Nine generations in and it seems the 2013 Honda Accord is entering its golden years in North America. As an all-new model, this generation of Accord offers a level of sophistication I wasn't expecting from Honda, and a driveability that had me admitting I'd gladly have one sitting in my driveway.
With a starting price of just under $24,000, the Honda Accord is an affordable midsize sedan that not only boasts Honda's longstanding reputation, but also promises to grow with you and your family. While my nearly top-of-the-line tester breaks the $30k mark, I'd say it's well worth every penny to drive the new 2013 Honda Accord Touring.
And drive, I did
Perhaps one of the best ways to test a vehicle is to take it on a long, boring road trip. Sure, twisty country roads are fun, which is why any car can be made enjoyable (somehow) on them. Take a vehicle on a straight, boring, long highway and tell me what you think about it.
So, that's what I did with the 2013 Honda Accord. I took it on a 12-hour highway trip (6 hrs there, 6 back), and after all that, I did not hate it. Not even a little bit. I didn't drive for the entire 12 hours, I was a passenger for a portion of those hours and that helped the Honda Accord's case even more. Super-comfortable passenger seats (heated both front and rear) with plenty of legroom in front and in the back, the Accord may be one of the most comfortable boring-highway cars I've ever been in.
Behind the wheel of the 2013 Honda Accord is a fantastic place to be. Piloting the 2.4L 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder is a fabulous thing, indeed. With just the right amount of power (185 horses and 181 lb-ft of torque in the Touring model), just when you need it, driving the Accord is pretty close to perfect. And (shock of all shocks) I really like the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the Honda.
I know, take that in for a moment.
The CVT is a joy. It's responsive with on-tap power when you want/need it, never second guesses itself and does just what you want a transmission to do: Drive the car smoothly. Perhaps I have Honda's G-Design Shift logic to thank for that as it is meant to help with acceleration response in comparison to other CVTs on the market.
Add to all that a little fuel efficiency (I averaged 8.2L/100km throughout the week) with Honda's ECON button that adjusts the engine to be as gas-savvy as possible, along with an Eco Assist feature (light around the speedometer that stays green if you're being good and goes white if you're being naughty) and you've got yourself a vehicle that seems to check all the necessary boxes.
Smooth travelling, and looks
With a fully independent suspension firmly attached to the 2013 Honda Accord's chassis, the solid unit body ensures that every journey is a smooth, quiet and refined experience. And truly, it is.
I noticed immediately how cloud-like it was to be in the Honda Accord, no matter what the road surface. However, don't think smooth equals numb: The Accord handles extremely well, stays planted on the road and feels sportier than expected. These are all bonus points, in my opinion.
Driving smoothly is only half the battle; the 2013 Honda Accord also looks smooth, in all the right ways. Like a dapper gentleman dressed for a cocktail party with work colleagues, the Accord has an air of sophistication about it that wasn't there in previous generations. Honda managed to make the Accord look more mature, more grown-up. From LED daytime running lights to a chrome-lined grille, as well as chrome-accented front and rear bumpers, the Accord is dressed to the nines; and I like it.
Inside, the class continues: comfortable seats, mostly soft surfaces (save for a few door panels), and traditional Honda storage throughout, as well as an easy-to-use (despite the plethora of buttons) onboard entertainment system complete with two screens.
Smooth operator
Today's cars are all about technology, it seems, and this topic is not lost on the 2013 Honda Accord. From available Front Crash Warning to Lane Watch (a camera mounted in the passenger-side mirror shows you up to 50m of traffic behind you), Lane Departure Warning System, HandsFreeLink bluetooth (with the ability to answer email and text messages), and a backup camera, the Accord was built to make your life easier.
Truthfully, I turned all the warning systems off. I feel confident enough in myself as a driver to do without them. And in all honesty, the Lane Watch camera (which turns on every time you activate the turn signal to go right) is highly distracting.
