylinder engine. Rated at 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, the new engine comes paired to the 6-speed manual transmission as standard, but our EX model has the optional $800 CVT, which replaces the old car's 5-speed automatic.

The switch to a CVT helps deliver the 2013 Honda Accord's EPA estimated 27 city/36 highway/30 combined mpg ratings, placing it second in the fuel economy race behind the Nissan Altima. As importantly, the CVT, during around-town driving, performs more intuitively than most we've driven. Its simulated upshifts feel natural and will likely fool all but the most observant drivers into thinking it's a conventional automatic. Wood it getting on the freeway, however, and the unrelenting high-rpm engine howl is present until you lift.

Howl as it might, we still recorded 26.3 mpg during 537 miles of combined driving, which handily trumps the 24.1 mpg we recorded over 841 miles in our last test of a 2012 4-cylinder Accord just this April.


It's Worth It
Honda illustrates the promise of improved acceleration through graphs showing the new Accord to be above and to the right of the old Accord. This, in engineer and PR speak, is universal language for "better."

Still, we insist on judging acceleration the old-fashioned way: We measure it. And in this regard there's no argument. It is better. Considerably so.

Our 2013 Honda Accord test car whirred its way to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds (7.5 seconds with 1 foot of rollout as on a drag strip). That's a full second better than the old Accord 4-cylinder. The quarter-mile, too, is quicker in the new car. The traps whistle past in 15.8 seconds at 91.2 mph, a milestone that required 16.4 seconds in last year's model.

During 60-to-0 brake testing, the pedal lacked the confidence we'd prefer, as it softened after multiple stops. The final distance, at 128 feet, was a bit long for the class, as it almost always is with Honda products.


Underpinnings
Honda's choice to torpedo the Accord's double-wishbone front suspension in favor of struts seems at 1st like a poor 1 for a car proffered as engaging to drive. Double wishbones provide camber control throughout their stroke which generally leads to better handling, although you'd have a hard time selling that line to BMW and Porsche.

On the surface, lower cost seems to drive the move, but a full redesign — especially 1 as comprehensive as this — can take years to reap financial benefits. Honda says the decision is driven by weight loss and the need to package a more robust crash structure into the chassis at the upper strut mount.

The added strength, say Honda officials, improves performance in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Overlap Barrier Test, where the car is driven into a small fixed object (think pole or tree) just off center at 40 mph. In combination with high-strength steel at critical points, the Accord's unibody is 57 pounds lighter than before and that's without considering the additional savings made by eliminating the old suspension's upper control arm. But at 3,320 pounds, our EX model tipped the scales only 31 pounds lighter than last year's Accord EX tester.


It Still Handles
What's more, Honda insists the new suspension hits all its internal handling targets, and after driving it both on the road and through our instrumented tests it's hard to argue otherwise. No midsize sedan is going to engage a dedicated driving enthusiast, but some will certainly repel us. Toyota's Camry LE, for example, is largely successful at this task by demonstrating the dynamic apathy of a sofa bed.

The 2013 Honda Accord, however, does not. Its low-effort electrically assisted steering lacks the arbitrary weight of its predecessor but provides ample feel to guide the car prudently between the cones or down a rough back road. Damping, too, is tuned to return genuine body control. As a result we found ourselves hustling the Accord at a respectable pace in places we wouldn't bother with in much of its competition.

At 65.5 mph through our slalom, the 2013 Accord was 2.1 mph quicker than the 2012 model, so its ultimate capabilities are clearly improved. It equaled the outgoing car on the skid pad, where both circled at 0.83g, which is at the top of the class.


Bucking the Trend
It's a fact common to both the midsize and compact segments that the cars are increasing in size. Bigger and bigger they've grown until, in some cases, they have outsized their larger brethren. This, of course, makes for some uncomfortable positioning. Honda, however, keenly avoided the problem by not offering a car bigger than the Accord (save the Accord Crosstour, but who's counting?). And for 2013 it has eliminated the issue altogether by making the new Accord smaller.

This Accord sedan is downsized 3.5 inches in overall length and 0.9 inch in wheelbase (to 109.3 inches) yet it gains front and rear headroom. Front legroom remains the same, while rear legroom increases by 1.3 inches. Trunk volume also increases by 0.8 cubic foot.

That, friends, is what happens when a company returns to its engineering roots. Inside, this is a big car. Only dimensional deviants will have trouble sitting in the backseat. Even large passengers are comfortable behind a 6-foot driver.

What's more, Honda redesigned the Accord's front seats and eliminated the not-quite-low-enough-to-be-lumbar back support that generated complaints during our long-term 2008 Accord test.


Interior Attention
Considerable attention was paid to minimizing the button-heavy center stack and simplifying the primary controls. Along with a new 1-piece dashboard, the center stack benefits from buttons that divide functions by category. The cleaner interface is both more efficient to use and better-looking.

Mercifully, pairing your cellphone via Bluetooth no longer requires voice commands and the necessary manual reading that inevitably accompanies them. An 8-inch screen in the dash accommodates everything from navigation (EX-L models only) to a back-up camera display and is also standard in every Accord. Dual-zone climate control is included on all trims, but you'll still have to tap buttons to set your preferred temperature. Bluetooth and the Pandora music-streaming app are both standard and well integrated for easy use.

Another notable standard feature is the Active Noise Control system, which uses the audio system speakers to cancel road noise. We tested it and found that it worked, although it only made our tester as quiet as a Camry. But with interior noise traditionally high in Honda products, this is progress. So is the standard (on EX models and above) keyless start and entry.

Another new feature on EX level models and above is the LaneWatch system, which displays the car's blind spot on the in-dash screen. The system is triggered via the right turn signal and its 80-degree view is useful in judging gaps and moving confidently between lanes.

Hondalink is Honda's means to support Internet services via your smartphone in a presentation formatted for use in the car. Available only on EX-L level sedans and EX level coupes, the system can do everything from reading your Twitter feed to finding you a new Thai restaurant via Yelp. Again, it's well integrated, so it's actually useful instead of being just another electronic toy that goes unused.


A Winner?
Our 2013 Honda Accord EX rang up a $26,195 as-tested price, which is only $200 more than last year's model. It's hard to argue that the additional performance, efficiency and feature content aren't worth the bump in cost.

More importantly, this Accord is a Honda again — a case we've been unable to plead for several models in recent years. Many traditional Honda benefits feature prominently here. Visibility, thanks to a relatively low waistline, is better than in most cars in the segment. Materials and assembly quality appear to be at or above past Honda standards and, to our eyes, it even looks better than the car it replaces.

That Honda needs a winner in the new Accord is clear. After our drive, we would say it has one.

 
#20 ·
InsideLine


Honda has finally come up with a 4-wheeled analog to the legendary Gold Wing touring bike. What's surprising is that it's the new V6-powered, 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 sedan.

