The Honda Accord is what you gravitate
to if you want an affordable midsize car that's surprisingly
upscale and fun to drive.
But a quick look tells you that there are a lot of Accords
out there.
So which one is right for your needs?
Well, we've got all the answers, so stick around
as we delve into the past 10 years of the Accord
to help you make your decision.
Hey.
What's up, everybody?
I'm Dave Schiller from Edmunds where we're
known as the car-testing pros.
We've decided to team up with the experts over at CarMax
to help you make the right decision on your next car.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The Accord first went on sale way back in 1976,
so it's been a while.
And you know what?
There have been some pretty cool Accords.
Yeah, we said it.
Cool Accords.
Don't you remember the pop-up headlights from the 1980s?
Since there are so many versions over the last three
generations, we're going to concentrate
on the sedan, the bread and butter of the Accord lineup.
So if you're not familiar with the lingo,
a generation represents a major change for a vehicle.
So it gets redesigned with new looks, new features,
and new specs.
Most cars get a new generation about every five to seven
years.
And the Accord is currently in its 10th generation.
This is a 2011 EX-V6, part of the eighth generation
that debuted for the 2008 model year.
And its biggest claim to fame was, well, being big.
It was way bigger than its predecessor,
with a lot more interior space as well.
It was available with either a four-cylinder or a V6 engine.
Now, over here we have our 2017 EX-L V6,
part of the ninth generation that
debuted in the 2013 model year.
This generation was sleeker, smoother, and sportier-looking
compared to its predecessor.
The interior got a major upgrade in terms of refinement.
And the V6 was the most powerful ever put into an Accord,
even to this day.
The Hybrid also debuted in this generation,
providing surprisingly good power and excellent fuel
economy estimates.
Lastly, this is a 2019 EX-L. As I mentioned before,
today's Accord is the 10th generation
and it came out for the 2018 model year.
It's the most radical redesign of an Accord in its history.
The interior is packed with upscale materials and tech.
There is a choice of two new turbocharged engines.
And even the Hybrid got a significant upgrade
with a new, smaller battery that doesn't cut into trunk space.
OK.
So now that we're done with the broad overview,
let's take a closer look at the exterior design.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
The eighth generation Accord looked at through today's eyes
just looks bulky with that big greenhouse.
However, all that glass does mean good visibility.
But the overall design just doesn't really flow together
all that well in our opinion.
But the ninth generation Accord does a much better job
at managing its proportions.
Now, it's physically smaller than its predecessor,
but you only lose a little bit of headroom.
We think the sleek lines have held up well,
conveying a sportier look than the eighth generation Accord.
Picking out the Hybrid from the crowd
means looking for the little blue hybrid badges
on the exterior.
Now, this brings us to the current generation Accord.
The blunt nose and the longer hood
sort of give it like a European vibe to it.
Now, if you're wondering why it looks so modern,
well, it's because you can still get these brand new today.
[MUSIC FADING]
Honda is known for clever interior design that
makes the most of its space and storage,
so we're going to see that a lot in these cars.
Now, this eighth generation Accord
may not be the prettiest on the outside,
but it feels huge on the inside.
Hat tip to all this head room.
In fact, you know this Accord has more headroom
than the two newer models?
Believe it or not, it does.
It also has lots of leg room for everybody,
and the trunk is plenty big to boot.
The downsides? well, like the exterior,
the interior just hasn't really aged all that well,
with lots of hard and cheap-feeling plastics.
I mean, look at this infotainment system.
It is seriously dated, like it feels old.
With this eighth generation Accord debut,
though, you've got to remember that the iPhone had only
been on sale for a few months.
So you can forget all about Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
or even touchscreens for that matter.
When this generation Accord debuted, it had an aux input,
and the 2012 model offered an optional USB input.
Now, the interface itself is another downside.
I mean, look at this.
Tons of buttons and they all look and feel the same
and they're all crammed together.
And it's just a mess, honestly.
It's a mess.
But, hey, on the plus side, the sound system
does sound pretty good.
All right.
So moving it here to the ninth generation car,
things are much better, like it's night and day.
The interior materials are significantly better.
And even though the headroom isn't
as generous as the older car, there's still plenty of it.
Plus, there's lots of leg room for you and all your friends.
And like I said earlier, the trunk got even bigger.
But if you do opt for the Hybrid,
you're going to lose about two grocery bags of trunk space
because that's where Honda decided to put the batteries.
So there's a split in the ninth generation car.
From 2013 to 2015, the dash was actually
a more simplified and organized version of the previous system,
featuring a screen near the windshield for the audio system
or a touchscreen on the higher trims.
All right.
So in 2016, the interior was refreshed
with a new, larger touchscreen on the EX
and above with an improved but still flawed
interface, like we have right here in our 2017 tester.
So with the new touchscreen, Honda
decided to ditch the volume knob altogether,
which really makes adjusting the volume way more annoying
than it should be.
The good news is that it added Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
smartphone integration, but it can be a little slow
to respond.
But, hey, we'd much rather have a slightly laggy CarPlay
than no CarPlay at all.
Overall, this interior design has really
held up well over time, both in terms
of usability and refinement.
I think it still looks good.
And now, we take a big leap forward
to this 10th generation.
You know what?
It's actually nice enough in here.
And you may be forgiven if you thought
that this was actually from Acura, Honda's upscale brand.
There are literally soft-touch surfaces everywhere.
And look at this, the open-pore look of this wood grain
is just so fashionable.
