It’s been 41 years since Honda introduced the Accord to the compact market and, in that time, it has been through 10 generational shifts, with the most recent occurring for the 2018 model year. And it came quite quickly as well, considering the ninth-gen model only ran a total of four years – a very short life cycle for a car as raved about as the Accord. For 2018, however, Honda has tried to fix all of the sedan’s little shortcomings, and it has done a pretty good job. Highlights of the new-gen model include two new, turbocharged, four-cylinder engines (sorry, folks – no V-6 this time around) to go with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, an all-new chassis design, heavily revamped interior, and a reworked body. It also sees the use of more ultra-high-strength steel than any other Honda in production today, which should make for a safe vehicle.

However, it’s not all peaches and cream. While there’s been a lot of work done inside and under the skin, the Accord doesn't seem to live up to the hype. Not that I’m saying it’s an ugly car by any means (it’s actually quite attractive from most angles), but what’s going on up front with that big, open grille? My initial thoughts are that there’s a piece of gloss black trim missing from the front end. But, then again, looks aren’t everything, so maybe it’s not so bad – I’ll leave that decision up to you. For now, we need to find out if it has what it takes to compete against the new Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata, so let’s dive on in and figure it out.

2018 Honda Accord

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2018 Honda Accord
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 192 @ 5500
  • Torque: 192 @ 1500
  • Transmission: 10-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Official video

Exterior

The silhouette of the Accord really hasn’t changed much with this generation; however, it’s looking German as hell, and the angle of the C-pillars give the car a new, fastback-like appearance. The front end is dominated by the jewel-eye headlights that are connected across the nose via a gloss-black trim and the massive, wide-mouth grille that sits below. This is also where one of my only gripes about this generation comes into play, as the front end looks a lot like It should have some gloss black mesh or some kind of insert in place over the grille. The area is even recessed so it would really level things out. Luckily, Honda decided not to go with the big fake vents as we saw on some of the Civic models, and instead went with much smaller units that are led into the front lip by a nicely executed accent and have integrated fog lights. The hood gets a couple of muscular lines, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Move over to the sides, and you’ll find two heavily defined body lines – one just below the waistline and one down by the side skirts. The upper body line has a distinct curve to it and feeds from the front lights to the rear. The curve isn’t too extreme, but it accents the curved roof quite well. Down below, the doors and side skirts have a weird tongue-and-groove look to them, while the side skirts get a black trim insert that matches that up front and that of the rear fascia, linking the front to the sides and rear.

The front fenders are muscular in comparison to the rear quarters, which is a little odd, but not too outlandish while the jagged waistline toward the rear adds a lot of character to what would be an otherwise rounded and bubbly car. On a side note, the edges of the roof are actually elevated just a bit over the center roof portion – this should indicate strength reinforcement in this area, but also goes along visually with the look of the hood and the rear end quite well too.

Around back, this thing really has a German look to it, and that’s pretty amazing for a car that falls into the affordable category. The taillights mimic the design of the front corner intakes, and have a 3D look to there, extending considerably far away from the body at their center point. The lens is split between the rear deck and the rear quarters. It’s a relatively clean look, but it’s also very limiting in the way it’s designed, so revised taillights down the road may be a difficult task. Down below on the fascia, that trim strip that ties the front and sides to the rear transitions into a reflector in each corner. At the very bottom, a pair of chrome exhaust outlets finish off the exterior package. All told, it’s really not that bad and is actually quite attractive if you ignore the front end.

Wheelbase (Inches)

111.4

Length (Inches)

192.1 in.

Height (Inches)

57.1 in.

Width (Inches)

73.2 in.


New Honda Accord vs. Old Honda Accord

Interior

The Interior of the Accord has been revamped dramatically, bringing about an all-new look that’s both pleasing to look at and very upscale – this isn’t your Grandma’s Accord anymore. There’s even a bit of a German touch thanks to the floating nature of that eight-inch infotainment display that appears to hover ahead of the center stack. When the Accord first debuted, I said it reminded me of a futuristic etch-a-sketch, and I still stand by that, but it’s not necessarily a bad thing at all. It’s surrounded by a rather smooth dash with just a light forward in it, providing a clean look while the vents integrated into the face of the dash serve almost as a bridge between the upper and lower dash areas. And, because of the way the dash is designed, the door trim panels can still extend along the sides while still maintaining that wrap around cabin appearance – nice.

The two-tone design of the interior adds a lot of character here and allows for the center portions of the door trim panels, the nose of the dash, and the top of the center console to all take on the same color as the upholstery. All of these areas also look to be soft touch surfaces (likely only on upper trim levels) which really makes it a tough competitor. The seats take on an all-new stitching pattern, while the door trim panels get an all-new layout. The center console is void of a traditional shifter, making way for a push-button-style shifter system. With the front console lid closed and the cup holders empty, it’s clear that this is one clean center console. Most of the old buttons and controls have been refined and/or moved to either the steering wheel or the infotainment system, leaving just the shifter buttons and the HVAC system controls.