Now in its 38th year of production, the Accord has always been the sort of car you never have to justify to your neighbors and family. Everyone knows it's low-key, high-quality, long-value transportation so you get a nod for being sensible, and that's about it.

But this latest V6 Accord isn't the appliance you were expecting. It's the best mix of luxury, comfort, performance, fuel efficiency and unpretentious style that Honda has ever offered — other than the super-smooth, easygoing Gold Wing.


Endearing Anonymity
Rub your eyes until they're raw, spin around until you're totally dizzy and then smear some Vaseline on your corneas. Now go look at a 2012 Accord. That's what our 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with Navigation looks like. It's handsome and well-proportioned, but in an anonymous and indistinct way, like any one of Mitt Romney's 5 sons. And it's only available in colors ranging from dignified and unmemorable to subdued and forgettable.

Touch the new Accord, however, and the reassuring heft of the door handles alone announces that this midsize sedan is a step up in quality from the Altima, Camry, Optima and Sonata. Opening the door brings a whoosh like cracking open a new can of vacuum-packed coffee. Nearly every surface in the cabin seems like it came from either corn-fed cows or hand-rubbed petrochemicals, and this isn't even the most elite model: There's a new Touring trim level with LED headlights and adaptive cruise control.

The major change in here, at least in EX-L Navi models like ours, is the pair of flat-panel screens stacked up in the center of the dash. The smaller of the 2 displays is a touchscreen for controlling the media options — Pandora, Bluetooth audio and SMS text messaging if your smartphone is MAP-enabled — and it's only found in EX-L and Touring models. It's a slick interface, but the sparkly trim surrounding it looks like it came from the lounge at the Stardust Hotel circa 1982.

Meanwhile, the larger top screen displays the standard back-up camera, a passenger-side rearview camera and our EX-L model's navigation system, which has a fresh set of maps for 2013. The nav system still uses a chunky dial-type controller, but it's scaled back to a reasonable size in the 2013 Accord, and like every other control in this car, it's easy to use.

That passenger-side camera is a sweet piece of work. Known as LaneWatch, the camera is mounted in the sideview mirror's housing and features a wide-angle lens that significantly extends the driver's field of vision. It can be set to switch on every time the right turn signal is activated or turned on using a button at the end of the turn signal stalk. It's not a very high-resolution camera — more cell phone than GoPro quality — but it adds confidence to every lane change. No doubt Ray LaHood has already added it to his wish list of future mandated safety technologies.


The Velvet Freight Train
Press the red start button and the 2013 Honda Accord's 3.5-liter V6 whirs to life almost silently. It now makes 278 horsepower, up from 271 hp in 2012. At idle you have to check the tachometer to make sure it's running at all.

The shifter for the automatic transmission, which now has 6 forward gears instead of 5, glides down into either "D" for regular driving or "S" for Sport, which keeps the car in the lower four gears longer and locks out 6th altogether.

Regrettably, paddle shifters are available only in the Accord Coupe, which goes on sale 1 month after the sedan. Further, coupe buyers can get the V6 and a 6-speed manual gearbox, while the sedan is automatic only. We don't mind, though, because this automatic rips off quick, clean upshifts.

Honda has revised the V6 so that, the company claims, the torque production is better down low. That's despite the fact that peak torque is actually down 2 pound-feet from last year's 254 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm to 252 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm now.

Toe into the accelerator, though, and the grunt is immediate and immersive. With the traction and stability control systems left on, the big sedan simply punches a hole in the atmosphere with no drama and practically no noise. Switch the nannies off and pedal it a bit, and it delivers you to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds (or 5.7 seconds with 1 foot of rollout as on a drag strip). The quarter-mile goes by in a swift 14.3 seconds at 98.1 mph.

Not only are these outstanding numbers for a family sedan, they represent a huge improvement over the previous-generation Accord V6 sedan, which took 7.0 seconds to reach 60 and covered the quarter-mile in 15.3 seconds at 95.4 mph. They're also right in line with the V6-equipped 2013 Nissan Altima, which turned in a 6.2-second 0-60 time (5.8 with rollout) and a 14.3-second quarter-mile at 99.8 mph.

Along with the new transmission, friction-reduction measures in the engine contribute to the 2013 Honda V6 Accord's lower fuel consumption. It's rated at 21 city/34 highway and 25 mpg combined versus last year's 20 city/30 highway/24 combined. Our test car averaged 28.7 mpg over 191 miles of mostly highway driving; the last time we tested a V6 Accord, we couldn't do better than 22 mpg. The V6 Altima is rated at 22/31/25, and our best tank during that test was 28.4 mpg.


Not So Sticky
The 2013 Honda Accord V6 is quick and its powertrain is perfectly behaved, but it's not a sport sedan.

In daily use, the 3,531-pound Accord rides with superb comfort and has more than enough handling ability to see you through gnarly freeway interchanges and grocery store parking lots.

But Honda specified its 215/55R17 Michelin Primacy MXV4 all-season tires with low rolling resistance and hushed performance as top priorities. On the skid pad the tires lose all decorum, and the Accord squeals to a modest 0.82g. Performance is also subdued through the slalom, where the Accord musters a 63.5-mph run. These Michelins do the big Honda no favors in the braking department, either. Our test car needed 128 feet to stop from 60 mph — not a great performance for this class.

The steering is among the better electric-assist systems out there, with light effort levels and precise feedback. But this car wasn't built for chasing apexes, and the nose-heavy V6 sedan isn't as well balanced as the 4-cylinder Accord, which averaged 65.5 mph through the cones. The V6 Altima is the reigning family-car slalom champ, though, with a 66.6-mph run.


4-Wheeled Gold Wing
Ultimately, what the 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 Navi does best of all is gobble up miles. For the first time, the EX-L V6 sedan isn't just the expensive Accord. It's now a transcontinental, luxury-class cruiser, an adult touring machine. It's a Honda Gold Wing with 2 extra wheels, automatic climate control and the best fairing ever devised. And at $32,860, this Accord costs only a couple thousand dollars more than the bike.

Of course, this 9th-generation Honda Accord still looks like an Accord, so your neighbors won't be jealous. But they should be.

 
#21 ·
AutoNews

Honda Goes All-In with 2013 Accord
AutoMaker Bets Redesigned Car Brings Its MoJo Back


After thriving for decades with an evolutionary model for product development, a struggling Honda has made the risky move of a clean-sheet redesign of its 2013 Accord sedan.

While Toyota was cautious in its Camry redesign last year, Honda has changed nearly everything with the Accord. It has a new direct-injection engine family, a new continuously variable transmission, a front suspension design change and a new crash structure.

Honda Motor Co. CEO Takanobu Ito prodded the Accord development team to produce a no-excuses comeback vehicle. Honda executives acknowledge that they desperately need the redesigned 2013 Accord arriving this month to be the car that turns the company around after a couple of years of trouble.

