2018 Honda Accord Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　

What's new

The 2018 Honda Accord is fully redesignedNew turbocharged four-cylinder enginesLower, wider and longer than the outgoing modelRedesigned interior with improved touchscreen systemPart of the 10th Accord generation introduced for 2018

　　Thanks to the increasing popularity of crossovers, midsize sedans are no longer the default vehicle of choice for small families. Automakers aren't giving up the fight, however, with a number of traditionally popular models significantly refreshed or fully redesigned this year. Headlining the list is the 2018 Honda Accord, and its improvements are dramatic.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Honda Accord LX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$113/mo  for Accord LX

　　Accord LX

　　LX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $23,570 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,780 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $25,780 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $30,310 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $30,310 MSRPEX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $27,470 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $29,970 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navi (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $30,970 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $31,970 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan w/Navi (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $32,970 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $33,800 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $35,800 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　It starts on the outside. The new Accord's fastback profile and pronounced styling lines make it look more luxurious and European than the norm. Inside, Honda has thoroughly reworked the interior, and it's now one of the nicest cabins in the class. On the top Touring trim, there's a pleasing mix of soft-touch plastic, leather upholstery, faux-leather door inserts, and convincing open-pore wood trim on the dash. Even on lower levels such as the Sport, the cabin is decked out with carbon-fiber-look trim and faux-leather-trimmed seats.

　　Front and center is a new touchscreen that is much easier to use than the old system. Unlike the last Accord — which featured a touchpad-only interface that was slow and often maddening to use — the new screen is thoughtfully laid out and uses physical buttons and knobs for tuning and high-level navigational functions. The touchscreen, which is standard on all but the base LX model, also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

　　Pleasingly, the Accord also offers plenty of advanced driving features. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and lane departure warning and mitigation are optional on other Hondas, but they are standard on every Accord. Top-notch crash test safety scores give you added peace of mind, too.

　　Overall, the redesigned 2018 Honda Accord significantly moves the needle forward in the midsize sedan segment. Its many strengths and lack of major drawbacks make it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a spacious, comfortable and upscale four-door.

　　Notably, we picked the 2018 Honda Accord as one of zzdcar' Best Midsize Sedans for 2018.

　　

What's it like to live with?

When we first drove the 10th-generation Honda Accord, we knew it would be the bar by which all other midsize sedans were judged. We quickly added an Accord EX-L with the 1.5-liter engine to the zzdcar long-term test fleet and drove it for more than a year. To learn more about what the Accord is like to live with, read our Best Midsize Sedans, where we covered everything from performance to long-distance seat comfort.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

8.3 / 10

　　The 2018 Honda Accord is everything a family sedan should be: roomy, comfortable, safe, powerful and fuel-efficient. Honda's done a fantastic job with this redesigned Accord, and it should be at the top of your list if you're considering a vehicle in this class.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2018 Honda Accord Touring (turbo 1.5L inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	8.3 / 10
Driving	8.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	9.0
Technology	8.0

　　

Driving

8.5

　　The Accord has a lot of strengths on the road. The drivetrain responds quickly and provides sufficient power. The car corners well, sticking to the road with no drama, and the brakes feel natural and strong. Only the steering falls short: While it's accurate and easy, it also feels artificial.

　　

Acceleration

8.0

　　What sets the 2018 Accord apart isn't the raw numbers, it's the rapid response to driver input. Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds is average for a base engine in this segment. Around town, though, the engine feels similarly adequate. Power delivery is smooth.

　　

Braking

8.0

　　The Accord's brake pedal is firm, and it's easy to judge and get consistent stopping; the brakes never feel grabby. Our panic-stop braking distance from 60 mph of 122 feet is average, but the Accord's brakes instill confidence thanks to good feel and arrow-straight stops.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The steering is accurate, but the feel in your hands is a bit artificial. There's a lack of feedback from the front wheels, and resistance doesn't noticeably build through turns — it's pretty much just on or off. There's also a little vagueness where true on-center is.

　　

Handling

9.0

　　Our test car was the Touring, which has the multilink adaptive suspension. So fitted, it was impressively stable, planted and confidence-inspiring around turns. The car changes direction eagerly. Less expensive Accords won't be quite as good, but this is still one of the best-handling sedans around.