But other than that, there's very little wrong with the 2013 Honda Accord.
Bravo, Honda, bravo.
This 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
With a starting price of just under $24,000, the Honda Accord is an affordable midsize sedan that not only boasts Honda's longstanding reputation, but also promises to grow with you and your family. While my nearly top-of-the-line tester breaks the $30k mark, I'd say it's well worth every penny to drive the new 2013 Honda Accord Touring.
And drive, I did
Perhaps one of the best ways to test a vehicle is to take it on a long, boring road trip. Sure, twisty country roads are fun, which is why any car can be made enjoyable (somehow) on them. Take a vehicle on a straight, boring, long highway and tell me what you think about it.
So, that's what I did with the 2013 Honda Accord. I took it on a 12-hour highway trip (6 hrs there, 6 back), and after all that, I did not hate it. Not even a little bit. I didn't drive for the entire 12 hours, I was a passenger for a portion of those hours and that helped the Honda Accord's case even more. Super-comfortable passenger seats (heated both front and rear) with plenty of legroom in front and in the back, the Accord may be one of the most comfortable boring-highway cars I've ever been in.
Behind the wheel of the 2013 Honda Accord is a fantastic place to be. Piloting the 2.4L 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder is a fabulous thing, indeed. With just the right amount of power (185 horses and 181 lb-ft of torque in the Touring model), just when you need it, driving the Accord is pretty close to perfect. And (shock of all shocks) I really like the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) in the Honda.
I know, take that in for a moment.
The CVT is a joy. It's responsive with on-tap power when you want/need it, never second guesses itself and does just what you want a transmission to do: Drive the car smoothly. Perhaps I have Honda's G-Design Shift logic to thank for that as it is meant to help with acceleration response in comparison to other CVTs on the market.
Add to all that a little fuel efficiency (I averaged 8.2L/100km throughout the week) with Honda's ECON button that adjusts the engine to be as gas-savvy as possible, along with an Eco Assist feature (light around the speedometer that stays green if you're being good and goes white if you're being naughty) and you've got yourself a vehicle that seems to check all the necessary boxes.
Smooth travelling, and looks
With a fully independent suspension firmly attached to the 2013 Honda Accord's chassis, the solid unit body ensures that every journey is a smooth, quiet and refined experience. And truly, it is.
I noticed immediately how cloud-like it was to be in the Honda Accord, no matter what the road surface. However, don't think smooth equals numb: The Accord handles extremely well, stays planted on the road and feels sportier than expected. These are all bonus points, in my opinion.
Driving smoothly is only half the battle; the 2013 Honda Accord also looks smooth, in all the right ways. Like a dapper gentleman dressed for a cocktail party with work colleagues, the Accord has an air of sophistication about it that wasn't there in previous generations. Honda managed to make the Accord look more mature, more grown-up. From LED daytime running lights to a chrome-lined grille, as well as chrome-accented front and rear bumpers, the Accord is dressed to the nines; and I like it.
Inside, the class continues: comfortable seats, mostly soft surfaces (save for a few door panels), and traditional Honda storage throughout, as well as an easy-to-use (despite the plethora of buttons) onboard entertainment system complete with two screens.
Smooth operator
Today's cars are all about technology, it seems, and this topic is not lost on the 2013 Honda Accord. From available Front Crash Warning to Lane Watch (a camera mounted in the passenger-side mirror shows you up to 50m of traffic behind you), Lane Departure Warning System, HandsFreeLink bluetooth (with the ability to answer email and text messages), and a backup camera, the Accord was built to make your life easier.
Truthfully, I turned all the warning systems off. I feel confident enough in myself as a driver to do without them. And in all honesty, the Lane Watch camera (which turns on every time you activate the turn signal to go right) is highly distracting.
But other than that, there's very little wrong with the 2013 Honda Accord.
Bravo, Honda, bravo.
This 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Touring review was originally published on Auto-Venus.com.
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