It is the last of 4 core volume products Honda has launched in a 2-year period. After the Accord, CR-V, Civic and Odyssey launches, all of Honda's cards are on the table.

"This is our most important car," said Takuji Yamada, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co. "This car is who we are."

The Accord is Honda's make-or-break profit center. More than 11 million have been sold in the United States since the car was launched 36 years and eight generations ago. But the Accord has slipped in sales, share and consideration as other automakers' mid-sized sedans have improved.

Pricing release

In a separate announcement today, Honda said prices on the redesigned 2013 Accord sedan will increase, on average, by less than $300, even with the addition of thousands of dollars worth of standard features and technology.

Pricing on the base Accord LX with manual transmission will increase by $200 to $22,470. The Accord LX with a new continuously variable transmission -- expected to be the most popular model -- will also increase by $200 to $23,270, Honda said.

Honda cannot afford another public humiliation like the 1 it received with the lambasting of the cheap interior materials used in the 2012 Civic redesign. The Accord is the car that defines whether Honda has regained its mojo.

Honda Motor has taken its lumps of late from a string of uninspired products; the Japan earthquake that crippled its r&d operations, making it the hardest hit of any Japanese automaker; the Thailand flooding that smashed a chunk of its supplier network; and a strong yen that squeezes the profit from dollar-denominated U.S. sales.

Ito's watch

The 2013 Accord also is the first Honda developed completely under the watch of Ito, who took command of Honda Motor in February 2009 soon after the global economy imploded.

Ito, an engineer who helped develop the aluminum body of the Acura NSX supercar, also has taken his lumps. He formally took blame for the Civic's cheap interior, saying he approved a last-minute removal of content from the car to lower its price in the slumping U.S. market. But Ito also gave the underlying message that such an error would not be repeated.

At the Accord press event here, a phalanx of Japanese engineers beamed with pride -- indeed, with rarely seen swagger -- when standing next to their new charge. That also was a sea change, for 2 reasons: 1st, there was little mention of U.S. engineering involvement in the car's development, whereas Honda's PR message normally reinforces how "American" a vehicle is. And, 2nd, for the past several years, Honda engineers typically have been reserved rather than boastful.

Might this be the start of a renaissance at Honda?

Big changes


Shoji Matsui: No excuses allowed​

For the 2013 Accord redesign, Honda called on a 30-year veteran to be chief engineer.

Shoji Matsui engineered Accords for the 1986 to 1996 model years -- the car's heyday, when its road performance and refinements gave it an aura of prestige. Matsui's 1st job was to design the fuel-filler cover for the 1986 model. His mentor: Takanobu Ito. For the 2013 car, Matsui says his mission from Ito was to "put our power together on this, without excuses."

But for all the changes, how much better is the 2013 Accord?

The Earth Dreams engine family delivers more power, better fuel economy and lower emissions. With its direct injection and variable cam and valve-lift timing, the new 4-cylinder engine puts Honda in the thick of the engine technology race.

The Accord now has a continuously variable transmission -- unfortunately similar in design to the Nissan CVT that has been on the market for the past 5 years and has received poor marks for refinement and reliability.

Honda's placement of CVTs in every 4-cylinder Accord with an automatic transmission -- 75% of all Accord sales -- is a high-risk move.

Purists will decry Honda's decision to move from the elegant handling of its front double-wishbone suspension -- a Honda staple since 1986 -- to the somewhat cruder MacPherson strut setup. When Honda made a similar switch to the Civic in 2001, claiming cost, packaging and ride-comfort improvements, many industry watchers said that was the moment Honda began to lose its mojo.

Matsui said the Accord's strut suspension has "better high-speed stability and less noise" and saves 33 pounds. He said the mostly unchanged rear multilink suspension will keep the car's handling spry.

But 1 of the key changes to the car -- trimming its overall length by 3.5 inches -- may have a very specific source.

"The previous Accord was too big," Matsui said. "It didn't fit in my garage in Ohio" near Honda's U.S. r&d center. "It was 3 inches too long."

Meeting the market

The redesigned Accord arrives in the midst of a mid-sized sedan dogfight. The best-selling Camry is hitting its sales stride one year after its re-engineering. Meanwhile, a re-engineered Nissan Altima just hit the market; redesigns of the Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu arrive this fall, and an updated Mazda6 comes in the spring.

George Peterson, president of the consulting firm AutoPacific, said: "Accord and Camry still get the 1st shot with American consumers, whereas everyone else has to fight to be considered."

But that dynamic is changing. The Accord's retail market share of the mid-sized segment has slipped markedly since 2007, from 21% then to 14% through May, although it still holds a solid 2nd place to the Camry, according to R.L. Polk & Co. data.

But in total sales, which include fleet sales, the Altima was breathing down the Accord's neck through August.

Meanwhile, 2nd-tier cars such as the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima have made big jumps in shopper consideration against the Accord, according to Compete Automotive data.

Perhaps more worrisome to Honda is that the Accord's 36-month residual values have slipped from 52% for 2007 models to 49% for 2012 models, according to ALG, the TrueCar Inc. subsidiary that effectively sets residual values for the auto industry.

Meanwhile, the overall segment residuals have increased. As a result, the Accord's premium over the segment average has slipped from 7 percentage points to 2, ALG says.

John Mendel, American Honda's sales boss, knows the challenge awaiting his new sedan.

He called the Accord launch "the single most important in our history."

"It is a key contributor to our U.S. and global success,"
Mendel said. "It is a bellwether for our brand."
 
#22 ·
About


Some people think Honda has lost their way over the past few years, and as a Honda owner myself, I'm inclined to agree -- they've gotten away from the simple, efficient cars on which they built their reputation.

The all-new 2013 Accord is Honda's attempt to get back to its roots, and it is indeed the most Honda-esque Accord we've seen in a decade. That's great for us long-time Honda fans -- but will anyone else want to buy one? Read on.

A week before the 2013 Accord press preview, Honda dropped off a brand-new 2012 Accord, probably one of the last of the old version to come off the assembly line in Marysville, Ohio. Before heading out to the event, I drove that 2012 back-to-back with my own Accord, a decrepit-but-functional 1996 wagon, and it was crystal clear how much the Accord has changed: My '96 felt simple and svelte, while the 2012 felt cumbersome and complex.

For 2013. the Accord is trying to get its mojo back. The new Accord, again available as both a 4-door sedan and 2-door coupe, is smaller on the outside but roomier on the inside. The styling is cleaner, the controls are simpler, and the driving dynamics are more nimble and agile. And to show that they're keeping the faith, they've also kept the price down: The base-model Accord LX gets a lot more standard equipment than last year's car, including dual-zone air conditioning and a rear-view camera. And yet the price -- $22,470 -- is only $200 higher than last year's Accord. There's also a new $24,490 Sport trim, which features a low price and a more aggressive suspension setup, plus a new top-of-the-line Touring model ($34,220) with LED headlights and Honda's 1st adaptive cruise control system.


