Honda Accord: 2018 Motor Trend Car of the Year Finalist

We Like: Strong engine and transmission pairings, roomy interior, return of the volume button

We Don’t Like: Road noise; cruise control does not hold speed downhill

Ordinary midsize sedans rarely quicken the pulse, but the stylish and dynamic Honda Accord’s strong lineup of new engines and transmissions impresses.

The EX trim offers a 1.5-liter turbo and seamless CVT with the feel of natural shift points and impressive fuel efficiency. Move up to the 2.0-liter Touring for a 10-speed automatic and a “lovely adaptation of the fiery Civic Type R motor into a John Doe car,” Chris Walton said. We applaud the inclusion of six-speed stick to the lineup, but the throws and clutch uptake could be more precise.

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With flat manners and quick delivery of power out of turns, the Accord is more fun to drive than most would expect from a midsize sedan, Christian Seabaugh said.

Tom Gale noted the minimalist design is more serious and global in appeal, and Frank Markus said, “The open-pore-looking fake wood is among the best in the business.” He also admired the space-age cloth seat inserts and a hood view reminiscent of a Porsche Panamera. Mark Rechtin likened the interior to “a really nice office. The huge rear seat is like a lounge.”

The Accord continues Honda’s trend of too much tire noise seeping into the cabin, and the cruise control does not maintain speed going downhill. Seabaugh said that standard Honda Sensing “makes the whole world a safer place,” especially when it includes advanced self-driving tech.

Jonny Lieberman, whose appetites typically trend toward the sporty, said, “I have no qualms declaring the new Accord the best car in its class.”

	2018 Honda Accord (1.5T EX)	2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Sport	2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Touring
DRIVETRAIN LAYOUT	Front-engine, FWD	Front-engine, FWD	Front-engine, FWD
ENGINE TYPE	Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head	Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head	Turbocharged I-4, alum block/head
VALVETRAIN	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl	DOHC, 4 valves/cyl
DISPLACEMENT	91.4 cu in/1,498 cc	121.8 cu in/1,996 cc	121.8 cu in/1,996 cc
COMPRESSION RATIO	10.3:1	9.8:1	9.8:1
POWER (SAE NET)	192 hp @ 5,500 rpm	252 hp @ 6,500 rpm	252 hp @ 6,500 rpm
TORQUE (SAE NET)	192 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm	273 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
REDLINE	6,500	6,800 rpm	6,800 rpm
WEIGHT TO POWER	16.5 lb/hp	13.0 lb/hp	13.6 lb/hp
TRANSMISSION	Cont variable auto	6-speed manual	10-speed automatic
AXLE/FINAL-DRIVE RATIO	5.36:1/2.17:1	3.84:1/2.63:1	3.55:1/1.84:1
SUSPENSION, FRONT; REAR	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, anti-roll bar	Struts, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar; multilink, coil springs, adj shocks, anti-roll bar
STEERING RATIO	11.8:1	11.8:1	11.8:1
TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK	2.4	2.1	2.1
BRAKES, F; R	11.5-in vented disc; 11.1-in disc, ABS	12.3-in vented disc; 11.1-in disc, ABS	12.3-in vented disc; 11.1-in disc, ABS
WHEELS, F;R	7.5 x 17-in cast aluminum	8.5 x 19-in cast aluminum	8.5 x 19-in cast aluminum
TIRES, F;R	225/50R17 94V (M+S) Michelin Energy Saver A/S	235/40R19 96V (M+S) Goodyear Eagle Touring	235/40R19 96V (M+S) Michelin Primacy MXM4
DIMENSIONS
WHEELBASE	111.4 in	111.4 in	111.4 in
TRACK, F/R	63.0/63.4 in	63.0/63.4 in	62.6/63.1 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT	192.2 x 73.2 x 57.1 in	192.2 x 73.3 x 57.1 in	192.1 x 73.2 x 57.1 in
TURNING CIRCLE	38.1 ft	39.4 ft	39.4 ft
CURB WEIGHT	3,177 lb	3,286 lb	3,424 lb
WEIGHT DIST, F/R	60/40%	60/40%	61/39%
SEATING CAPACITY	5	5	5
HEADROOM, F/R	37.5/37.2 in	37.5/37.2 in	37.5/37.2 in
LEGROOM, F/R	42.3/40.4 in	42.3/40.4 in	42.3/40.4 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/R	58.3/56.5 in	58.3/56.5 in	58.3/56.5 in
CARGO VOLUME	16.7 cu ft	16.7 cu ft	16.7 cu ft
TEST DATA
ACCELERATION TO MPH
0-30	2.8 sec	2.3 sec	2.3 sec
0-40	4.0	3.4	3.2
0-50	5.6	4.9	4.4
0-60	7.6	6.2	5.7
0-70	10.0	8.3	7.5
0-80	12.8	10.2	9.4
0-90	16.2	12.9	11.8
0-100	—	15.9	14.5
PASSING, 45-65 MPH	4.0	3.0	2.9
QUARTER MILE	15.9 sec @ 89.3 mph	14.8 sec @ 96.2 mph	14.3 sec @ 99.3 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH	135 ft	109 ft	116 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION	0.81 g (avg)	0.85 g (avg)	0.85 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT	27.7 sec @ 0.61 g (avg)	26.4 sec @ 0.67 g (avg)	26.9 sec @ 0.67 g (avg)
TOP-GEAR REVS @ 60 MPH	1,800 rpm	2,100 rpm	1,500 rpm
CONSUMER INFO
BASE PRICE	$28,345	$31,185	$36,675
PRICE AS TESTED	$28,345	$31,185	$36,675
STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes	Yes/Yes
AIRBAGS	8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee	8: Dual front, front side, f/r curtain, front knee	8: Dual front, f/r side, f/r curtain, front knee
BASIC WARRANTY	3 yrs/36,000 miles	3 yrs/36,000 miles	3 yrs/36,000 miles
POWERTRAIN WARRANTY	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles	5 yrs/60,000 miles
ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE	3 yrs/36,000 miles	3 yrs/36,000 miles	3 yrs/36,000 miles
FUEL CAPACITY	14.8 gal	14.8 gal	14.8 gal
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB ECON	30/38/33 mpg	26/35/30 mpg (mfr est)	23/34/27 mpg (mfr est)
ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY	112/89 kW-hrs/100 miles	130/96 kW-hrs/100 miles (est)	147/99 kW-hrs/100 miles (est)
CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB	0.59 lb/mile	0.66 lb/mile (est)	0.72 lb/mile (est)
RECOMMENDED FUEL	Unleaded regular	Unleaded regular	Unleaded regular

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