2020 Honda Accord Review

　　

2020 Honda Accord Review

byReese CountsVehicle Test Editor

　　Reese Counts has worked in the automotive industry since he started as an intern at zzdcar in 2015. He has written or edited thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Reese is a vehicle test editor at zzdcar and has also contributed to Autoblog. Reese has also been featured on Yahoo! Finance, Engadget and AOL reviewing cars and covering automotive technology, auto shows and more. Reese learned to drive in his father's C4 Chevrolet Corvette and now owns his grandfather's 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG. A love for cars runs deep in his family.

　　The 10th-generation Accord was a winner out of the gate in 2018, making us fall in love with Honda's midsize sedan all over again. There are no changes for the 2020 model, but that's hardly a bad thing. As it stands, the Accord is stylish and comfortable, and it hits big with utility.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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) - $23,870 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $26,530 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $26,530 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $31,060 MSRPSport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M) - $31,060 MSRPEX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $27,770 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) - $30,270 MSRPEX-L 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $32,270 MSRPTouring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 10A) - $36,100 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Most of the Accord's competitors have been refreshed or redesigned over the past few years, but the Honda still shines in the class. On the road, the Accord is quiet and smooth, with our biggest complaint a bit of excessive tire noise at highway speeds. It's fun to drive, too, thanks to a pair of peppy engines and an available manual transmission. The car's 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space is among the biggest in the class, and the passenger area offers lots of bins and pockets for phones, sunglasses, water bottles and more.

　　Honda packs in a good bit of technology into the Accord, too. In addition to the standard Honda Sensing package that includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and traffic sign recognition, the Accord is available with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED lighting and a wireless phone charger. While you might want to look at the Mazda 6 if you desire a more premium cabin or the Kia Stinger for more exciting performance, the well-rounded Honda Accord continues to be zzdcar' top-ranked midsize sedan.

　　Notably, we picked the 2020 Honda Accord as zzdcar' Top Rated Sedan and Best Gas Mileage Cars for 2020. See all of the Top Rated Vehicles on our Best Gas Mileage Cars page.

　　

What's it like to live with the Accord?

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 Gas Mileage Cars, where we covered everything from performance to real-world reliability. Note that while we tested a 2018 Accord, all of our observations still apply to the 2020 model.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.3

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.5/10

　　How does the Accord drive? We like how the Accord's engine and transmission respond quickly and provide sufficient power. The raw numbers aren't special — our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds is average for a base engine in this segment — but the rapid response to driver input is. Honda's CVT automatic will try to "upshift" as much as possible to improve fuel economy, but it responds quickly and smoothly to requests for power when you need it.

　　The car corners well, sticking to the road with no drama, and the brakes feel natural and strong. Our panic-stop braking distance from 60 mph of 122 feet is an average result for a midsize sedan, and the Accord's brakes instill confidence thanks to arrow-straight stops. The steering, while it's accurate and easy, doesn't give you much feel for the road.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Accord? The Accord is quiet and comfortable in most situations. The front seats have well-placed headrests and comfortable back support, but the seat cushions don't have a lot of padding. Finding the right adjustment is important to staying comfortable on long drives. All climate settings can be adjusted with straightforward and clearly labeled manual controls, and the system regulates cabin temperature easily.

　　The Accord's cabin insulates against traffic noise particularly well, though tire noise is noticeable on the highway. The ride smooths out small imperfections and absorbs larger bumps but can feel busy on rough pavement. The Touring model's adaptive dampers provide an excellent ride for this class, ironing out some of the imperfections missed by the standard suspension.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The interior of the Accord offers modern design, quality soft-touch materials, lots of room, and a user-friendly infotainment system and control layout. Basic functions are easy to navigate thanks to physical buttons, but the controls on the wheel aren't intuitively laid out and take getting used to.