In the Driver's Seat: All better

In my opinion, the biggest improvement is the new interior. The outgoing Accord's dash was a jumble of buttons arranged with little rhyme or reason; for 2013, stereo and air conditioning controls have been simplified and segregated, and all Accords now get an 8" color display for the stereo, optional navigation system and a nifty side-view monitor that gives you a wide-angle view from a camera mounted on the right-side mirror.

The front seats are miles better than last year: The intrusive lumbar cushion is gone, which means that human-shaped humans can now drive an Accord comfortably. Despite the smaller exterior size, rear-seat legroom and trunk space in the sedan have both increased, though both still trail the Volkswagen Passat (albeit not by much). Like last year, the Coupe offers an okay back seat, provided you can squeeze yourself back there.

Other improvements include upgraded materials and nicer looking trim. The dashboard itself is now a once-piece molding, which Honda says reduces squeaks and rattles (as if that's ever been a problem) and eliminates the mis-matched trim that plagues the Civic. The active noise cancellation system makes a return, though at speed the Accord is still louder than most of its rivals. And the airbag count is low: The Accord gets just the standard 6, in contrast to the competing Chevy Mailbu's ten.


On the Road: A little better, a little worse

Honda has finally adopted direct fuel injection for the 185 hp 2.4 liter 4-cylinder; unfortunately, they've also adopted a ridiculous name for the engine: "Earth Dreams". Instead of a traditional automatic, the Accord gets a continuously-variable transmission (CVT). Honda has successfully addressed the concerns of CVT critics -- the transmission responds quickly to power demands, minimizing the "rubber-band" feel that puts so many people off. Also on offer is a 6-speed stick; it's an excellent transmission, as Honda manuals usually are.

But it's the 4-cylinder/CVT combo that hits pay dirt at the pumps: 26 MPG in town and 35 MPG on the open road, versus 24/34 for the manual. A 278 hp 3.5 liter V6 is offered on EX and Touring models, and with variable valve timing, cylinder deactivation, and a 6-speed automatic tranny, EPA numbers are a respectable 21/34. A V6/manual combo is exclusive to the coupe, but fuel economy drops to 18/28.

Another big change is the front suspension, which has switched from double wishbones to McPherson struts. Normally, I don't write much about this sort of thing; as long as the car drives well, I don't care if they attach the wheels with bananas and paper clips. But the new suspension makes a big difference: While the Accord now handles far more responsively than its competitors, the ride quality has gone down the tubes. It isn't hard, but it's very busy -- the suspension allows the body to move up and down with such great frequency, rapidity and duration that smooth roads feel bumpy and bumpy roads fell like the surface of the Moon. It's as if, in response to charges that the Civic (Honda's last McPherson design) was too soft, they made the Accord too firm. Oddly enough, the Sport version -- which gets more aggressive suspension tuning -- has a slightly more comfortable ride.


Journey's End: An easy sell for the Honda faithful

No question, this is definitely the most Honda-like Accord we've seen in years. All the things that made my 1996 Accord such a great car have returned: Space efficiency, fuel efficiency, and a simple control layout. The value-for-money equation is excellent, and unlike my '96, the new Accord is a lot of fun to drive. If it weren't for the busy ride, I'd declare it my Favorite Accord Ever*.

But while the Accord will appeal strongly to the Honda faithful, bringing in buyers from other brands may be a bit tougher. Nissan's all-new Altima does everything well, and edges out the Accord on fuel economy. The Kia Optima offers a great interior and great value, though it doesn't feel as solidly engineered. The Volkswagen Passat has more space, a more comfortable ride, and is nearly as enjoyable to drive, though it's long-term reliability is unproven. And let's not forget the Toyota Camry, which is just as reliable and quite a bit less dull than it used to be. (How's that for a backhanded compliment?)

Whether you should buy an Accord depends on your priorities. If you like your cars smooth-n-comfy, you should probably look elsewhere. But if you want a dynamic driving experience combined with bulletproof reliability, then the Accord is the car for you. Buy one, and you'll understand why Honda owners like me keep our cars for so long. Welcome back, Accord. -- Aaron Gold

* In case your wondering, my Favorite Accord Ever is a tie between the 4th generation (1990-1993) and 6th generation (1998-2002).


What I liked about the 2013 Honda Accord:

Great driving dynamics
Excellent value-for-money
Nifty side-view camera

What I didn't like about the 2013 Honda Accord:

Busy ride
More wind and road noise than its rivals

Details:

Honda's mid-size Accord is all new for 2013
Price range: $22,470 - $34,220
Powertrain: 2.4 liter 4-cylinder/185 hp or 3.5 liter V6/278 hp, 6-speed manual, continuously-variable automatic, or 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-drive
EPA fuel economy estimates: 24 MPG city/34 MPG highway (4-cyl manual), 26/35 (4-cyl automatic), 18/28 (V6 manual), 21/34 (V6 automatic)
Where built: United States
Best rivals: Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Volkswagen Passat​

 
#23 ·
InsideLine


Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year. Cars, trucks, SUVs, we run them all, and the numbers always tell a story. With that in mind we present "IL Track Tested," a quick rundown of all the data we collect at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

The 2013 Honda Accord has a monumental task ahead of it. The past few years have not been kind to Honda and this 8th and newest iteration of the Accord needs to prove to the American public that Honda is focused on building capable, high-quality cars again.

It also needs to sell in big numbers, and the 1st vehicle it needs to leapfrog is the Nissan Altima.

For 2013 the Nissan Altima got a full redesign. The already athletic Altima shed 80 pounds and got Nissan's next-generation CVT that allows for better acceleration and improved fuel economy.

The Altima has always been the driver's choice in the midsize sedan segment, but can the 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 with less weight, a 6-speed automatic, a new front suspension and 7 more horsepower pull off an upset?