The rear end shares the same story as the front with the door trim panels mimicking those up front and the rear bench seat taking on a similar stitching pattern. It’s a very attractive cabin, but what helps bring it up to par with the rest of the market is the technology hidden about below the skin. First off, every new Accord gets HondaLink – basically Honda’s version of GM’s OnStar – that allows remote locking and locking and remote start via a smartphone. Phone connectivity happens via the usual Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The eight-inch infotainment display is supplemented by a seven-inch display in the instrument cluster while Touring trim models get a six-inch head-up display that can be customized with certain information, including navigation. It’s also the trim level that gets that 4G LTE internet connection and a Wi-Fi hotspot as well as over-the-air system updates.

There are several audio systems for the taking, but it depends on what trim level you’re willing to pay for. At of the time of this writing, there’s no way to upgrade a lesser model to a different audio system, so if you want high-quality sound, don’t even think about the entry-level model. Why, you ask? Because the entry-level LX trim gets just four basic speakers and 160 watts of power. Your grandmother farts louder and with more power than that.

Move up to the Sport or EX trims and you’ll get four extra speakers for eight total and 180 watts of power. Finally, the Touring and EX-L trims offer up the best audio Honda has for the accord at the moment with a total of 10 speakers and 450 watts of power – that’s a huge increase over the 180-watt system of the trim level just below. Lower trim levels get a single USB port while EX and above models get dual, 2.5-amp ports for your charging pleasure.

2018 Honda Accord Interior Specs

Headroom (front/rear) (Inches)

39.5/37.3

Legroom (front/rear) (Inches)

42.3/40.4

Shoulder Room (front/rear) (Inches)

58.3/56.5

Hiproom (front/rear) (Inches)

55.3/55.0

Cargo Volume (cubic feet)

16.7

Passenger Volume (cubic feet)

105.6

Seating Capacity

5


When it comes to interior dimensions, the Accord wins hands down in almost every category against the Camry, with the exception of hip room, in which the Camry wins by 0.1 inches in the front but loses by 0.3 inches in the rear. Otherwise, the Accord is larger all of the way around, taking headroom by almost an inch, leg room by more than an inch in the front and by 0.7 inches in the rear, and shoulder room by nearly an inch, as well. On the other hand, you’ll also find that the Hyundai Sonata actually comes in first in a few different places. It beats out the accord in headroom by nearly an inch in the front and rear while it beats it out in legroom by 3.2 inches up front. Rear legroom, however, was sacrificed with the Accord winning out by 3.4 inches. The Accord has just a bit of extra shoulder room up front while both models offer the same in the rear. For hip room, the Sonata breaks even with the accord up front but offers up an extra 1.1 inches in the rear. Clearly some mixed results and, if you absolutely have to have the most room possible, you’ll want to go with the Hyundai as it has a total of 106.1 cubic-feet of passenger volume, 0.5 cubic-feet more. It does lose out on cargo volume, though, falling 0.4 cubic-feet short.

Drivetrain

Honda may have skipped on the big fake vents and overly aggressive design outside, but it did look to the Civic for some inspiration, and it comes in the form of what powers the new Accord. The V-6 was a poor seller, accounting for just a small percentage of sales, so there is no V-6 option this time around. You read that right; the 10th-gen Accord will not be offered with a V-6 – just two different four-cylinder engines. There's is a hybrid powertrain in the works, as well, but we just don’t know anything about it quite yet.

If you’re considering one of the lesser trim levels, like LX, you’ll find a turbocharged, 1.5-liter under the hood that’s good for 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. You’ll push out full horsepower at 5,500 rpm and full torque is available at a low 1,500 rpm. There are no other performance figures available yet, and you shouldn’t expect to win any races at all, but the engine does bring direct fuel injection, dual overhead cams, and a mono-scroll turbo with an electronic wastegate into the equation – this translates to better fuel economy and lower emissions.

Moving up to the higher trim levels will get you a little more go juice from a 2.0-liter four-cylinder. This engine uses the same fuel system, valvetrain, and turbo systems, but delivers 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque (come on, these figures aren’t that bad, right?) With this engine, you won’t feel full motivation until 6,500 rpm, while torque comes in at 4,000 rpm.

Finally, there is the Accord hybrid. It's far too established in the market for Honda to drop it did like it did the Coupe and V-6, so know that a hybrid system should be available by the time the 2018 Accord hits showrooms. It will make use of a 2.0-liter four-cylinder (unlike the engine we just discussed this one displaced 1,993 cc as opposed to 1,996cc) and utilizes multi-point injection. An electric motor with a lithium-ion battery will also (obviously) be in the mix. We don’t know what kind of system output we’re looking at quite yet, but it will likely be somewhere in the 270 horsepower range.

