“They” say the one issues sure in life are demise and taxes. To that, I’d add another certainty—the existence of the Honda Accord.
Now in its eleventh iteration, Honda’s flagship sedan is perennially one of many best-selling cars in the US. What’s extra, the mannequin title has adorned hatchbacks, coupes and station wagons.
Overview
Together with this all-new mannequin for 2023, Honda is celebrating the fortieth anniversary of Accord manufacturing at its Marysville, Ohio plant. Modern, spacious and interesting, this new Honda Accord additionally enjoys excellent construct high quality.
Honda can be betting massive on its hybrid powertrain with this new Accord, positioning it to account for 50% of the mannequin’s gross sales quantity. To that finish, the system is fitted as customary tools to all 4 of the Accord’s higher trim ranges — Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring. The 2 base fashions — LX and EX — persist with the turbocharged 1.5-liter, 192-horsepower 4-cylinder from the earlier mannequin 12 months.
Exterior
Extra evolutionary than revolutionary, the look of the 2023 Accord is being hailed by many as essentially the most engaging design Honda’s largest sedan has ever had. Barely longer than the 2022 mannequin, the glossy styling additionally options skinny pillars and loads of glass, which makes for glorious outward visibility.
Whereas the traces do stream gracefully, there’s a bit an excessive amount of entrance and rear overhang for my sensibilities. General although, the design is sort of fluid and Accord followers will discover a lot to like, as scores of covetous glances from drivers of older Accords demonstrated throughout my time with the automotive.
That mentioned, the Accord Hybrid Sport mannequin I examined additionally wore a set of the black wheels which have seemingly turn into de rigueur for product planners attempting to telegraph a mannequin’s sporting intentions. Whereas the 19-inch wheels did mix with the Accord’s chrome-free “murdered-out” look, black wheels make a automotive appear to be one thing’s lacking to me. A silver lip across the wheel would have completed the planners’ intention, whereas focusing extra consideration on the good-looking five-spoke design.
Inside
The redesigned inside therapy brings the entrance grille’s honeycomb sample contained in the 2023 Accord and cleverly employs it to disguise the HVAC vents. This offers the beltline of the sprint an uninterrupted stream. A 12.3-inch infotainment display screen, the biggest ever fitted to an Accord, holds courtroom over a tastefully minimalist inside design. Swathed in premium supplies, the Honda’s passenger compartment illustrates the magnificence that resides in simplicity.
Cup holders and cubbies are plentiful, as is cargo capability. In response to Honda’s documentation, the 2023 Accord is the category chief in that regard, boasting 16.7 cubic toes of trunk house — earlier than the rear seats are folded. Whereas we’re with regards to seating, the Accord’s entrance seats stabilize the physique properly, which fits a good distance towards minimizing fatigue over protracted distances.
Powertrain
Electrification has come to the fore at Honda. Assisted by a pair of electrical motors, a 2.0-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder engine anchors the hybrid powertrain. Whole system output is 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. The system averaged an astonishing 41 mpg in a mixture of metropolis, freeway and brisk again highway driving. The EPA says to anticipate 46 within the metropolis and 41 on the freeway.
Whereas it’s definitely respectable, energy output might stand to be dialed up a notch or two. I counted six one 1000’s earlier than the speedometer needle eclipsed 60 miles per hour from a standing begin.
Security and Know-how
The 12.3-inch touchscreen is complemented by a ten.2-inch digital instrumentation show. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are customary throughout the mannequin vary. Nevertheless, LX- and EX-trimmed Accords with the 7-inch touchscreen, make do with a wired connection for these options. Solely the massive display screen gives wi-fi connectivity. A wi-fi smartphone charging pad, a 6.0-inch head-up show and a 12-speaker Bose stereo system are additionally out there.
On the protection aspect, the Honda Sensing assortment of driver assists is customary. Options embrace site visitors signal recognition, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning. Adaptive cruise management, site visitors signal recognition, site visitors jam help and lane-keeping help are a part of the bundle too.
Driving Impressions
Driving the Accord jogged my memory of the neural hyperlink rider and horse get pleasure from within the movie Avatar. I felt hardwired to the automotive. Steering, throttle and braking response have been each direct and speedy. The connection between the seat and steering wheel was exactly conducive to spirited driving and the highway appeared to come back proper as much as the bottom of the windshield.
Exhibiting crisp turn-in and plentiful grip, the Accord deftly reassured me with its sheer and utter competence. Physique roll was negligible and remarkably for a front-wheel drive automotive of this dimension and weight, understeer was not obvious — even after I was attacking canyon roads like Snoopy chasing the Purple Baron. What’s extra, the Accord’s experience high quality was simply pretty much as good as its dealing with. The harshness that usually rears up when a sedan of this nature is endowed with that diploma of agility was utterly lacking from the expertise.
2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid Specs
Wrap Up
Honda’s flagship sedan is exceptionally easy, completed superbly, and is an entire lot of enjoyable to drive. Nevertheless, if I completely needed to discover fault, it might be with the face of the automotive.
The Accord’s face lacks the intimidation issue the automotive must associate with its dealing with. Consequently, the Accord doesn’t get the respect it deserves on again roads. I’m guessing it’s as a result of Accords are so ubiquitous and perceived to be “household automobiles.”
No matter it’s, slightly than getting out of its manner, different drivers ignore it after they see the Honda out of the blue looming giant of their rearview mirrors. Nonetheless although, you’ll be laborious pressed to seek out one other four-door sedan that so competently delivers the 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid’s mixture of high quality, driving pleasure, gas economic system, consolation and house — at any value level.
2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid – Incessantly Requested Questions
What to anticipate from the 2023 Honda Accord?
Redesigned for the 2023 mannequin 12 months, the Accord gives glossy styling, a spacious inside and a broad array of fascinating tech. In accordance (no pun meant) to the EPA, the hybrid powertrain is able to 46 mpg within the metropolis, 41 on the freeway and 44 total.
How lengthy can an Accord be anticipated to final?
Maintained appropriately, an Accord will simply go 200,000 miles or extra.
Does the Honda Accord maintain its worth?
The common depreciation of a brand new automotive after 5 years is 40%. Accords expertise a 21% depreciation price after 5 years.
