Now in its 10th generation, the Accord is the best-seller in a declining mid-size segment
The all-new 2018 Honda Accord The Honda Accord gets a complete redesign for 2018. Now in its tenth-generation – 41 years since its arrival in 1976 – the Accord gets new looks, engines, technology and improved fuel economy that help separate it from the rest of the mid-size sedan pack. Here’s a look at some of the key differences that make this new Accord unique. By David Miller ▲
Best-seller in its segment Unless it’s a Honda Civic or Ford F-150, it’s rare to see a vehicle top the sales chart ahead of a generational change. But, as of August 2017, the Honda Accord is Canada’s mid-size sedan sales leader with 10,243 units sold, 1,378 units more than the Toyota Camry – its most direct competitor, which has also gone through a recent major makeover. The Ford Fusion is a distant third in class, with 7,189 units sold. ▲
Good-bye V-6, hello turbo-four Unlike the Camry, the Accord has dropped its V-6 engine, in favour of two turbocharged four-cylinder choices. The base 1.5-litre engine produces 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, the greatest numbers yet for an Accord’s base engine. The other option is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder rated at 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, the highest torque number ever in an Accord, despite dropping two cylinders. ▲
First-in-class 10-speed transmission Another first for the Accord is a 10-speed automatic transmission for its 2.0-litre engine. It’s the first of its kind in a front-wheel-drive sedan and it helps provide a powerful initial burst of acceleration as it seamlessly moves up through the gears. Initially, a high torque multiplication can hurt fuel economy, but that gets offset in higher gears where a vehicle typically operates most of the time. The automatic option in the 1.5-litre unit is a continuously variable transmission. ▲
Manual transmissions offered with both engines It’s rare to even find a manual transmission at the mid-size sedan level these days, but the people at Honda aren’t forgetting about those enthusiast stick-shifters. A six-speed manual tranny is offered on both the 1.5- and 2.0-litre engines in both LX and Sport trim. The higher trims are offered only in automatic mode. ▲
Firsts for cabin quietness Honda has implemented a few new tricks for ultimate cabin quietness, including, for the first time in a Honda, a standard active noise-cancellation system that makes use of three microphones. Additionally, there are a few firsts for the Accord model, including acoustic spray foam in its roof, door panels and eight other locations, as well as noise-reduction coatings in the wheel. ▲
Overall quiet ride Turn the radio off and listen to the silence of the all-new Accord. Even with a CVT at its disposal, this mid-size sedan takes a quiet sanctuary to greater heights. It soaks up bumps on the road, and when there’s a need to brake hard, that happens quietly too. Some of this newfound sophistication is aided by a new ‘L arm’ front suspension that reduces road vibration into the body. ▲
Low city fuel-consumption Fuel economy numbers haven’t been confirmed for the 2.0-litre, but a low 7.9 L/100 km city rating sneaks in just below the new Camry. On the flip side, the Camry has a better highway rating at 5.7 L/100 km compared to the Accord’s 6.3 for an overall better combined rating. ▲
Boring no more As a whole, the mid-size segment has long been characterized as boring. But, over the last few years, the Mazda6 and Chevrolet Malibu have broken out of that mould to stand out among the pack, while the Camry has come along way from what it was. This new Accord takes exterior styling to a higher level with a sleek coupe-like silhouette and a variety of new grilles, horizontal LED lighting and additional body creases to give it plenty of character. ▲
Lower driving position The Accord’s new sport demeanour is similar to that of its Civic sibling. It takes a sporty approach not only in design but also while sitting in the cockpit, by lowering its seating position by about 2.5 cm, placing the driver much closer to the road. ▲
Longer wheelbase The new Accord didn’t stretch its wheelbase by much but, at 2,830 mm, it’s slightly longer than the new Camry’s. It still comes in shorter than the Chevrolet Malibu but it does enable extra rear legroom and increased visibility. Additionally, the Accord’s dimensions increased in width and decreased in height. ▲
Slim and trim At the LX base trim, the Accord weighs in at an impressive 1,408 kg for the manual version and only 1,433 kg for the CVT. In comparison, the Sonata is at 1,474; while the Camry sits at 1,495. ▲
Superior trunk space The new Accord is at the top of the mid-size charts when it comes to trunk space with 473 litres across all trim levels. This figure trumps the leaders in this segment including the Hyundai Sonata, Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion. ▲
Floating infotainment screen, plus knobs! On the inside, Honda has dropped its dual-screen infotainment unit in favour of a standard eight-inch floating screen that sits on top of the instrument panel. This configuration may seem familiar, as its also used by the Mazda6, but that’s no bad thing, and the Accord goes the extra mile by surrounding the touchscreen with real buttons and knobs! ▲
Customizable HUD New to the Accord is a seven-inch TFT meter screen that oozes premium quality. Available only on the Touring trim, the TFT features a heads-up display (HUD) that’s fully customizable. The driver can configure it to his/her liking with options of vehicle speed, traffic signs, tachometer readings, navigation directions, activated safety technologies and incoming calls. ▲
Soft leather-wrapped steering wheel Starting at the second-tier Sport trim, the Accord features a soft leather-wrapped steering wheel. As you move up trim levels, it gets better with the addition of heating. Leather isn’t common at the lower trim levels, and Honda’s gone one step further by making it smooth and more comfortable to grip compared to its outgoing model. ▲
Honda Sensing comes standard One of the most comforting value propositions the Accord offers is Honda Sensing throughout the trim line. Starting at the base trim, Accord buyers will get standard Traffic Sign Recognition, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow and Lane Keeping Assist. ▲
Pricing and availability At a starting price of $26,490, the all-new 2018 Honda Accord arrives at dealerships in late October. That’s when the 1.5-litre turbo becomes available, to be followed by the 2.0-litre unit at the end of November. In addition, the Accord will get a hybrid offering early in 2018, to compete with those of the Sonata and Camry. ▲
Keyword: 16 things that set the new Honda Accord apart from the pack