　　

Drivability

9.0

　　Honda's smartly tuned CVT automatic helps make the Accord a good companion on the road. It will try to "upshift" as much as possible to improve mpg, but it responds quickly and smoothly to requests for power when you need it. The Accord also feels more maneuverable than its size suggests.

　　

Comfort

8.0

　　The new Accord is quiet and comfortable in most situations. It insulates against traffic noise particularly well, though tire noise is noticeable on the highway. The ride smooths out small imperfections and absorbs larger bumps. Front-seat comfort is adequate.

　　

Seat comfort

7.5

　　Overall seat comfort is good, with well-placed headrests and nice back support, especially with the adjustable lumbar. But the leather-wrapped seat cushions don't have a lot of padding, so finding the right adjustment is important to staying comfortable on longer drives.

　　

Ride comfort

8.5

　　The Accord Touring comes with an adaptive suspension that provides an excellent ride for this class. The car feels solid and easily irons out smaller imperfections and absorbs larger hits. You don't feel sharp edges in this car.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　Around town, the Accord is impressively quiet, isolating you from traffic and feeling almost like a luxury car. Once you get up to freeway speeds, there's some wind noise, but tire noise is much more noticeable. It's not enough to intrude on conversation, but it's not as quiet as some rivals.

　　

Climate control

8.0

　　All climate settings can be adjusted with straightforward and clearly labeled manual controls, and the system regulates cabin temperature easily. The temperature knob lights change colors as you adjust up or down, which is a fun touch. Seat cooling in the Touring trim is only moderately effective.

　　

Interior

8.0

　　Some small points aside, the interior of the Accord offers modern design, quality soft-touch materials, lots of room, and a user-friendly infotainment system and control layout. Taller drivers will want to test the seating position, though, as their knees may rub on a piece of hard plastic trim.

　　

Ease of use

7.5

　　This infotainment system is clean, crisp and user-friendly, and basic functions are easy to navigate thanks to physical buttons. Most controls are easy to find and recognize. But the media and information-display controls on the wheel aren't intuitively laid out and take getting used to.

　　

Getting in/getting out

7.0

　　The doorsills are high and wide, creating a noticeable stepover, but access is otherwise easy. The rear doors open wide, and access is good even in tight spaces. The low seats mean you have farther to stand up than in competitors, and taller passengers will have to duck exiting the back seat.

　　

Driving position

7.0

　　You can sit low, ensconced in the car, making it feel sportier and more luxurious. There's plenty of adjustability for those who want to sit closer, higher or more upright. Taller drivers will wish for more steering-wheel telescope and may find their right knee bumps against some hard plastic trim.

　　

Roominess

8.5

　　The interior feels large, which makes sense because, by EPA interior volume measurements, this is a full-size car. The driver's kneeroom may feel cramped to long-legged drivers, but otherwise the cabin feels airy and open. Rear legroom is excellent, though taller passengers will run out of headroom.

　　

Visibility

9.0

　　Forward visibility is excellent, and well-placed rear windows mean there's a good rear three-quarter view. No problems looking out the large rear window on the road, though the high decklid means you'll rely on the camera when reversing in tight spaces. We found no serious blind spots.

　　

Quality

8.0

　　The Accord's interior design is modern and upscale. The touchpoints are covered in soft-touch materials and the fit tolerances are tight. Only a few of the textured surfaces reveal themselves to be somewhat tacky-feeling, hard plastics. We had some glitches in our TPMS and the infotainment system.

　　

Utility

9.0

　　With excellent trunk volume, plenty of spots for small items in the cabin, and generally more space than you'll know what to do with, the Accord offers about as much utility as is possible for a sedan.

　　

Small-item storage

8.5

　　The center console armrest bin is generously sized, and the front charging ports and wireless charging pad (if equipped) are in a cubby with room for more than one phone. The door pockets have space for water bottles, and the anti-tip cupholders are large. Only the glovebox is a little shallow.