2013 Honda Accord 2013 Nissan Altima
0-30 (sec.): 2.5 2.8
0-45 (sec.): 4.1 4.3
0-60 (sec.): 6.1 6.2
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec.): 5.7 5.9
0-75 (sec.): 8.6 8.6
1/4-mile (sec @ mph): 14.3 @ 98.1 14.4 @ 100.1
30-0 (ft): 33 28
60-0 (ft): 128 114
Skid Pad Lateral Accel (g): 0.82 0.86
Slalom: 63.5 66.6​


Vehicle: 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6

Date: 8-28-2012
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $32,860 (as tested)

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, port-injected V6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,471/212
Redline (rpm): 6,750
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 278 @ 6,200
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 252 @ 4,900
Brake Type (front): 11.5-inch ventilated disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Brake Type (rear): 11.1-inch solid disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Suspension Type (front): Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 215/55R17 94V
Tire Size (rear): 215/55R17 94V
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Primacy MxM4
Tire Type: All-season, low rolling resistance
As-Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,531

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.5 (2.7 w/ TC on)
0-45 (sec): 4.1 (4.3 w/ TC on)
0-60 (sec): 6.1 (6.3 w/ TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.7 (5.9 w/ TC on)
0-75 (sec): 8.6 (8.8 w/ TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.3 @ 98.1 (14.4 @ 98.2 w/ TC on)

Braking
30-0 (ft): 33
60-0 (ft): 128

Handling
Slalom (mph): 63.5 (62.7 w/TC off)
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.82 (0.81 w/TC on)
Db @ Idle: 39.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 74.4
Db @ 70-mph Cruise: 61.9
RPM @ 70: 2,000

Comments:

Acceleration: Effective traction control and pretty darned quick upshifts — even in default Drive and whack the throttle to the floor. I only managed to beat this by a couple tenths with Trac off and modest pedal overlap. Upshifts are smooth and quick, right at redline. Unlike a droning Nissan VQ V6, this V6 sounds pretty snarly, sophisticated and sporty.

Braking: More dive than I had expected, and as with most Hondas, the 1st stop is much shorter than the remaining runs. After that 1st, optimal stop, normal distance-creep and a little bit of odor, but no smoke or loss of pedal pressure.

Handling:

Skid pad: Tires limit the car's ability here, too. It mattered little if ESC was on or off, as the tires began to howl (loudly) at essentially the same limit. Steering heft is on the light side, but it still manages to relay information well. It's very precise and doesn't scream "EPS." It's electric-assist steering, but done right.

Slalom: The Accord feels much faster in the slalom than it actually is, and as has been the case for some time now, its tires cannot cash the check written by its otherwise willing chassis. It's fun and willing, and there's even a tendency to oversteer with ESC shut off. And while that's all fun stuff, it's not the fastest way through. Best run was slow in/fast out, saving the slide for the exit gate. ESC is loud, but quick-acting and not a total buzzkill. It quickly does its corrections and then goes away.


Vehicle: 2013 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL

Date: 5-01-2012
Driver: Mike Monticello
Price: $32,620 (as tested)

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front engine, front-wheel drive
Transmission Type: CVT
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated, port-injected V6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,498/213
Redline (rpm): 6,600
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 270 @ 6,000
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 258 @ 4,400
Brake Type (front): 11.7-inch ventilated disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Brake Type (rear): 11.5-inch solid disc with single-piston sliding caliper
Suspension Type (front): Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, twin-tube dampers, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 235/45R18 (94V)
Tire Size (rear): 235/45R18 (94V)
Tire Brand: Dunlop
Tire Model: SP Sport
Tire Type: All-season
As Tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,358

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.8 (2.8 w/ TC on)
0-45 (sec): 4.3 (4.3 w/ TC on)
0-60 (sec): 6.2 (6.2 w/ TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.9 (5.8 w/ TC on)
0-75 (sec): 8.6 (8.6 w/ TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.4 @ 100.1 (14.3 @ 99.8 w/ TC on)

Braking
30-0 (ft): 28
60-0 (ft): 114

Handling
Slalom (mph): 66.6 (64.0 w/TC off)
Skid Pad Lateral Acceleration (g): 0.86 (0.86 w/TC on)
Db @ Idle: 38.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 72.4
Db @ 70-mph Cruise: 60.6
RPM @ 70: 1,750


Comments:

Acceleration: Was difficult to match the original ESC-on run. The extra wheelspin with traction control turned off seemed to freak the system out, causing it to hesitate slightly at 3,200 rpm. But this Altima is quick, with an instant surge of power off the line, then almost immediately pegging the tach at 6,800 rpm. The normal Drive transmission mode proved quicker than D Sport or Manual. "Manual" shifting is via steering-column-mounted paddles.

Braking: Firm pedal with short travel. Not too much nosedive and only a tiny bit of side-to-side squirm. Distances got a bit longer throughout. 1st stop was 115 feet. Shortest was 2nd stop at 114 feet. Longest was 7th (and final) stop at 123 feet.

Handling:


Skid pad: Very willing to alter line with drop-throttle, which was entertaining. It felt like the Active Understeer Control was cutting in during ESC-on runs, braking the inside front wheel. The throttle was also cut slightly with ESC on, but right foot control was still required, as the amount of intervention wasn't overly intrusive.

Slalom: Responsive steering with good feedback. Well-damped suspension, decent grip from the tires. Ran the CVT in "3rd gear" in Manual mode, which was nice to have the ability to hold the rpm at a certain level. ESC cannot be fully defeated, but its limits in "Off" mode are pretty high and only really a factor when powering out at slalom exit.


The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.​

 
#24 · (Edited)
ExtremeTech


Think of the new Honda Accord PHEV (plug-in hybrid electric vehicle) as a Chevrolet Volt in disguise, 1 that recharges in just an hour. The Volt shouts “different” to the neighbors while the Accord plug-in whispers its differences compared to conventional Volts and Toyota Priuses. If you want your PHEV to announce itself, Honda isn’t playing the self-gratification game. That’s a challenge in a country where most people don’t drop a dollar in the barista’s tip jar until she’s watching. For what may be sound engineering and cost reasons, the Accord runs 10-15 miles on battery power while the Volt goes 30-35. All this adds up to a roomy, comfortable car for 4-5 that will be in need of practical-minded buyers. The Accord PHEV looks the same as the 350,000 other new Accords likely to be bought in the US in 2013. As public recharging stations take hold, the Accord PHEV’s quick charge time may turn into a significant advantage. It will probably cost around $35,000 when it goes on sale in early 2013.

A test drive of the Accord PHEV is a non-event. It’s quiet, quick, roomy in back, expends energy going uphill and gets a lot of it back heading downhill. When the gasoline Earth Dreams 4-cylinder gasoline engine kicks in, it’s unobtrusive and isn’t buzzy or raspy. On 1 test loop at a Honda media event, the EV battery was almost depleted. Plug in the industry-standard J1772 charge connector and in less than 10 minutes on 220-volt charge the battery was almost half full. In urban driving, my loop of 8 miles should have exhausted the partially charged battery but I finished with 3 miles of battery juice showing.


Unlike a full-electric car such as the Ford Focus Electric, Nissan Leaf or Tesla S, there’s no range anxiety because of the Accord PHEV’s gasoline engine. Once that kicks in, you can go another 500 miles, Honda estimates, on a tank of fuel. Honda believes it will get more than 100 mpge while the 2013 Volt has eked up to 98 mpge (and 37 mpg under gasoline power). The mpge rating (miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent) equates driving using utility-company-supplied energy vs. driving the same vehicle with a combustion engine. Electricity is at least twice as efficient as gasoline, thus a car rated at 30-40 mpg will get an mpge around 90-100.

