We’re quick approaching a half-century since Honda introduced the unique Accord nameplate to market. It’s gone by way of numerous adjustments through the years. But recently, the market has modified across the Accord.
By the tens of millions, American motorists have been migrating from sedans, coupes and hatchbacks to SUVs, CUVs and pickups. That’s led quite a lot of of the Japanese automaker’s rivals to desert the passenger automotive market. For its half, Honda hasn’t ignored these market developments. It’s expanded its line-up of utility automobiles, final 12 months alone rolling out up to date variations of the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot. But it’s not planning to surrender on sedans — or coupes or hatchbacks, because it’s demonstrated with up to date variations of the Civic and, now for 2023, the flagship Accord line.
Overview
The Eleventh-generation Accord I frolicked with in San Diego this month is greater than only a modest replace. It’s an all-but-ground-up makeover of the acquainted midsize sedan.
The 2023 Honda Accord grows bigger, roomier, sportier and is extra lavishly geared up. There’s loads of helpful expertise, together with a bigger infotainment show which, on the highest trim Touring package deal adopts new Google maps and apps, in addition to the Google Assistant voice tech. The new Accord additionally introduces a brand new hybrid powertrain that delivers a as soon as seemingly unimaginable mix of improved efficiency and spectacular gas economic system — as a lot as 51 mpg in around-town driving.
The new sedan is costlier — although that shouldn’t come as a shock nowadays when the typical U.S. purchaser is paying greater than $45,000 for a brand new automobile. And, for what you get, even within the base 2023 Accord, it appears greater than a good value.
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Exterior
The 2023 Accord will get an up to date model of the platform used within the outgoing mannequin. And its general size grows 2.8 inches, to 195.7 inches bumper-to-bumper. That interprets right into a roughly 6% enhance in inside house, to 105.7 cubic ft.
Honda aimed to present the brand new sedan a “sleeker” and “more sophisticated” look, with a extra upright nostril, blacked out LED headlights, an extended hood, crisp character traces, and extra of a fastback roofline. The rear monitor has additionally been widened which, Honda claims, improves stability.
There’s additionally extra distinctive detailing between trims. The LX, EX and EX-L fashions, for instance, get black grille mesh and body-color aspect mirrors. The Sport and Sport-L packages function black seat mirrors and spoiler and 19-inch alloy wheels. The top-line Accord Touring options gloss-black alloy wheels and silver and black exterior trim.
Interior
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Inside, the 11th-generation Accord options clear surfaces and a sportier structure, with extra premium detailing, together with Piano Black trim. New “Body Stabilizing Seats,” the automaker guarantees, assist scale back fatigue on lengthy journeys.
And, as with the outside design, there are distinct options on varied trims. The Sport mannequin, for instance, will get aluminum pedals and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Touring, in the meantime, will get ventilated entrance seats and heated rear seats.
While clearly extra lavish, on the entire, the 2023 Honda Accord picks up on a number of the smaller Civic mannequin’s inside design cues. That contains the diamond-pattern instrument panel which hides away the local weather system’s air vents.
The 2023 Accord additionally introduces the biggest touchscreen ever supplied on a Honda mannequin, a 12.3-inch show that rises above that new instrument panel. The new sedan additionally adopts a ten.2-inch digital gauge cluster. And a head-up show comes with the Touring trim.
Powertrain
There’s one thing previous and one thing new in terms of drivetrains for the 2023 Honda Accord. Sedan patrons have the selection of a turbocharged inline-four carried over from the previous Accord, or a brand new hybrid package deal.
The turbo-four is a 1.5-liter design that makes a fairly fast 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.
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But the star is the brand new twin-motor hybrid. One of these AC synchronous motors is used solely for regenerative functions — amongst different issues, recapturing power usually misplaced throughout braking and coasting. The different pairs up with a 2.0-liter inner combustion engine to provide a mixed 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. That’s really 9 hp lower than the hybrid within the 2022 Accord mustered, however the brand new package deal punches out 15 extra pound-feet of torque, 247 in complete.
And it delivers some spectacular mileage numbers at 51 mpg within the metropolis and 48 on the freeway. The turbo-four delivers an inexpensive, however hardly stellar 30 mpg metropolis, 38 freeway. (And, sure, the figures are appropriate. Because you make frequent stop-and-go maneuvers round city, hybrids are likely to do higher within the EPA metropolis check cycle than on the freeway.)
There was hypothesis Accord may get a plug-in hybrid possibility. That’s a “no” for 2023 and doesn’t look more likely to occur anytime quickly. An even bigger disappointment comes with the dearth of an all-wheel-drive system for the eleventh-generation Accord.
Safety and Technology
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The base Accord comes with a ten.2-inch digital touchscreen, although larger trim ranges — and hybrid fashions — soar to 12.3 inches, the biggest show Honda has but supplied. The automaker realized its lesson just a few years again, and each infotainment shows now function bodily quantity knobs.
