For decades, the Honda Accord has been at or near the top of the midsize family car class. It’s easy to understand why, with its mix of spaciousness, great performance, and a reputation for dependability. The 2023 Honda Accord has been completely redesigned, which is another important moment in the long history of this car.
This new Accord has a similar look to the last one. It has a tall hood and a typical sloping roofline that gives it a sleek, athletic look. The front and headlights have been streamlined to make the car look cleaner and put together, and the taillights now have a more European look. Overall, it’s a nice design that doesn’t push too hard to stand out.
Customers may choose between two powertrains. The LX and EX grades are equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is essentially carried over from the previous generation Accord. The other model levels get a redesigned hybrid powertrain, which Honda claims can now maintain the Accord at greater speeds without the engine cutting in as often. It also has an EPA rating of 48 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The former top-tier engine, the turbocharged 2.0-litre, is no longer available for the 2023 Accord.
Inside, the new Accord’s layout is virtually comparable to what we’ve seen in the recent redesigns of the Civic, CR-V, HR-V, and Pilot, but it’s been boosted by more great materials wherever you look and touch. The settings are easily accessible, and there’s no guesswork involved when adjusting the volume, changing the temperature, or fiddling with the drive modes. For 2023, Accords with hybrid powertrains will get a new 12.3-inch infotainment display that is crystal clear and quick. As an extra benefit, the Touring trim has Google Assistant. Consider it similar to having the smart speaker on your bookshelf at home connected to your automobile.
Overall, we enjoy the large, polished interior of the 2017 Accord, as well as the new Google-based voice control system. Another advantage of the hybrid system is its excellent fuel efficiency. However, the Accord is hampered by a few flaws. Check out our comprehensive Expert Rating to get the real scoop on what to anticipate and how the Accord compares to the Kia K5, Hyundai Sonata, and Toyota Camry.
Performance
How does it work on the road? The Accord Sport-L with the hybrid engine was evaluated. It is ideal for daily driving since it maximizes fuel economy without losing performance. Our Sport-L test vehicle sped from 0 to 60 mph in 7 seconds on Edmunds’ test track, which is approximately a second faster than most competing midsize hybrid sedans and the previous Accord we tested with the standard turbocharged engine. While this powertrain lacks a conventional gearbox, Honda has carefully engineered it to modify engine rpm to mimic the familiar shifting sensation of regular automatic transmission. When it comes to handling and steering, the Accord is quite grippy in corners but lacks the inherent athleticism that previous Accords were renowned for.
Comfort
How spacious is the Accord? The Accord does an excellent job of keeping outside noise out of the cabin. Things are much more peaceful when the automobile is in electric mode. The driver’s seat in the Accord, as in other Honda cars, could use a little extra cushioning, but it offers enough flexibility for virtually everyone to be comfortable behind the wheel. When it comes to heating or cooling the automobile, the climate system is more than enough. The absence of rear seat air vents on certain trim levels, on the other hand, is a big omission.
Our test vehicle had fantastic ride quality thanks to its 19-inch wheels. It absorbed significant knocks and bruises with ease and maintained its cool throughout our time with it. We think the EX-L model, with its smaller wheels, is even better.
Interior
How is the inside? The interior of the 2017 Honda Accord is stripped-down, with a minimalist centre stack and huge, no-nonsense controls and knobs. The learning curve is essentially nonexistent, which is precisely what we look for in a vehicle with broad appeal. With its large door apertures, getting in and out of the vehicle is simple, although taller passengers should keep an eye on their heads while entering the back seat due to the sloping roofline. Taller back passengers may also brush up against the headliner, but overall space in both rows is excellent, with plenty of legroom.
Because of narrow windshield pillars and a large back window, there are no large blind spots from the driver’s position. Nevertheless, raising the driver’s seat too high made it impossible to view the whole gauge cluster—this might be an issue for shorter drivers.
Technology
How’s the technology? The 12.3-inch touchscreen was installed in our test vehicle. When you acquire this screen, you also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda also includes Google Assistant and service connectivity, but only on the Touring model level. It seems like overkill for a tech feature that might significantly enhance the entire experience of the cheaper trims. A package that included the optional Bose system and Google Assistant would have been a game changer for the Sport-L test vehicle we had.