Multiple drive modes

The technology in the Honda PHEV engine room is a 4-cylinder gasoline engine with 2 integrated electric motors, one a starter-generator and the other effectively an electric continuously variable transmission. The 6.75 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with 100 prismatic cells, supplied by GS Yuasa, takes up about a 3rd of the trunk. The gas engine provides 137 hp or 102 kW, the electric motor adds 124 kW, and by the curious math and torque curves of hybrid technology, the combination adds to a maximum 196 hp or 146 kW.

By default, a fully-charged Accord PHEV starts in battery-only mode and can run battery-only at speeds up to 60 mph. The gasoline engine kicks in when the battery runs down, at high speeds, or if the electric motor needs help. A console button gives the driver options. A quick press shifts from EV to to hybrid. A longer press forcibly recharges the batteries. Normally this doesn’t make sense because it’s inefficient. But you might want battery power in reserve for climbing steep slopes ahead, or for silently creeping in the driveway late at night.


The Accord PHEV picks up efficiency by using more lightweight aluminum panels, aerodynamic alloy wheels, brake regeneration, an aero-tuned front end, and wind-shaping plastic underbody panels. At speeds over 50 mph, wind resistance requires more power than engine and road friction.

As with other hybrids and PHEVs, the Accord PHEV comes with a 120-volt charging cable that works on any outlet. A full charge takes three hours. But if you get the optional 220-volt charger for your garage or find a public charging station, Honda says a full charge takes less than an hour and 80% charge comes up in a half hour.

Accord PHEV vs. the other Accords

The Accord plug-in is 1 model in Honda’s new, 9th-generation lineup that starts arriving this fall. From the outside, the 2013 Accord looks like the 8th generation because Honda’s body design is based around the most efficient way to package four adults (which doesn’t change other than the weight Americans gain each year) and this time Honda managed to do it in a car 4 inches (10cm) shorter. It’s now classified again as a midsize car. There’ll be a sedan, coupe, hybrid (coming summer 2013), and the plug-in hybrid (early 2013). 3-quarters of the gasoline Accords sold will use a 4-cylinder engine with gasoline direct fuel injection (GDI); the automatic transmission option is a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Together, they’re good for 36 mpg highway, still a bit short of the Nissan Altima, which also uses a CVT; both get 27 mpg in city driving. The V6 Accord now offers a 6-speed automatic; Honda hung on to 5 speeds long after 6ix- to 8-speed automatics were widely adopted.

The 2013 Accord offers intriguing new safety features such as a passenger-side lane departure camera (Lane Watch), collision warning, lane departure warning, and a standard backup camera. But some buyers may find the features odd, such as a sophisticated blind spot camera on the right and only a convex-edge mirror on the left. For the gas-engine Accord, the mid-size segment is crowded with new designs. The best-selling Toyota Camry is a year old, the Altima is just months old, a new Ford Fusion is due shortly, and the Hyundai Sonata’s “fluidic sculpture” design makes it look newer than its 3 years. Honda got dinged for making the 2008 Accord look little changed and the same can be said for the 2013 edition. For drivers who expect handling in a family car, the Accord and Altima will be the ones to consider.


Who is the competition for the Accord PHEV?

The Accord PHEV will be equipped similarly to the top-line Accord Touring line, which runs $33,340 including navigation. The PHEV will also have an embedded cellular link to monitor battery charge. The Chevrolet Volt is the best-known plug-in hybrid and the most unique-looking, but it’s a smaller car and the back seat is a snug fit for adults. The closer match is the new Toyota Prius Plug-In with an 11-mile battery range and $32,000 base price. The Volt base price is $40,000, so you pay a healthy premium for the ability to go 30-38 miles on battery power. Other competitors will be the plug-in Ford C-Max Energi and Ford Fusion Energi. All told, there are about 15,000 plug-in hybrids on the road today in the 2 years plug-ins have been offered, mostly Volts.

In California, the competition may be any car with two or more occupants. If you want to travel alone in California’s high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, the Accord Plug-In qualifies, as do the Volt and Prius Plug-In. The HOV exemption allowing traditional hybrids (Prius) ended in 2011.
 
#25 ·
vs Camry


1st Place: 2013 Honda Accord EX
The Accord is once again the epitome of good taste in the 4-cylinder midsize sedan class. It's quicker, more fuel-efficient and overall more enjoyable to drive than the Toyota, and it has a nicer cabin to boot.

2nd Place: 2012 Toyota Camry LE
We won't stop you from buying a Camry, especially if you like a compliant ride. But its automatic transmission isn't as responsive as Honda's CVT, and its interior belongs to a lower income bracket.​

We switch to a different coffee shop the same week that we drive the 2013 Honda Accord EX and 2012 Toyota Camry LE. Our new place serves up double ristretto espressos for the same price as the single shots at our old watering hole, and we swear the foamed milk is denser and more flavorful.

In reality, of course, we're patronizing 2 coffee chains that are serving up pretty much the same product. Likewise, Honda and Toyota are trying to sell you, me, your dad, your boss's niece and 300,000 other people similar family cars for a similar price.

As in our latte, though, it's the details in these midsize sedans that matter. Subtle things that an ordinary person might overlook are everything to a car guy with a commute.

Honda made dozens of small improvements to the Accord for 2013, and in our full test, we found that they really changed the car for the better. But we already own a 2012 Toyota Camry and enjoy driving it to work. Although we suspect these family sedans may still be the same cup of Folgers, we won't know for sure without a head-to-head taste test.


So You Want To Spend $25,000

Your typical midsize sedan shopper envisions spending $25,000 before tax. That target necessitates a 4-cylinder engine rather than a V6, and some self control when optioning the car.

Our 2013 Honda Accord EX has no extras other than a continuously variable transmission (CVT), an $800 option over the standard 6-speed manual gearbox, resulting in a total price with destination of $26,195.

That's $320 more than the 2012 Accord EX from our last midsize sedan comparison test ($25,875) and there are more amenities here. Finally, we can make a hands-free call without an aftermarket earpiece, plus we can start the car with the key fob in our pocket (yes, it has a keyless ignition). We don't mind the standard back-up camera, either, even with the Accord's good sight lines, and having another tiny camera on the passenger-side mirror to help us check our blind spot is useful, too.


Tracking down a 2012 Toyota Camry (the 2013 model isn't out yet) that matches the 2013 Accord EX's equipment list proves to be a fool's errand, however. Actually, such a car does exist — it would be an SE model with the optional Convenience package, moonroof, power driver seat and floor mats, and a theoretical price tag of $26,755. Toyota doesn't have such a car to lend us, though, and our own navigation-equipped Camry SE is too expensive ($28,658). Instead, we settle on a Camry LE with the power driver seat ($440) and an as-tested price of $23,925. We would have taken a moonroof ($915) and 17-inch alloy wheels ($799), but it isn't to be.

