Vehicle Tested
| 2013 Honda Accord Touring V6
Base Price: $33,430
At-Tested Price: $34,220
Built in US.
Options
None
Engine: 3.5-liter V6, 278 horsepower
Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive
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Honda gives its mainstay Accord a makeover for 2013. The new model is slightly smaller than the car it replaces and sports freshened styling, new engines and a host of new features. There are also two new trim levels.
Accord is a midsize offering available in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe bodystyles. All are front-wheel drive and the '13 model is shorter overall by about 3 inches and has a one inch shorter wheelbase. Competitors include the Chevrolet Malibu, Dodge Avenger, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry. Of those vehicles, only the Accord and Altima are available as a coupe.
The sedan's engine offerings include an all-new 2.4-liter four cylinder that has 185 horsepower and a 278-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, which is up seven horsepower from last year. The V6 gets Honda's Variable Cylinder Management cylinder deactivation. Four-cylinder Accords mate to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously-variable automatic transmission. V6 models are solely available with a six-speed automatic.
Sedan models include LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V6 and Touring. Both the Touring and Sport are new for 2013 - though the Sport effectively replaces the last year's SE. New features include Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and Honda's new LaneWatch Camera.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, rearview camera, tire-pressure monitoring system and dual-front, front-side and side-curtain airbags. Prices range from $21,680 to $33,420. All models have a $790 destination charge and are built in the United States.
Get Up and Go The four-cylinder engine has enough power to provide good acceleration around town and adequate passing punch. The engine mates nicely to the new CVT automatic. Acceleration is very linear and smooth. The transmission quickly changes ratios in passing situations. The V6 engine is easily one of the most powerful in the class. It provides outstanding acceleration and great passing power. The six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and doesn't hesitate when downshifting. Both engines are smooth and vibration free.
The V6 is EPA rated at 21 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with an overall EPA rating of 25 mpg. That's a cut above most vehicles in the class. In addition, Honda says all Accord engines will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.
Real-world fuel economy should provide most owners with a pleasant surprise. The four-cylinder will easily average 30 mpg in gentile-cycle rush-hour commuting. Even the lusty V6 nets better than 28 mpg overall in typical suburban commuting. As a bonus, it's easy to average 35 mpg in straight highway driving. Honda's cylinder deactivation system is not noticeable in operation, but does seem to provide better highway fuel economy.
On the Road Accord is sporty, but no sports car. The suspension provides a firm and controlled ride but has enough bump absorption to soften large impacts. Secondary body motions are nicely controlled, especially on the Sport with its 18-inch wheels.
The new Accord is smaller and lighter than the model it replaces and you can feel that from behind the wheel. The steering is nicely weighted and provides good feedback and dead-true highway tracking. Body lean is well controlled. Brakes have excellent stopping power. Overall, the new Accord sedan is one of the more athletic midsize offerings.
Interior noise levels are appreciably low, though there is some wind noise at highway speeds - especially at the side windows. Engines are quiet and refined.
Behind the Wheel Accord has a pleasant, if somewhat business-like interior. Materials are upscale and assembly quality is top notch. As in the past, Accord has more buttons and switchgear than the midsize-car norm. This is highlighted by three sets of button clusters located on the steering wheel.
Gauges are easy to read and clearly marked. The three-tier center stack features a display screen at the top, radio controls in the middle and climate controls at the bottom. The layout does a good job of isolating the control functions. Still, on vehicles with the navigation system, controls can be confusing. The voice assist works very well, quickly dialing phone numbers in your address book or helping you enter in a navigation destination.
The new suite of available safety features are a nice touch. Lane-departure and forward-collision work as advertised. Honda's innovative LaneWatch system projects a side-view image on the center-mounted video screen when the turn-signal is activated. It takes some getting used to, but can be useful in certain circumstances.
Front seats are nicely bolstered and quite comfortable. Head room and leg room are amble. Large door cutouts and the tall roofline make getting in and out a snap. Outward visibility is excellent, thanks to thin roof pillars and a low beltline.
Despite the decrease in both wheelbase and length, the rear seat is among the roomiest in the class. Leg room and head room are great and the seats are very comfortable. Three across seating can be accommodated in a modicum of comfort as well.
Cargo space is generous, but the trunk opening is rather small and the hinges intrude on space. Rear seat backs fold as one piece, limiting that feature's function somewhat. In addition, the cargo floor isn't flat between the trunk and rear passenger compartment. Interior storage is excellent with lots of console space, a huge glovebox and lots of covered and uncoverd bins throughout.
Bottom Line Accord's faults are few and prices are reasonable. Honda's no-option pricing scheme is a love-it or hate-it proposition. For those wanting lots of extras and features, it makes for an affordable fully-loaded offering. If you are just looking for a few features, you sometimes have to pay for ones you don't want. That being said, you can't go wrong with an Accord in any trim level.
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