2023 Honda Accord Review: Among the Best of What’s Left
2023 Honda Accord Review: Among the Best of What’s Left
Cars.com Road Test Editor Brian Normile reviews the redesigned 2023 Honda Accord to see if it remains one of the best mid-size sedans available. Among a dwindling number of competitors, the Accord lives on and is redesigned for 2023 with new interior and exterior styling as well as an updated hybrid powertrain for increased responsiveness and fuel economy, up to 48 mpg in EPA combined ratings.
For 2023, Accord Sport variants will exclusively use the updated hybrid powertrain; unfortunately, that means the turbocharged 2.0-liter high-output four-cylinder from the previous Accord Sport 2.0T and Touring 2.0T has been discontinued. We spent most of our time reviewing Sport and Touring trims to see how the new hybrid powertrain performs.
Changes are more than simply under the hood, as the Accord’s interior is redesigned and features a newly available 12.3-inch touchscreen using Google Built-In and a standard 10.2-inch instrument panel. Honda also says there’s more backseat legroom. Have all of these changes kept the Accord on top?
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:23 Styling
1:00 Driving the Accord Sport
4:11 Larger 12.3-inch touchscreen display
5:24 Front-seat roominess
6:24 Accord Sport pricing
6:36 Driving the Accord Touring hybrid
7:08 Hybrid fuel economy
8:38 Driving the Accord EX with base turbocharged 1.5-liter engine
9:41 Standard 7-inch touchscreen
10:01 Interior quality
12:14 Accord Touring pricing
12:47 Backseat room
14:05 How improved is the Accord?
Find a 2023 Honda Accord for sale near you: https://www.cars.com/shopping/honda-a…
Read our complete 2023 Honda Accord expert review: https://www.cars.com/articles/2023-ho…
See 2023 Honda Accord pricing, trims and specs: https://www.cars.com/research/honda-a…
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Content
0.18 -> - Sedans may be dying
2.01 -> but Honda doesn't think
they're dead quite yet.
4.47 -> And that's why we're here
in Southern California to
6.39 -> drive the all new 11th
generation 2023 Accord
10.22 -> with new styling that brings it in line
12.33 -> with the rest of Honda's lineup
13.65 -> and an increased emphasis
on the hybrid powertrain.
16.388 -> The new Accord is ready to take on
19.04 -> not necessarily the world, but
at least the sedan segment.
23.52 -> We've gone more in depth
on the styling updates
26.34 -> but this is my first chance seeing it
27.93 -> in person and I gotta
be honest, I like it.
30.42 -> Overall, the aesthetic to me is big Civic
33.42 -> which is actually a good thing.
34.95 -> It's handsome, looks very buttoned up.
37.53 -> It's weird to think of
the Camry from Toyota as
40.38 -> an aggressive car, but the Camry
has a more aggressive look.
43.59 -> This is more businesslike
45.444 -> maybe even a little more
premium in its appearance.
49.5 -> But overall, big fan of
the look, my one complaint
53.64 -> would probably be the
tiny Honda badge in back.
56.55 -> It just looks a little
undersized and I can't
58.62 -> quite figure out why.
60.09 -> So we are currently driving the Sport
62.269 -> with the leather interior
in Honda shorthand
65.49 -> that's the Sport L Honda is
making a greater commitment
69.48 -> to hybrids throughout
its extensive lineup.
73.29 -> Not every new Honda is
going to be a hybrid
75.66 -> or have a hybrid option,
but a lot of them do.
78.12 -> And here in the Accord
Sport also means hybrid
81.27 -> but so do EXL and Touring.
83.61 -> Touring being the highest trim level.
85.95 -> But as I mentioned, this is the Sport
88.32 -> so theoretically it should
be a little sportier
92.97 -> not really feeling that so
far, even with these twisties.
97.77 -> So power for the Accord
hybrid comes from a two liter,
100.65 -> four cylinder engine
and two electric motors.
104.1 -> Total output according to
Honda is 204 horsepower
108.18 -> and 247 pounds speed of torque
110.88 -> and power delivery is
something of a mixed bag.
113.52 -> In sport mode, the car will
stay out of EV mode and in turn
119.73 -> what that means is when you step on it
121.35 -> there's a bit of a delay before
the power starts to kick in.
125.747 -> Whereas when you're in EV mode
128.13 -> it's a more seamless transition
129.54 -> and it comes on a little bit earlier.
131.76 -> I think that's just the
sort of instant torque
133.8 -> from the electric motor helping you out
136.53 -> versus here where everything's
trying to work in concert.
