Why Buy Honda Accord

2023 is the year that Honda celebrated 40 years of U.S. manufacturing the Honda Accord in another town called Marysville in Ohio. Around then and for some time after, midsize sedans made up the best-selling vehicle category in the U.S., with the Honda Accord as either the first or second best-selling passenger car in the country. The compact crossover category where the Honda CR-V resides is now the nation’s most popular, but that hasn’t deterred Honda from making the Accord better ever. Rairdon’s Honda of Marysville wants you to know that the Accord carries out family duties better than it ever has. And if there already is a crossover in the household to carry out cargo duty, the Accord makes even more sense as the household’s primary passenger vehicle.

Honda redesigned the Accord for its 40th anniversary. This 11th-generation model wears a new upscale exterior and an attractive interior with the same theme and general layout found on Honda’s other recent models. Both non-electrified and hybrid models are on offer in a simplified model lineup. Here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the latest Accord.

What Has Changed on the Newest Accord?

The 11-generation Accord has an all-new, longer body resting on the same wheelbase. Height is unchanged, and width is just 2 mm wider than before. Inside, there is an all-new interior design with a horizontal theme and its own version of the door-to-door vent layer as seen on other Honda models. Body rigidity is significantly increased, helping make the Accord even quieter and more composed than before. And the model line gains more standard features.

How is the Accord Powered?

LX and EX modes are equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-4 producing an impressive 192 horsepower. Channeled through what many reviewers consider one of the best continuously variable transmissions in the industry, the front-wheel drive model has an EPA city/hwy/comb. mpg rating of 29 / 37 / 32. 

Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring models feature Honda’s unique hybrid drivetrain using a 2.0-liter inline-4 connected to a motor generator and then another electric motor that drives the front wheels. The arrangement requires no transmission as the motor simply powers the Accord up to highway speed, with the engine acting as just an electricity generator. Thus, for most around-town driving, the Accord acts as an EV. Once up to a steady cruising speed, the engine can drive the wheels directly. This arrangement results in 204 horsepower, 247 lb-ft of torque at all rpm, and EPA city/hwy/comb. mpg ratings of 51 / 44 / 48 for the EX-L and 46 / 41 / 44 for the other hybrid models. 

What Is the Infotainment Setup?

A 7-inch touchscreen resting on top of the dash for easy viewing is standard for the LX and EX, while all other grades feature a 12.3-inch screen. Along with the larger screen comes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, so you don’t have to connect your phone when you get in the car, or worry about leaving it behind when you leave. LX and EX have wired compatibility for both Apple and Android phones. Also accommodating the large screen is the Alexa AI assistant to help provide any information you want to know through voice interaction. Front USB ports can charge your phone, while the Touring model includes standard wireless charging.

What Are the Accord’s Safety Attributes?

The Honda Accord has not been tested by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), but it is rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.  To be honest, other mid-size sedan competitors were at least Top Safety Picks as well. What makes the Accord stand out is that of six midsize cars (5 sedans and one wagon) tested, only the Accord emerged with a “Good” (IIHS’s highest rating) in the front small overlap collision test for rear passenger safety. 

All Accord models come standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver assistance features that include:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™)
• Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) with Traffic Jam Assist
• Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)

Finally, it is worth noting that in the November issue of MotorTrend magazine, the Accord Hybrid Sport-L was chosen over the Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Nightshade in a direct comparison test. If you desire the comfort, performance, and efficiency of a midsize sedan, a Honda Accord from Rairdon’s Honda of Marysville is still the way to go.