Honda Accord (US) review

While not quite the driver’s car it once was – especially with the now-dead 2.0T/6MT combo – the Accord is nevertheless more engaging than the average mid-size sedan. Honda’s always made chassis and steering development a priority in the Accord, and this continues to shine in the 11th-generation car.

Depending on the trim level, the Accord rides on either 17- or 19-inch wheels. The former definitely look a little puny – especially combined with the massive overhangs – but they provide a better overall ride quality. LX, EX, and EX-L models come with the 17s; Sport, Sport-L, and Touring trims have 19s.

Behind the wheel of a fully loaded Touring tester, the Accord is simply serene. This car makes you remember that not all drivers prioritize sporty antics or a rowdy good time. Sometimes you just need to run a few errands in peace and quiet and without any hassle. That’s the Accord: a hassle-free experience.

How’s the hybrid drivetrain?

It’s incredibly easy to get mega mileage out of the Accord. The throttle is nicely tuned to let you accelerate smoothly without goosing it and blowing your efficiency, and the transition between electric-only power and internal combustion assist is imperceptible – other than audibly. No, the Accord doesn’t offer any legit electric-only range like a proper plug-in hybrid. But goodness, 48mpg is a stellar spec – and one that’s easy to achieve in real-world driving.

Do a bunch of driver-assistance features come standard?

Sure do. Pre-collision braking, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist are included on every single Honda Accord. Blind-spot monitoring is standard on all but the most basic LX model, which seems like a weird omission given all the other no-cost features.

Even better, these features are easy to turn off if you don’t fancy using them, and when they’re activated, none of them are so annoying and overprotective that they’ll drive you crazy. The entire suite of software is called Honda Sensing, and it fades into the background of daily driving.

Are there better-driving cars in the class?

Not really, but it depends on what you prioritize. Are there more powerful mid-size sedans? Sure. Are there more-expensive variants of the competitors that have a sharper edge? Yep: Hyundai and Kia both offer more potent Sonata and K5 variants. But no other mid-sizer is as all-around competent as the Accord. This sedan’s long been the benchmark for refinement in its class, and that continues with this 11th-gen model.