140.46 -> So we are in sport mode right now.
143.46 -> And as you can tell
145.23 -> Honda says the powertrain
has more refinement.
151.8 -> I don't know how inclined
I am to agree with that.
154.44 -> There's still a lot of
noise from the powertrain
156.87 -> especially under harder
acceleration, but it's not terrible,
161.25 -> it's not offensive to me, it's just,
163.38 -> it's gonna be present when you're really,
167.49 -> getting on the accelerator
pedal, at least in the hybrid.
170.91 -> Another nice thing
171.81 -> about the hybrid is these paddles
here are not shift paddles
176.79 -> because this does not have
a traditional transmission.
179.94 -> Instead these control
the regenerative braking
183.33 -> and so you can increase the regen
186.39 -> with this paddle or
decrease it with this one,
188.73 -> I'm currently in the lowest regen setting.
191.28 -> At the highest regen setting,
192.81 -> it comes close to one pedal driving
195.6 -> you get down under 10 miles an hour
197.13 -> and you're gonna start
needing to use the brake.
198.93 -> It won't hold at all on
its own, but the regen
203.4 -> doesn't really mess with
the braking experience.
205.92 -> It still feels fairly linear.
208.14 -> These aren't the mushy
brakes of hybrids of old
211.95 -> so at no regen just feels
214.56 -> like totally normal
brakes, at higher regen.
217.02 -> You're actually getting close
218.01 -> to sort of an EV driving experience
220.59 -> and overall I really like it.
222.15 -> The regen braking has also been useful
224.79 -> in these hilly sections,
acting as sort of a take
228.27 -> on engine braking to keep
the speeds controlled
232.17 -> as we descend rather
233.67 -> than having to work the
brakes occasionally.
237.93 -> Sports specific interior
touches not really visible
242.73 -> not really sure
244.11 -> if you just showed me
a Honda Accord interior
246.42 -> if I could point out what
is and isn't a Sport.
249.24 -> What's interesting about this is this is
251.28 -> the larger 12.3 inch center
touch screen display.
257.13 -> It has wireless CarPlay
and wireless Android Auto
260.88 -> but unless you get a Touring model
263.22 -> you don't get wireless charging.
265.05 -> So my phone is just down
there losing battery
268.5 -> being connected to CarPlay
270.27 -> because I'm an idiot and
didn't bring a USB cord.
274.11 -> But if you have wireless CarPlay
275.64 -> why would you want to plug it in?
277.8 -> Just give me wireless charging
279.36 -> and wireless CarPlay or
give me wired CarPlay
283.56 -> and I'll remember to bring a USB cord.
285.63 -> It's not that hard, so far.
287.79 -> I'm really enjoying this large screen.
290.55 -> Very responsive, very quick
to go through the menus.
294.69 -> Graphics look nice.
297 -> The larger size is great for navigation.
300.39 -> Also nice is the standard 10.2
inch digital gauge cluster.
305.43 -> Nice and clear, easy graphics.
307.62 -> It's interesting to me that the Accord is
310.323 -> the model that gets the
standard digital gauge cluster
313.83 -> across the lineup, whereas in other models
316.32 -> like the CRV or the Pilot,
you need to be in sort
319.29 -> of higher trim levels to get
that full digital experience.
323.04 -> Interior room, at least up
324.72 -> in the front seat right
now is fairly acceptable.
328.74 -> It's a little bit roomier
than the previous generation.
330.96 -> I've actually been driving a 2018 Accord
334.2 -> around a bit lately.
336.42 -> That model has the engine
start stop button right down
340.05 -> by where my knee rests and
that always terrified me.
343.92 -> I always expected that to come through
345.69 -> and take off my kneecap in
the event of a collision
349.71 -> but here I have a little bit more space
351.66 -> at the top of the knee.
352.95 -> I still don't have a lot
of space to the sides.
355.41 -> If I want a man spread, I'm resting
357.72 -> against the center console,
but it's not uncomfortable
361.53 -> and there's nothing weird
sort of poking into me.
364.961 -> There's just, you know, not a lot of room.
367.98 -> Another complaint
369.57 -> this window sill here
is just really narrow.
373.86 -> I like to put my arm up here when I can
376.8 -> and it just isn't
comfortable in the Accord
379.56 -> so I've been resting it
380.58 -> on the actual armrest,
which is nicely padded.
384.81 -> Sticker price here is about $33,000.
388.56 -> Everything feels like a $33,000 car.