Apart from its lack of cameras, though, the Camry LE has you covered in the key areas. True, there's no dual-zone climate control like there is in the Accord (as Toyota limits this luxury to the XLE model), but our interpersonal relationship with a significant other perseveres nevertheless, as we are able to negotiate a mutually acceptable fan speed with our better half. We don't have the Honda's trial XM subscription or Pandora integration either, but we can still stream Bluetooth audio or hook up to the Camry's USB port. Poor man's AM radio comes in fine in both cabins, though Dodgers announcer Vin Scully sounds more lifelike through the Accord's speakers.


1 Is Quicker and More Efficient
Usually, our friends chuckle when we start describing the adequate acceleration of 4-cylinder midsize sedans.

Nevertheless, there's plenty going on between the 2013 Honda Accord and 2012 Toyota Camry. See, Honda has replaced its usual automatic with a CVT. But you won't dread this 1. Oh, the revs climb when we floor the throttle on the on-ramps, but as soon as we lift, our desired speed achieved, the engine rpm drops back without the usual CVT springiness as if we've just gotten an upshift from a conventional automatic. Also, Honda's new direct-injected, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder has a smooth power delivery, and although its sound is unmemorable, it's not unpleasant.


And while this Honda Accord EX is only rated at 185 horsepower — 5 fewer horses than the last EX we tested — it feels stronger. Torque is the reason, as the 2013 EX's inline-4 is rated at 181 pound-feet at 3,900 rpm versus 162 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm for the 2012 version. This makes the 2013 Accord 1 of the quickest 4-cylinder models in the class (non-turbocharged) with its 7.8-second 0-60-mph time and quarter-mile of 15.8 seconds at 91.2 mph.

Meanwhile, the Camry's 178-hp, port-injected 2.5-liter engine provides more off-the-line grunt in spite of its lower torque rating of 170 lb-ft at 4,100 rpm. But move out for a pass on the freeway or some back road and the 6-speed automatic makes you wait around for downshifts. This is a well-tuned automatic, mind you, but it's up against Honda's unexpectedly good CVT, which is quicker at processing requests. The Camry LE reaches 60 mph in 8.4 seconds (8.0 with a foot of rollout as on a drag strip) and the quarter-mile in 16.1 seconds at 88.2 mph.

Honda has also gained the upper hand in fuel economy, as the 2013 Accord has a 30 mpg combined EPA rating to the Camry's 28 mpg combined rating. During our comparison test, the Accord averaged 26.3 mpg to the Camry's 24.9.


You Care About Handling
Handling still matters in a front-drive midsize sedan — if only because a well-damped ride and good steering feel will keep you from dozing off mid-commute.

And if that's the goal, the 2013 Honda Accord EX is the car to get. It's highly controlled as it goes down the freeway, and should you end up on a road with a bunch of turns, the Honda is actually kind of fun. Its new electric power steering might initially catch you off-guard with its light effort, but soon you realize the steering action is precise and also surprisingly informative.


In contrast, the Camry LE's electric steering isn't particularly accurate and has little to say. This is also true of our long-term Camry's steering, but our SE is otherwise amenable to cornering. Not so with this LE, which has a softer suspension calibration and smaller, all-season P205/65R16 Firestone Affinity Touring S4 tires. The car is slow to change heading and generally unhappy when the road isn't straight.

Slalom and skid pad performance reflect these differences. The 2013 Accord goes through the slalom at an impressive 65.5 mph, while the Camry is down at 61.0 mph. For reference, a 4-cylinder Camry SE goes through the cones at 65 mph even. On the skid pad, the Accord manages 0.83g on its 215/55R17 Michelin Primacy MXV4 tires, while the Camry LE tops out at 0.77g.


Braking is a wash. The Toyota has a firmer pedal, which we like, but its 129-foot 60-0-mph stopping distance is long for this class. So is the Accord's 128-foot braking distance.

If you're fanatical about ride comfort, you'll prefer the Camry LE, which is noticeably more compliant than the Accord and our Camry SE. Like its predecessor, the Accord EX rides smoothly, but there's a firmness that your dad might not like. Cabin noise levels are comparable, as the Accord registers 62.0 decibels at 70 mph versus 62.5 in the Camry.


Same Cabin, Different Interior Decorators
On a functional level, the 2013 Honda Accord and 2012 Toyota Camry are equally good. They have the same wheelbase and track, and their passenger volume and trunk capacity are within 1 cubic foot of each other. They even have the same size gas tank. So if you're looking for gobs of rear legroom or an easy car seat installation, they've both got you covered.

Yet we'd rather sit in the 2013 Accord EX. Honda paid more attention to interior materials and design (particularly the center stack) in this latest redesign, and the result is a genuinely upscale ambience, even in a working man's Accord with cloth seats. The Honda's driver seat is better shaped and more supportive, too.

There's nothing seriously flawed about the Camry's design, but as in our SE, the mix of materials feels disjointed and some of the plastics aren't up to snuff for this class. The touchscreen audio interface isn't as slick, either, and we wish there were external AM and FM buttons for switching between sources.


A Matter of Taste
"Most automakers would kill for a car to feel this good at the beginning of its life cycle, and the Accord is at the end."

We wrote that in the logbook during our last midsize sedan comparison. And yes, the 2012 Accord was a good car. It handled well, its huge backseat accommodated 6-footers no questions asked, and its handsome, relaxed-fit sheet metal had a timeless appeal. But it was also slow for its class, and its drab interior had too few amenities to keep you busy during long commutes. So it didn't win that test.


Now the Honda Accord is back at the beginning, and it wins this test easily. As usual, it's the total package that makes this car special. The new 4-cylinder engine and CVT work incredibly well together, providing usable performance and a real-world improvement in fuel consumption. Honda also improved the look and feel of the cabin, while adding the tech features that have become important in this class. In the midst of checking all those boxes, company executives didn't lose sight of details like handling and steering feel — key ingredients in the character of Accords past and present.

Next to the Accord, the 2012 Toyota Camry LE is down on flavor. It's every bit as useful as the Honda on the inside, but on the road, it's slower and wholly uninterested in doing anything other than taking you to work in comfort. For some, that's enough, especially given this LE model's competitive price tag.

But we'll pay a bit more for the 2013 Honda Accord's tastier brew. For the moment, it's the car to have in the 4-cylinder midsize sedan class.