And everything in here just feels
a cut above the competition.
There's plenty of room in here for everybody.
And if you want a hybrid, this generation
makes the most of the space.
Because listen to this, you actually
finally get a full-sized trunk.
Now, you can also get a heads-up display on this generation's
Accord Touring, projecting really important information
right here on the windshield, so you
can engage in your little fighter pilot fantasies
during your commute.
Now, as we've seen in the previous generations,
the infotainment system was something
that you had to put up with.
But in this car, it's a highlight.
OK?
You got to know.
The touchscreen is bigger with a physical volume knob,
so yay for that, with a wholly redesigned interface that uses
big, logically-placed icons.
Now, from 2018 to 2020, all Accord trims,
except for the LX, also came standard
with CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration.
But starting in 2021, all Accords get it
and upper trims even get wireless CarPlay
and Android Auto.
Plus EX-L and Touring trims come with
a powerful 10-speaker sound system
that's actually pretty good.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
First thing you should know is that all three generations
have had top crash test safety ratings and, of course,
have had backup cameras ever since 2013.
It's also important to remember that the Accord, no matter what
year, is a mainstream family sedan and not
a high-end European sports sedan.
But the Accord can be surprisingly
fun to drive, except for this eighth generation.
Now, don't get us wrong, for the day-to-day drive, it's fine.
Steering is great, visibility is amazing,
and has a very comfortable ride.
But if you ask this car to hustle,
it's going to disappoint.
There's a lot of lean in corners.
And even though the engine specs are powerful on paper,
both the four-cylinder and the V6
are hampered by a slow-responding, five-speed
automatic transmission.
Surprisingly, the V6 feels sluggish, especially when
pulling away from a stop.
On top of all that, there's just a lot of engine and road noise.
Advanced driver-assist features are fairly new,
so it's no surprise that the oldest Accord of the bunch
doesn't offer anything like that.
So you'll need to look at the newer generations
in order to get any of those features.
And guess what.
We're going to do that right now.
The driving experience definitely
improved with this ninth generation car.
The four-cylinder is paired with the CVT,
and we've got to admit that it's responsive enough
to hold up even today.
But the sweet spot is the V6.
You got to remember that this V6 is the most powerful Accord
ever produced.
It's nicely matched with a six-speed transmission,
though we kind of feel like it's a little slow to respond
at times.
The suspension also offers a comfortable ride
with good handling for a family car.
The interior is also noticeably quieter than its predecessor.
Now, as for active driver-assist,
Honda began trickling systems into this generation,
starting with the 2013 model year.
From 2013 to 2015, you could get forward collision warning
and lane departure warning on EX-L and above trims, which
is a pretty advanced tech for the time.
In 2016, the full Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist systems
was made available to all trim levels
and we highly recommend making this stretch if you can.
Because believe me, it's definitely worth it.
Instead of the more familiar blind spot warning system,
the ninth generation came with Honda's LaneWatch,
which is a camera system that shows
you what's on the passenger side of the car.
It's definitely not as intuitive as modern blind spot
monitoring.
It doesn't cover the driver's side.
And on top of all that, it doesn't work particularly well
at nighttime.
OK.
So remember when I said the Accord wasn't a sports sedan?
Well, this current generation may make a liar out of me.
Whether we're talking about the standard engine and its CVT
or the more powerful 2.0-liter turbo and its 10-speed
automatic, this car has sauce.
And honestly, it's just really fun to drive.
And if you're really into driving,
there's even a six-speed manual transmission available on sport
models that were made from 2018 through 2020 with either
a 1.5-liter or a 2.0-liter engine.
Now, if you're into manual cars, then, hey, they
do have some available.
Manual Accord sports are unicorns.
But if you can find one, they are a blast to drive.
The top-of-the-line Touring trim comes with special shocks that
can be adjusted to be firmer or softer,
depending on the drive mode.
But honestly, we think that the standard suspension
is a good enough balance between ride and handling
that it makes the fancy and expensive Touring
setup really unnecessary.
Now, as for driver's aids, this generation
actually features an updated Honda Sensing suite
system that is quicker and has more natural-feeling reactions.
It also has a better blind spot monitoring
system, which alerts you of traffic
on both sides of the car.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
There is a lot to consider when it
comes to these generations of the Accord.
So which one is right for you?
The eighth generation car is a comfortable sedan
that's roomy enough for you and all your tall friends.
You should be able to get into a higher end
trim these days for a decent price.
We recommend the 2012 model, if you can, for the nice updates.
It feels much older in many respects
compared to its newer siblings, but there
is a lot to like here.
Now, the ninth generation Accord is something of a tweener.
On one hand, the 2013 through 2015 models all drive very well
with a more upscale look and feel
than the earlier eighth generation cars.
But with all that said, the 2016 and 2017 models
are definitely the ones to get, thanks
to the availability of modern smartphone
integration and advanced driver-assist systems.
Then there's the current 10th generation Accord.
This thing is pretty great.
Honda managed to make a comfortable, roomy,
classy-looking, and fun-driving sedan with all
the modern touches and features standard.
Yes, you'll pay more.
But you'll also get a lot more, too.
So what do you look for when buying a used car,
modern technology, roominess, how
about fuel economy estimates?
Let us know down in the comments below.
And while you're down there, don't
forget to like and subscribe to CarMax's YouTube channel.
And of course, if you want to learn
anything else about these cars behind me,
click the link in the description
for an in-depth article.
Thank you for watching, and we'll see you guys next time.