So, what about shifting duties? Well, I’m glad you asked. The lesser models equipped with the 1.5-liter will get Honda’s less-than-stellar CVT transmission as standard equipment, but it can be optioned with a six-speed manual, so do yourself that favor and get three pedals. Going with any model that rocks a 2.0-liter will get you a new 10-speed automatic. Sport trims with this engine can be equipped with the six-speed manual as well, but you might want to give that 10-speed a try – it just might be worth giving up three pedals for.

Engine Type

In-Line 4-Cylinder with Mono-Scroll IHI RHF5 Turbo and Electric Wastegate

In-Line 4-Cylinder with Mono-Scroll IHI RHF5 Turbo and Electric Wastegate

In-Line 4 Cylinder

Engine Block/Cylinder Head

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Aluminum-Alloy

Displacement

1,498 cc

1,996 cc

1,993 cc

Horsepower (SAE net)

192 HP @ 5,500 RPM

252 HP @ 6,500 RPM

TBA

Torque (SAE net)

192 LB-FT @ 1,500-5,000 RPM

273 LB-FT @ 1,500-4,000 RPM

TBA

Fuel Injection

Direct

Direct

Multi-Point

Bore and Stroke

73.0 mm / 89.5 mm

86.0 mm x 85.9 mm

81.0mm x 96.7mm

Valve Train

16-Valve DOHC

16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC®

16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC®

Hybrid Battery

Lithium Ion


Pricing

When it comes to pricing, Honda doesn’t have a whole lot of wiggle room considering this segment is so competitive when it comes to affordable cars. With current pricing kicking off at $22,45 for the entry-level LX and climbing to as much as $30,995 for the range-topping EX-L V-6 ($29,605 to $35,955 for the Hybrid model) I wouldn’t expect to see pricing increase too much at all, with entry-level models seeing an increase of no more than $250 and upper trim levels increasing by as much $750.

Trim Name

MSRP

EPA Ratings (city/hiwy/combined)

Accord 4D 1.5L Turbo L4

LX CVT

$23,570

30/38/33

Sport 6MT

$25,780

26/35/30

Sport CVT

$25,780

29/35/31

EX CVT

$27,470

30/38/33

EX-L CVT

$29,970

30/38/33

EX-L CVT w/ Navi

$30,970

30/38/33

Touring CVT

$33,800

29/35/31

Accord 4D 2.0L Turbo L4

Sport 6MT

$30,310

TBA

Sport 10AT

$30,310

TBA

EX-L 10AT

$31,970

TBA

EX-L w/ Navi

$32,970

TBA

Touring 10AT

$35,800

TBA


Competition

Toyota Camry

There’s no shortage of competitors in the midsize sedan market, but the Toyota Camry will always be the primary competitor of the Honda Accord. Also new for the 2018 model year, the Camry comes to showrooms with an all-new design that’s sportier than ever with the best interior the Camry has ever had. Along with its new looks and fresh interior comes a set of redesigned drivetrain options that includes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 3.5-liter V-6 and a hybrid unit. The four-cylinder is expected to deliver 178 ponies and 170 pound-feet while the V-6 will offer more like 280 ponies and 260 pound-feet. Both engines mate to an eight-speed, Direct Shift automatic. The hybrid, which has yet to see any disclosure of expectations will make use of a CVT transmission and is expected to “achieve class-leading fuel economy.” Pricing for the Camry, but expect it to start out right around $24,000 in entry-level form.

Find out more about the Toyota Camry here.

Hyundai Sonata

Honda and Toyota aren’t the only ones doubling down on their mid-sized contenders. While they have been putting in work on the Accord and Camry, respectively, South Korean manufacturer Hyundai was busy churning out a major update for the seventh-gen Sonata. Set to roll into showrooms later this year as a 2018 model, the Sonata gets an all-new look outside that’s in-line with the competition. Form meets functionality inside where the interior has been reworked and balanced. It also gets updated suspension to improve ride quality. The Sonata can be had with a 1.6-liter good for 178 ponies, a 2.4-liter good for 185 ponies, or a 2.0-liter that’s good for 245 ponies. Pricing for the 2018 model year has yet to be announced, but you can expect the Sonata to start out from $22,500.

Learn more about the Hyundai Sonata here.

Conclusion

Let’s not beat around the bush here – the new Accord is fresh. It has an all-new cabin, new looks, new drivetrains, and a chassis and suspension. Will it be enough to give the Accord the fighting chance it deserves against the Camry and the Sonata? It’s still a little too early to tell, but unless you’re a real stickler for numbers, you won’t notice much in terms of interior space or exterior dimensions. When you considering the drivetrains available, the new looks, and that fresh interior – plus the fact you can still get three pedals – it will at least be a fair fight when the 2018 models start hitting showrooms. I’m still pretty sure Honda forgot part of the grille up front, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see a small facelift come into play in the next few years. If not, the aftermarket could do well by introducing a grille insert to address the serious lack of mesh up front.

But, what do you think about the new Accord? Could you see yourself rolling it as the new family whip or do you think it’s hideous? Let us know in the comments section below..