The manufacturers provided Edmunds these vehicles for the purposes of evaluation.​

Vehicle
Year Make Model 2013 Honda Accord EX 4dr Sedan (2.4L 4cyl CVT)
Vehicle Type FWD 4dr 5-passenger Sedan
Base MSRP $26,195
As-tested MSRP $26,195
Assembly location Marysville, Ohio
Drivetrain
Configuration Transverse, front-engine, front-wheel drive
Engine type Naturally aspirated, direct-injected inline-4, gasoline
Displacement (cc/cu-in) 2,354/144
Block/head material Aluminum/aluminum
Valvetrain DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, variable intake-valve timing and lift
Compression ratio (x:1) 11.1
Redline, indicated (rpm) 6,800
Horsepower (hp @ rpm) 185 @ 6,400
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) 181 @ 3,900
Fuel type Regular unleaded
Transmission type Pulley-regulated continuously variable transmission with console shifter with sport/competition modes
Transmission ratios (x:1) 4.123 - 0.631
Final-drive ratio (x:1) 3.238
Differential(s) Open
Chassis
Suspension, front Independent MacPherson struts, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension, rear Independent multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Steering type Electric-assist rack-and-pinion steering
Steering ratio (x:1) 13.23
Tire make and model Michelin Primacy MXV4
Tire type All-season front and rear
Tire size, front 215/55R17
Tire size, rear 215/55R17
Wheel size 17-by-7.5 inches front and rear
Wheel material Aluminum
Brakes, front 11.5-inch 1-piece ventilated rotors with single-piston sliding calipers
Brakes, rear 11.1-inch 1-piece rotors with single-piston sliding calipers
Track Test Results
Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) 3.4
0-45 mph (sec.) 5.3
0-60 mph (sec.) 7.8
0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) 7.5
0-75 mph (sec.) 11.1
1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) 15.8 @ 91.2
0-30 mph, trac ON (sec.) 3.5
0-45 mph, trac ON (sec.) 5.4
0-60 mph, trac ON (sec.) 7.9
0-60, trac ON with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) 7.5
0-75 mph, trac ON (sec.) 11.2
1/4-mile, trac ON (sec. @ mph) 15.8 @ 91.2
Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) 32
60-0 mph (ft.) 128
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) 65.2
Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) ESC ON 65.5
Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) 0.81
Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) ESC ON 0.83
Sound level @ idle (dB) 40.2
@ Full throttle (dB) 70.2
@ 70 mph cruise (dB) 62.0
Engine speed @ 70 mph (rpm) 2,000
Test Driver Ratings & Comments
Acceleration comments Best launch with no brake torque. Feels weak off the line, but quickly makes the most of the new engine's power. Still, there's typical CVT behavior at WOT.
Braking comments Soft pedal. Lots of ABS noise and feedback. Some lateral wander. Not the best in its class in this test, but distance is OK.
Handling comments Skid pad: Light steering effort is obvious here, but steering still offers enough feedback to prudently guide the car. Good visibility makes placing it easy. Won't rotate off throttle, but what midsize sedan will? Slalom: Certainly not a sports car, but quite good for the segment. Feels light and changes directions readily. Excellent ESC tuning allows for rapid transitions without punishing driver.
Testing Conditions
Test date 8/28/2012
Elevation (ft.) 1,121
Temperature (°F) 84.3
Relative humidity (%) 23.7
Barometric pressure (in. Hg) 28.7
Wind (mph, direction) 1.0, Tail/cross
Odometer (mi.) 1,377
Fuel used for test 87-octane gasoline
As-tested tire pressures, f/r (psi) 32/32
Fuel Consumption
EPA fuel economy (mpg) 27 city/36 highway/30 combined
Edmunds observed (mpg) 26.3
Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) 17.2
Audio and Advanced Technology
Stereo description 160-watt, 6 speaker AM/FM/CD with WMA/MP3 audio system
iPod/digital media compatibility Standard iPod via USB jack, standard aux jack
Rear seat video and entertainment Not available
Bluetooth phone connectivity Standard
Smart entry/Start Standard ignition and doors
Parking aids Standard back-up camera
Blind-spot detection Standard right-side camera (LaneWatch)
Dimensions & Capacities
Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) 3,192 (LX trim)
Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) 3,320
Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) 61/39
Length (in.) 191.4
Width (in.) 72.8
Height (in.) 57.7
Wheelbase (in.) 109.3
Track, front (in.) 62.8
Track, rear (in.) 62.7
Legroom, front (in.) 42.5
Legroom, rear (in.) 38.5
Headroom, front (in.) 39.1
Headroom, rear (in.) 37.5
Shoulder room, front (in.) 58.6
Shoulder room, rear (in.) 56.5
Seating capacity 5
Trunk volume (cu-ft) 15.8
Warranty
Bumper-to-bumper 3 years/36,000 miles
Powertrain 5 years/60,000 miles
Corrosion 5 years/unlimited mileage
Roadside assistance Available for purchase via Honda Care contract​


 
#26 · (Edited)
Consumer Reports



Look up "pressure" in the dictionary and somewhere, a few entries down, you'll see this: "Redesigning the Honda Accord."

Not only is the Accord Honda's best-seller here, it also competes against an avalanche of rather competent family sedans. It doesn't help that recent years have brought charges (including from us) that Honda has lost its mojo with a string of so-so redesigns, culminating in the decidedly lackluster 2012 Honda Civic. So saying that Honda has a lot riding on the redesigned 2013 Accord is an understatement.

The good news: Based on what we've seen so far from our experiences with 2 Accords borrowed from Honda, the new car is no Civic. The Accord should certainly hold its own in both the marketplace, and barring unforeseen surprises, in our Ratings.


1st impressions are that Honda is getting over their electric steering tuning issues that robbed steering feel from other recent Honda and Acura models. Road noise, a persistent Accord complaint, seems better than before. And the new continuously variable transmission (CVT) feels well integrated, lacking some of the annoying traits that sour us on this technology.

Although we only got a brief stint in the not-quite-done-yet Accord Plug-In, it was impressive to drive. Acceleration response is enjoyable via the electric's abundant torque, and the car stays in electric-only propulsion even with a good deal of throttle input. We are surprised, though, that Honda is introducing the plug-in hybrid version long before its conventional hybrid. Honda claims this is because it's easier to develop the heaviest, most complex version 1st. We wonder if Honda hopes to sell a few more of the more-expensive and more-esoteric plug-in model while riding the inevitable wave of customer interest that comes with a freshly introduced car.

Another improvement: Honda is playing to win when it comes to feature content. All Accords have a USB connection, Bluetooth, and, most impressively, a backup camera. You also only get satellite radio on EX and higher trim levels. There are still some shortcomings to Honda's strict no-options order structure: You can't get a power driver's seat in the LX (it only costs a few hundred dollars in most rivals) and you can't get a sunroof in the Sport.


Honda is also incorporating a lot of electronic safety features into the latest Accord. Uplevel models come standard with forward-collision warning, as well as a unique feature that uses a camera to show what is in your passenger-side blind spot before you change lanes. We're not so sure about this feature; looking over your left shoulder on the driver's side to merge or pass seems to be more risky (and difficult), yet that side is overlooked by this system. And if the camera is left on, the screen is distracting.

This redesigned Accord comes not a minute too soon. Almost every major player in this segment has been redesigned--or soon will be. It will be very interesting to see how all of these sedans stack up. To find out, we'll be buying Accords of our own when they go on sale next week. For now, enjoy our video for other 1st impressions.

 
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