The Honda Sense package of driver assistance features is rather complete. The lane maintenance system might be too obtrusive at times, but when everything works at once, it’s fantastic. We also like how simple it is to use the adaptive cruise control by just pressing a button on the steering wheel.
Storage
How is the storage situation? With 16.7 cubic feet of capacity, the trunk has plenty of storage for all of your belongings. Even lengthy things, such as a golf bag, will fit without a hitch. The centre console space is spacious, with ample surface area to accommodate smaller things. There are cupholders all over the place, and they accommodate bigger water bottles with high sides to keep them in place.
The back seats are big enough to fit several car seats, and the LATCH points are easy to see because nothing is covering them up. The only possible installation issue is the low roofline.
Fuel Efficiency
How about the fuel economy? The Accord’s combined fuel economy varies from 32 mpg for the standard engine to 48 mpg for the hybrid with the smaller 17-inch wheels. We evaluated the Accord Sport-L, which has larger 19-inch wheels and a projected combined fuel economy of 44 mpg, and it returned 41.5 mpg on our real-world assessment route. It falls short of the EPA number and other midsize hybrids on the same route, but on the whole, this is a rather efficient car.
Value
Is the Honda Accord a good buy? The Accord’s value proposition is a narrative of two contending facts. On the one hand, the overall build quality is on par with the finest. There were no squeaks or rattles, panel gaps, or shoddy materials to complain about. This automobile seems to be able to withstand the abuse of the ordinary family without trouble. On the other hand, given the price, our Sport-L test vehicle seemed to be lacking in features. For comparison, a similar Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SEL offers more amenities for less money.
Wildcard
Although the Accord remains Honda’s premier sedan, it no longer seems like the company’s centre of innovation. Its strongest wow factor right now is decent build quality and an economical engine, neither of which is thrilling. More individuality and stand-alone choices would go a long way toward making this vehicle a distinct favourite in the category.
recommendation
Most Accord buyers should choose the midlevel EX-L model. It’s the only model in the series with a hybrid engine and smaller 17-inch wheels, which give a more pleasant ride. The bigger infotainment touchscreen and luxury interior are also included.
Models of the Honda Accord
The LX, EX, Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trim levels are offered for the 2023 Accord. The LX and EX are powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the front wheels using a continuously variable gearbox (CVT). The remaining trim levels all get an update to a hybrid powertrain powered by a 2.0-litre normally aspirated four-cylinder engine. The overall system output is 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. It is also front-wheel drive. Continue reading for a rundown of the amenities available on each Accord trim level.
LX
The Accord lineup begins with:
- 1.5-litre turbocharged engine
- 17-inch wheels
- Headlights with LEDs
- The cluster of digital instruments
- 7-inch touchscreen display in the middle
- Audio system with four speakers
- Smartphone compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Wi-Fi hotspot functionality
- Two USB-C connectors on the front
Every Accord also has Honda Sensing, a suite of driving assistance. Here are some examples:
- Automatic braking and frontal collision warning (applies the brakes automatically to stop the vehicle to avoid or minimize a collision)
- Cruise control with adaptive settings (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when you don’t use a turn signal and can automatically steer to keep you in your lane)
- Help with lane maintenance (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centred in its lane)
- Headlights with automatic high-beams
EX
Enhances the LX by means of:
- Front chairs that are heated
- Driver’s seat with power adjustment
- Climate control in two zones
- Sound system with eight speakers
- Sunroof
Sport
The Sport has identical features to the EX but does not have heated front seats. The hybrid powertrain is then added, along with:
- 19-inch wheels
- 12.3-inch touchscreen in the middle
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection
- The steering wheel is covered with leather
EX-L
The next level up from the Sport is:
- 17-inch wheels
- Parking sensors in the front and back
- Front chairs that are heated
- Seating surfaces made of leather
- Two USB ports on the back
- Front passenger seat with power adjustment
- Driver’s seat memory settings
- Rearview auto-dimming mirror
Sport-L
This specification has everything from the EX-L, but without the parking sensors and auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Touring
The Accord lineup is completed by:
- 19-inch wheels
- Parking detectors
- Google’s in-built voice assistant system
- Smartphone charging pad that is wireless
- Front chairs with ventilation
- Rear heated seats
- Bose audio system with 12 speakers
- The head-up display
- Rearview auto-dimming mirror
- Wipers with rain sensors
