Clean, elegant frontal styling of the Honda Accord

History

The 2023 Accord is the 11^th generation of the nameplate that debuted for the 1976 model year. The Accord model has, in its time, grown from a nicely appointed compact into a full-sized luxury class vehicle. Over the years the car has been available in sedan, hatchback, coupe and station wagon body styles, but only the sedan remains.

Model mix

The new-generation Accord is offered in three trims: the EX is powered by a 1.5L turbo four hooked up to a CVT; the Sport and Touring trims are offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain.

Styling

Strong, clean lines. Honda knows when to "Lift the Pen"

Like its showroom mate, the Civic, the new Accord retains the overall silhouette of its predecessor but has had all extraneous styling gargoyles filed off, leaving an arrestingly pure and elegant shape. The front end consists of a substantial grille flanked by slim line headlamps which are underscored by a full width lower air intake. The flanks of the new Accord are virtually unadorned but impart dynamic surface tension. Like the front and sides, the rear styling of the Accord is visually paired back but resolutely chic. The Accord’s styling rivals that of Audi at its peak.

Interior

Crisply-marked digital gauge cluster

Slimline dashboard with ventilation disguised behind a perforated screen

The lack of a tuning knob hampers the functionality of the infotainment system

Comfortable seats in a massive, tastefully-appointed cabin

Rear seat passengers enjoy a supportive seat and impressive legroom

The driver faces a configurable digital display of impressive clarity. The top-centre of the dash is occupied by a free-standing, horizontally-oriented screen. Other than a physical on-off-volume knob, all inputs are screen based. The lack of a tuning knob for the audio system is irritating. Like in the current Civic, the Accord hides its cabin ventilation ports behind what look like heating grilles. Climate is controlled by knobs for adjusting the temperature on both sides of the car and for fan speed. Seat heating and cooling, defrosting and air distribution are handled by physical buttons. The climate buttons deliver a quality feel when pushed and the knobs spin with a delicious precision. There is a large bin at the front of the centre console which also houses a wireless cellphone charger. Selecting a gear in the new Accord is made easy by a conventional PRNDL shifter, rather than the confusing controls sometimes used by automakers. Like the exterior, the cabin is a vision of paired-back elegance. Cabin materials are attractive. Seating is comfortable front and rear and space is generous, with rear legroom being astonishingly good. Trunk space is tall, regularly shaped and commodious.

Performance

Normally-aspirated 2L four and hybrid system combine to deliver strong performance and impressive fuel economy

The Accord features the same hybrid powertrain as in the CR-V hybrid, a 2L, normally-aspirated four that combines with an electric motor to furnish 204 horsepower and 247 lb.ft. of torque. Like the CR-V, a remote, discreet “frenzy” can be detected under the hood when small speed increases are requested at lower speeds, but most drivers won’t notice it with the radio on. Generally, the powertrain is serene and sounds very nice when extended. The CVT employs a conventional PRNDL shift gate that is totally without mystery. The steering is nicely weighted and geared, holds its line well on the highway but telegraphs little road feel to the driver. Handling is very stable and solid. However, the poorly specified 235/40/R19 tires undermine the ride of the car, which is clunky in town with harsh reactions to manhole covers and potholes. Once the Accord moves beyond urban speeds and pavement, the ride is more composed and resilient. The non-hybrid Accord EX has more reasonable P225/50 R17 tires and will likely ride better in town than the Hybrid Sport and Hybrid Touring models. Braking is very good and reveals no hint of being a regenerative system.  

The air conditioning in the Accord coped well with torrid summer weather in Toronto. The sound quality of the Bose-branded audio system was unimpressive and without a station tuning knob, operating it brings no joy.

Pricing

With a full active safety suite, alloy wheels, a power driver’s seat and L.E.D headlamps, the base EX trim, the only Accord offered with a conventional power train, is nicely equipped. Moving up to the Sport Hybrid includes signals in the door mirrors, a trunk spoiler, alloy pedals, the Alexa audio concierge, a heated steering wheel and a wireless iOS-Android cellphone interface, meaning that the price supplement for the hybrid powertrain is around $3000. The Touring Hybrid range topper is equipped with an acoustic windshield, an auto-dim rearview mirror, a head-up display system, wireless cellphone charging, ventilated front seats, leather seating, navigation and a Bose-branded audio system, and is excellent value. In early 2023, delivery times for the new Accord are stated to be around three months, with the hybrid taking an extra month. If Honda can keep to that schedule, they could make good inroads in the segment this year from frustrated Toyota Camry intenders who are fed up with the ‘whenever’ delivery schedule offered by Toyota.

Summary

The new Accord is a large, roomy, luxurious and very elegant, sedan. In addition, the new Accord hybrid is quick, generally quiet and economical. Compared with its most obvious rival, the Toyota Camry hybrid, the Camry has proven durability, whereas the long-term prospects of the Accord hybrid are unknown as Honda have never had a big-volume hybrid car in Canada.

Another view of the super-stylish Honda Accord