In the top-line Accord Touring fashions, Honda migrates to the Google-powered infotainment system which incorporates Google Maps and apps, in addition to the Google Assistant expertise. It contains a extra highly effective voice assistant that makes it simpler to do the whole lot from checking the climate to programming the onboard navigation system. Accord Touring now comes commonplace with a 6-inch head-up show and a 12-speaker Bose audio system, as nicely.
You’ll discover wired variations of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Honda switching to wi-fi variations on the higher Accord trims, And all variations of the sedan function smartphone-style over-the-air updates expertise which works just about all onboard software program.
The eleventh-generation sedan comes commonplace with Honda Sensing, an in depth suite of superior driver help methods. It contains options like collision warning with computerized emergency braking, energetic cruise management and lane departure warning, carry over. The 2023 mannequin provides features equivalent to site visitors signal recognition.
Driving Impressions
I began my day overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the northern San Diego enclave of Encinitas, launching out on a circuitous route that took me up into the japanese hill nation with a cease on the standard Julian pie firm. For the primary half of the journey, I lined up a 2023 Honda Accord Touring Sport mannequin, swapping that out in Julian for the extra lavishly outfitted Hybrid Touring package deal.
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The new hybrid powertrain is an enormous enchancment over the prior gas-electric system: easy, torquey and confidence-inspiring. Under regular driving, you’ll barely discover its presence, the package deal spending a lot of its time counting on the electrical half of the package deal to energy you alongside. Kick down the throttle and it’s very happy to indicate what it will probably do, nevertheless, particularly in Sport Mode.
The system introduces a digitally created soundtrack designed to boost the sense of energy and efficiency. It is a bit synthetic and a few people may discover it intrusive.
Along the coast and onto the I-5, the hybrid drivetrain was greater than as much as what I demanded of it. It’s in a position to mix into freeway site visitors and, if wanted, simply execute a move at 80 mph. The new powertrain’s muscle was equally apparent as I labored my approach up into the Laguna Mountains in the direction of Julian, at 4,200 ft.
The upgraded suspension stayed firmly planted as I zigzagged by way of sharp mountain turns, with far much less physique roll than the prior era Accord was wont to ship. The steering was a bit of imprecise in Normal Mode however tightened up properly when switched to Sport.
If I skilled any shock it was how nicely the Touring mannequin dealt with issues on the return journey. It wasn’t fairly as taut within the corners, but it surely remained poised and assured, including a bit of extra compliance to the suspension to absorb bumps and potholes.
Unfortunately, Honda solely had a pair of turbo fashions available for our media drive and, with so many of us asking for time behind the wheel I needed to restrict myself to a 30-minute loop nearer to the coast. As with the hybrid, the powertrain supplied a extra refined really feel than I recalled from driving the previous ’22 Accord. It was moderately peppy and responded shortly to no matter my proper foot demanded.
For these on a price range, the turbo package deal is an inexpensive possibility. But there’s no query that the Accord Hybrid, regardless of the trim, is the powertrain of alternative.
Wrap Up
New automobile costs have risen sharply for the reason that COVID pandemic started and that’s readily obvious within the 2023 Honda Accord’s base value of $28,390 — together with supply charges. Add one other $3,505 for the entry Accord Hybrid. A well-equipped Accord Hybrid Touring will set you again round $40,000.
The sedan is without doubt one of the costlier fashions in a crowded phase. That contains the likes of the Kia K5, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry, all carrying beginning value barely decrease than the Honda entry.
That mentioned, the Eleventh-generation Honda Accord is a well-executed package deal that’s pleasing to the attention, satisfying to drive and comfy to tackle lengthy journeys. There’s sufficient gear to justify the value tag. And the entire package deal has the type of enchantment that might get many potential SUV patrons to rethink their choices. I’d be shocked if the 2023 Honda Accord doesn’t additionally make inroads by profitable over patrons from competing manufacturers which have walked away from the sedan market.
2023 Honda Accord — Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Honda Accord be redesigned for 2023?
Honda’s flagship sedan will get a close to ground-up makeover for the 2023 mannequin 12 months that sees it develop bigger, roomier and extra highly effective. It additionally will get a brand new hybrid powertrain, together with a carryover turbo gasoline engine.
How a lot is a completely loaded 2023 Honda Accord?
The 2023 Honda Accord will carry a base MSRP of $28,390. The Accord Hybrid begins at $31,895. And you’ll push as much as $37,890 for 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring mannequin.
What is the gasoline mileage for the 2023 Honda Accord?
The 2023 Accord Hybrid delivers 51 mpg within the metropolis and 48 mpg on the freeway, based on the EPA. The turbo package deal will get a still-decent, however far much less compelling 30 mpg metropolis, 38 freeway. (Note that hybrids are likely to ship higher metropolis mileage due to their capability to regenerate power throughout stop-and-go driving.)
Source: www.thedetroitbureau.com