390.87 -> I would not be upset spending my own money
393.87 -> on something of this quality.
396.24 -> Switching now from the
Sport to the Touring
398.49 -> mostly that just means added comfort
400.77 -> and convenience features both ride
402.57 -> on 19 inch wheels, the
wheels look different
405.33 -> but dynamics don't really
change from trim to trim.
409.378 -> What you do get here are
some additional leather bits
413.43 -> wireless device charging finally, and
416.91 -> in the Touring you also
get a head up display.
420.12 -> Fuel economy is also important, especially
422.43 -> with Honda's emphasis on
the hybrid power trains.
425.13 -> And the good news is
426.24 -> that the hybrids are
slightly more fuel efficient.
428.79 -> According to the EPA, the Sport
431.04 -> and Touring hybrid are both rated
433.62 -> at 44 miles per gallon combined.
435.78 -> That's up from 43 and other lower trims
439.65 -> with the hybrid powertrain are rated
441.45 -> at 48 miles per gallon up from 47.
444.9 -> The bad news is that in
the new gas only Accord
447.87 -> which uses a carryover, 1.5,
turbocharged four cylinder
452.1 -> and a CVT combined fuel economy
actually drops by one MPG
456.78 -> to 32 from 33.
459.27 -> Steering feedback was also a strong suit
461.49 -> of the previous generation
Accord and that continues here.
464.61 -> It's nice and direct, fairly
light, but not over boosted.
469.712 -> It tightens up a little when
you put it into Sport mode.
474.03 -> Sort of feels a little bit
weightier, not too much
478.98 -> very pleasant.
479.813 -> Overall, very easy to drive.
481.56 -> This is an easy to drive
car and that's exactly
484.74 -> what you want in a mid-size family sedan
488.04 -> but the driving experience
to sum it up, is competent.
492.06 -> I would say maybe even
bordering on confident
495.24 -> that may also just be because
I'm finally driving a sedan
499.17 -> after what seems like an eternity of SUVs.
503.1 -> But there's still some
body roll in corners
506.13 -> and this is essentially a
front wheel drive family sedan
509.04 -> so not unexpected, but the
fun that we were promised
514.05 -> from Honda with this new
generation of Accord just
517.29 -> really isn't there.
518.88 -> Next on my list of Accords
to drive is the gas only EX.
523.11 -> Honda promised that the Accord
EXs 1.5 liter turbocharge
527.01 -> four cylinder would be more refined
528.72 -> than the previous generations,
and I don't really agree.
532.8 -> It's not terrible, but it's still just
534.84 -> as noisy and the CVT
still gives you a good bit
537.484 -> of drone as you drive along.
541.26 -> Ride and handling were also
sloppier and less composed
544.891 -> than the Sport and Touring
that I drove earlier.
548.13 -> Not surprising, but a
little disappointing.
550.74 -> Also, I felt like I was feeling just
552.87 -> as many bumps and road imperfections
555.06 -> despite the EXs smaller 17 inch wheels.
558.09 -> Overall, the EX still drives decently well
561.39 -> especially for a $30,000 sedan.
564.78 -> A complaint I have about
the EX is one I have for all
567.72 -> of the Accords I've
driven so far, which is
569.94 -> that there's no front passenger
seat height adjustment
572.61 -> which can leave your front passengers
573.96 -> in somewhat of an
uncomfortable seating position.
576.9 -> And it's just very unfortunate
578.19 -> that even on higher trims,
this wasn't available.
581.01 -> The best thing the EX has going for it is
583.56 -> that it has a physical tooting knob to go
586.02 -> along with its physical volume control
588.27 -> but that seven inch screen compared
590.58 -> to the 12.3 inch screen
is a bit disappointing.
593.97 -> Here we are in the top trim
of the Accord, the Touring
597.09 -> which like most trims gets the
two liter hybrid powertrain.
601.29 -> But we're here to talk about the interior
602.85 -> which we quite like.
605.25 -> Again, we've broken this down in depth
607.08 -> but this is my first time seeing it.
608.76 -> So some impression, I
love this vent design.
612.18 -> We first saw it on the
Civic, but the hidden vents
615.45 -> and just the flowing lattice
work here looks great.
618.745 -> Gives it a nice sort of upscale feeling.
621.15 -> Good physical controls for
most of the climate here.
624 -> A gear lever, love it,
625.92 -> better than the push button
nonsense that Honda has done
628.68 -> in a lot of other vehicles in its lineup.
631.2 -> We have a drive mode selector.
