Honda Accord aims for agreeably bland
In the past four decades, the Honda Accord has earned a reputation as the sort of sensible sedan that most Americans desire. It's roomy inside, but not too big on the outside. Its look is stylish, but never daring. And its fuel economy is budget-friendly.
So it's surprising that the previous Accord was somewhat wide of the mark. In an effort to compete against both the Toyota Camry and Avalon, Honda sized the Accord accordingly and dressed it in bloated sheet metal. This gave the car a spacious interior, but it didn't seem as substantially built as previous models.
Thankfully, the redesigned 2013 Accord sedan addresses these flaws.
Honda started by shrinking the car by 3.5 inches in length, although it looks even smaller. Its appearance is much more handsome this year, even if the back end looks very much like a Hyundai Genesis. But its design is so conservative, most people won't realize the Accord has been restyled. In fact, during my weeklong test drive of a 2013 sedan, no one did, despite its restyled hood, trunk, grille, lighting and other details.
Like the exterior, the cabin is revised in an effort to banish the previous model's perceived cheapness. Mission accomplished. The use of dark wood trim imparts a modern, sophisticated feel. Unfortunately, there's also cheesy piano-black plastic that sparkles when light hits it.
Unlike many vehicles these days, the Accord's controls are easy to understand at a glance, even though Honda continues to use two LCD screens on the center of its instrument panel, in addition to a small readout between the gauges of the instrument cluster.
Despite the Accord's smaller dimensions, the cabin remains impressively spacious, as does the trunk. This allows Honda to fit wide front bucket seats that somehow provide good support, despite their width. Head and leg room are generous.
For 2013, the Accord is offered in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V-6 and Touring V-6 trims.
The first four models use a 2.4-liter double-overhead-cam four-cylinder engine rated at 189 horsepower, except for the entry-level LX. It uses the same engine, but has 5 fewer horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the LX, Sport and EX. A continuously variable automatic transmission, or CVT, is optional; it's standard on the EX-L.
The top two models get a refined, powerful 3.5-liter single-overhead V-6 with 278 hp mated to a conventional six-speed automatic transmission.
Despite the fact that Honda makes an impressive manual transmission, the majority of Accord buyers opt for the four-cylinder with an automatic transmission. This year, that means buyers get a continuously variable transmission, or CVT. Unlike a traditional automatic transmission, which has a fixed number of gears, a CVT has an infinite number, which vary continuously depending on vehicle speed. Surprisingly, this transmission trumps the manual when it comes to fuel economy, beating it by as much as 3 mpg.
Still, the V-6, with its six-speed automatic, is no slouch when it comes to fuel economy. The test vehicle, a Touring V-6, returned a very impressive 33 mpg in mostly highway work despite its impressive amount of power.
Steering is quick, giving the Accord a lively feel, although it's clearly not a junior league sports sedan. And given the Touring's sticker price, the lack of a manual shift mode on the automatic transmission is noticeable, especially since a manual transmission is not offered on the V-6 sedan.
The Accord's ride is well controlled, although big bumps reveal the limits to its ride comfort. And, as with most Hondas, there's more road and tire noise than with some rivals.
Two new options are offered this year: a collision warning system and a lane departure warning. Both are welcome additions. A third, "Lane Watch," is less so.
This is Honda's attempt at rethinking the blind-spot detection system. In most cars with this feature, a small light on either side of the car lights to alert the driver if there's someone in the blind spot.
Honda didn't do this. Instead, the company placed a camera on the right side of the car. When the right turn signal is activated, the camera comes on and its image is displayed on the larger of the two screens on the instrument panel, regardless of whether someone is there. It's incredibly distracting. And why is there no camera on the left side of the car?
With a price of more than $34,000, you'd expect the Accord to be well-equipped, and it is. But at this price, you may want to forfeit the extra space and get a smaller Acura TSX instead. After all, it is, in reality, the European Honda Accord wearing the upscale Acura badge.
But the Accord's tasteful styling will wear well, even if it's none too exciting, as will its legendary reliability.
And in base trim, the new Accord's roominess and agreeable nature make it a reasonably good buy.
Even though it's not the athlete it once was, the Accord's sense and sensibility are something we can all agree on. After all, that's what its name means.
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2013 HONDA ACCORD:
Engine: 3.5-liter SOHC V6
Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
Length: 191.4 inches
Weight: 3,559 pounds
Cargo space: 15.8 cubic feet
EPA rating (city/highway): 21/34 mpg
Fuel type: Regular
Base price, base model: $21,680
Base price, test model: $33,430
Price as tested: $34,330
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ABOUT THE WRITER
Larry Printz is automotive editor at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Va. He can be reached at larry.printz@pilotonline.com.
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