　　The cabin is airy and open, but taller drivers will want to test the seating position since their knees may rub on a piece of hard plastic trim. The doorsills are high and wide, meaning other sedans are a little easier to get in and out of. Rear legroom is excellent, though taller passengers will run out of headroom and will have to duck while exiting the back seat.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The available navigation system's graphics look crisp, and instructions are easy to follow. Honda also did a nice job integrating the infotainment system with the gauge cluster screen and optional head-up display. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work well, and the near-field Bluetooth pairing is a neat trick. However, the standard pairing method is easy enough that it's mostly a novelty. The premium audio system produces a lot of volume without distortion, but sound quality is unexceptional for an upgraded system.

　　Many active safety and driver aids come standard on the Accord, but blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert aren't standard on lower trims. The adaptive cruise control system mostly works well, but it sometimes picks up neighboring lanes in curves. Forward collision alert doesn't deliver false warnings but is very sensitive.

　　

Storage

9.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Accord offers about as much utility as is possible for a sedan. It has excellent trunk volume. The opening is wide, if a little narrow, and it's easy to maneuver objects in and out. The 60/40-split folding rear seats open up even more room for long objects. The cabin offers plenty of spots for small items. 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.

　　For family duty, the Accord has car seat anchors that are located under clearly marked flaps and are close to the surface with no seating material impinging on access. Even bulky car seats shouldn't pose a problem.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.0/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The estimated mileage of 31-33 mpg combined with the base engine is excellent for a midsize sedan. However, we only managed to average 28.5 mpg on our evaluation route. Other vehicles we test do a better job of matching the EPA estimates. The Accord's small turbocharged engine seems to get thirsty when driven in the real world.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Accord a good value? You get a lot of car for your money. The Accord's interior design is modern and upscale. The touch points 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. Equipment scales well through different trim levels, so you don't feel like you're being shorted for opting for a lower trim. Dollar for dollar the Accord feels like it's in a different league.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　You feel good getting in the Accord. It reminds you that you chose wisely as you settle into the low seat. You can sit low and back, ensconced in the vehicle, imparting a sensation of being in a much more expensive car. If the steering was sharper, this Honda could even be a sport sedan. As it is, the Accord is a sporty and competent sedan that's actually a lot of fun to whip through corners thanks to its stability.

　　

Which Accord does zzdcar recommend?

While the base Accord LX is equipped with quite a few features for relatively little money and the Sport trim comes with sharp design accents and an available manual transmission, we recommend stretching for the EX trim. For just a bit more money, you get blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry, and heated front seats as well as vents and USB ports for the rear passengers.

　　

2020 Honda Accord models

The 2020 Honda Accord is sold in five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring. The LX is the most affordable model but is still reasonably well-equipped. The Sport doesn't cost much more and comes with some visual upgrades, while the EX and the EX-L add more convenience features. The top-trim Touring loads up with every feature available.

　　A turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (192 horsepower, 192 lb-ft of torque) is standard on all trim levels except the Touring. It comes connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels.

　　If you're looking for a little more excitement, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (252 hp, 273 lb-ft) is available on the Sport and the EX-L and standard on the Touring. A 10-speed traditional automatic is paired with this engine. A six-speed manual transmission is a no-cost option on the Sport model regardless of engine.

　　Standard feature highlights on the base LX model include LED headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system. Standard driver aids include lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

　　The Sport doesn't do much to enhance the Accord's performance, but it does come with extras such as bigger wheels, a power-adjustable driver's seat, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an eight-speaker audio system. The EX builds off the LX model, adding a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, blind-spot monitoring and heated front seats, among other features.

　　The EX-L further adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a power-adjustable passenger seat, leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker audio system. A navigation system is optional for the EX-L.

　　At the top of the ladder is the Touring trim. It gets you everything on the EX-L plus adaptive suspension dampers, parking sensors, a head-up display, a navigation system, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless phone charger.

　　

2020 Accord Highlights

Trim: LXSportEXEX-LTouringLX

　　

Base MSRP	$23,870
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