632.46 -> Easy to use.
633.3 -> The all electric button,
it's very nicely laid out.
637.2 -> The new 12.3 inch screen also
comes with Google Built-in
640.74 -> which gives you things like built-in maps
642.78 -> the Play Store, Google Assistant.
645.053 -> We're wary of it.
646.44 -> A lot of these features
will require an active
648.54 -> data connection to
effectively use, which means
651.3 -> if you're somewhere with poor
reception, you might be SOL.
655.08 -> Also, interestingly, with my
phone connected to CarPlay
658.89 -> asking Google Assistant
to make a call tells me
661.62 -> I have to do it through Apple
CarPlay, which makes sense
664.29 -> but having to choose
between one or the other
667.41 -> and just wanting to hit a button
668.67 -> and do the task can be a
little bit frustrating.
672.75 -> There's also a physical volume knob.
674.55 -> It's kind of small but works fairly well.
677.82 -> No physical tuning
controls this time other
680.58 -> Honda systems have buttons for tuning
683.19 -> but here you're just left
with the touchscreen.
686.49 -> Overall though, the layout is very nice
688.47 -> it's very responsive.
689.52 -> The graphics are clear and crisp
691.59 -> and I really like the upgrade.
693.12 -> I wish it had trickled
694.38 -> down to say the Pilot that
I just drove two weeks ago
697.86 -> but we'll probably see it in
other Hondas in the future.
702.27 -> An interesting thing to note
703.5 -> this is the second
Accord I've driven today.
705.87 -> I drove a Sport with the
leather interior first
708.93 -> and now I'm in this Touring
710.64 -> and so we get some extra
little leather accents right
714.3 -> by the center console
here, things like that.
716.61 -> And in the Sport, I was actually pleased
719.28 -> with some of the knee
room and the knee comfort
722.07 -> even though my knee was
hitting the center console,
724.53 -> here actually a little bit uncomfortable.
727.17 -> I don't know if that's
just my knee getting tired
729.99 -> or a slight change in design
732.27 -> or actually less padding
under this leather.
734.82 -> But interesting that
the more premium vehicle
737.94 -> this one is just a hair
under $39,000 might have
741.417 -> these slightly less comfortable interior.
744.18 -> Other things worth noting,
there are USB C ports up front.
747.57 -> One is for data, one is for charging
750.03 -> and you get one small little
center console storage bin
753.99 -> but nothing too out of the
ordinary or revolutionary.
757.56 -> Just a nice comfortable interior.
760.011 -> This being the Touring, you
do also get ventilated seats
763.08 -> which I am currently enjoying.
765.03 -> The Sport only went up to heated seats.
767.4 -> The backseat of the Accord
is fairly unremarkable.
770.738 -> There was a slight increase in leg room
773.31 -> over the prior generation,
which wasn't really
776.01 -> a problem to begin with, but
any little extra bit is nice.
780.035 -> Would like a little
bit lower knee position
783.18 -> but I'll take it.
784.47 -> I can live with this.
787.44 -> Headroom is really the problem
area for me at six foot one.
792.42 -> The fast back roof design
just sort of really
794.961 -> eats into headroom.
796.26 -> It's not terrible, but I
am touching the headliner
799.68 -> with my scalp, not just
my unusually tall hair.
803.61 -> Other quirks, there's
only one seat pocket.
806.34 -> It's on the back of the
front passenger seat.
809.31 -> There are two USB C charging ports
811.83 -> and there are climate vents down here
813.93 -> but there's no control
to set the temperature.
816.15 -> That's all taken care of
up front, unfortunately.
819.6 -> Comfort-wise though, pretty good.
822.33 -> I would be happy if I got
one of these as an Uber.
825.03 -> Speaking of comfort, one more nice thing
827.01 -> about the backseat of this Accord Touring
829.29 -> or the outboard heated seats
with controls on the door.
832.98 -> There wasn't much that needed improving
835.17 -> in the Accords interior
836.67 -> but it's nice to see
Honda bring the new Accord
838.98 -> into line with the rest
840 -> of its design language and
keep it fresh and modern.
843.48 -> The new Accord is on
sale now, and if you're
845.85 -> in the market for a fairly
business-like mid-size sedan
848.64 -> I think you'd do well to check it out.
850.59 -> The improvements aren't significant
852.03 -> but they are improvements
over the previous generation
854.76 -> and the Accord remains a great
choice among a dying breed.
858.06 -> For more on the Accord,
check out cars.com.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B8FJwNeAho