　　

Cargo space

9.5

　　The Accord's trunk is absolutely huge, with a capacity of 16.7 cubic feet. The opening is wide, if a little narrow, but it's easy to maneuver objects in and out. The 60/40-split folding rear seats open up even more room for long objects.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

9.0

　　LATCH anchors are located under clearly marked flaps and are close to the surface with no seating material impinging on access. Considering how large the rear seat is, even bulky car seats shouldn't pose a problem. The new, lower roofline might require more bending over to situate seats and kids.

　　

Technology

8.0

　　Honda's new infotainment system is a huge step up from the last generation, and it's integrated nicely with the gauge cluster screen and head-up display. A lot of active safety and driver aids come standard, and they work well. Voice commands fall short, and we generally relied on manual controls.

　　

Audio & navigation

8.0

　　The premium audio system in our tester can produce a lot of volume without distortion, but sound quality is unexceptional for an upgraded system. The navigation system has a robust feature set that's easy to operate, the graphics are clean, and instructions easy to follow.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work well and are integrated with the infotainment system, so smartphone navigation appears in the head-up display and music appears in the media screen. The near-field Bluetooth pairing is neat, but setting up a connection is easy enough that it's mostly a novelty.

　　

Driver aids

8.0

　　Only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert aren't standard on lower trims; otherwise you get a lot of aids. Adaptive cruise mostly works well, but it sometimes picks up neighboring lanes in curves. Forward collision alert doesn't deliver false alerts but is very sensitive.

　　

Voice control

6.5

　　Voice commands are a mixed bag. While the system's not prone to misunderstanding, specific phrasing is required and it often takes many steps. Luckily there are on-screen prompts. You can't switch to Bluetooth audio streaming with a command, but there are extensive USB music and navigation commands.

　　

Which Accord does zzdcar recommend?

　　Though we appreciate the LX's wealth of standard features and the Sport's enthusiast-oriented setup, most shoppers will be happy with the midgrade EX. Like the Sport, it comes with a power driver seat and a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. It also adds useful extras such as blind-spot monitoring, satellite radio, a sunroof, and heated mirrors and front seats. It doesn't cost much more than the LX, and you'll love the extra luxuries whether you keep your Accord for two years or 20.

　　

2018 Honda Accord models

　　The 2018 Honda Accord is sold in five trim levels. The LX is the most affordable model and is loaded with features, including dual-zone climate control and advanced safety features. The Sport doesn't cost much more and comes with some visual upgrades and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility. The EX gives up some of the Sport's flair but counts a sunroof and heated front seats among its upgrades. The EX-L primarily adds leather upholstery, while the top-trim Touring boasts every feature available on the Accord, including adaptive dampers for an even cushier ride.

　　A direct-injected, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (192 horsepower, 192 pound-feet of torque) is standard on all trim levels. It comes connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that helps achieve fuel economy of up to 33 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive is curiously absent). If you're looking for a little more excitement, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (252 hp, 273 lb-ft) is available on Sport, EX-L and Touring models. A 10-speed traditional automatic is paired to this engine. A six-speed manual transmission is a no-cost option on the Sport model regardless of engine.

　　

Accord LX

Standard features on the base LX model include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting (headlights, taillights and running lights), automatic high-beam control, a rearview camera, push-button ignition, a driver information display, dual-zone automatic climate control, a height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with a USB port. Standard driver aids include lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　

Accord Sport

Upgrading to the Sport adds 19-inch wheels, LED foglights, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tips, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (with four-way power lumbar), a 60/40-split rear bench, cloth and simulated leather upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen, and an eight-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

　　

Accord EX

The EX builds off the LX model, adding the Sport's interior upgrades (minus the Sport's unique upholstery and shift paddles), 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, rear air vents, an additional USB port, and satellite and HD radio.

　　

Accord EX-L

The EX-L further adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver-seat memory settings, a four-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery and a 10-speaker audio system. A navigation system is optional.

　　

Accord Touring

At the top of the ladder is the Touring trim, which equips the Accord with 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, chrome exterior trim, illuminated door handles, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, adjustable driving modes, a head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, the navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless phone charger.

　　Models with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine are essentially the same as their 1.5-liter counterparts, but the Sport 2.0T is equipped with keyless entry, heated front seats and blind-spot monitoring.

　　

2018 Accord Highlights

Trim: LXSportEXEX-LTouringLX

　　

Base MSRP	$23,570
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$113/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles