Honda Accord,  Page 1

Performance

Power was improved in the form of a new 2.4L inline four-cylinder (I-4) direct-injected engine that makes 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque (a 20 percent increase in torque over its predecessor) with either a 6-speed manual transmission or continuously variable automatic transmission.  The available 3.5L V6 makes 278 hp and 252 lb-ft torque and is mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. An uprated I-4 engine making 189 hp and 182 lb-ft torque is available for the “Sport” models. A six-speed manual is available in the sporty V6 Coupe because that car appeals to buyers who put a higher priority on performance.  Regular grade fuel is specified for both engines.

The Accord’s new six-speed automatic transmission, which replaces the previous five-speed, is smooth and powerful.  And with its wider range of gear ratios, it offers improved throttle responsiveness and better fuel economy.   If you want more performance, just drop the transmission lever from ‘D’ to ‘S’.  This elevates engine revs in any given gear in order to provide more immediate throttle response but fuel economy will suffer.

According to the EPA, the 2013 Accord V6 sedan consumes 11.2/6.9 L/100 km city/highway, an impressive 12.5 percent improvement over the previous year’s V6.  NR Canada’s current ratings are 11.1/6.8.  The EPA rates the Accord four-cylinder with a CVT at 8.7/6.5L/100 km city/highway with NR Canada’s ratings at 9.1/6.6.

Click on this link to access Canadian fuel efficiency estimates for 2013-2017 Accords. 

Accord buyers who choose the V6 engine are probably not too concerned with good fuel economy, but even V6 Accords were equipped with Honda’s new driver-selectable Econ driving mode that helps save gas.  By pushing the green leaf-icon button just to the left of the steering wheel, throttle response is muted and the automatic climate control operation is limited, thereby enhancing fuel economy.

The Accord’s handling improved due to its shorter overall length, slightly shorter wheelbase and slightly wider track, and reduction in curb weight thanks in part to a new, lighter MacPherson strut front suspension (replacing double wishbones, an Accord trademark for years) and a lighter aluminum and steel front sub-frame.  Electric variable assist power rack and pinion steering replaced the previous hydraulic steering, also contributing to the weight loss.

Reliability/Service

Honda’s are reliable cars, and have a 40+ year track record to prove it. These Accords are no different, and with proper attention 300,000+ kilometers should be no big deal.  Having said that, it’s no secret that the increasing sophistication of the electrics, electronics, and all the software to support has caused issues in just about all new cars.  The Accord is no different, and these types of problems lead the relatively small list of maladies that afflict this generation Accord.

Safety

The 2013 Honda Accord has excellent safety ratings. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick+, the organization’s highest award. Accord model years 2014, 2016 and 2017 also received that distinction.  The 2013 sedan also received the highest rating of Good in all six IIHS crash test evaluations. The Accord coupe has a Good rating in all but the driver-side small overlap front test, in which it received the second-highest rating of Acceptable.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2013 Accord sedan a perfect five-star overall rating, as well as five stars in all but the frontal crash test. The coupe model received five stars in all crash tests

All Accords featured a rear-view camera.  In addition to the normal view, EX-L and Touring models have a wide view that captures objects to the side, and a top-down view that helps judge the exact distance to the object behind the car.  This is really useful when you want to park as close as possible to a wall or barrier without hitting it.   Great feature but as with all vehicle cameras be aware that rain, ice, snow and grime can sometimes obscure the camera lens which can make the view murky.

Contributing to driving safety was the Accord’s new LaneWatch Blind Spot Display system. When the right turn signal is activated, a camera attached to the passenger-side mirror sends an image of the area beside and behind the car to the centre screen where the driver can observe other cars travelling in the car’s blind spot.  Cars/ bicycles/pedestrians that may not be seen behind the C-pillar by simple shoulder checking are visible on the screen. 

Another new feature in the 2013 Accord was Forward Collision Warning, which uses radar to detect a potential frontal collision and warn the driver with warning sounds.  As well, a new Lane Departure Warning System warns the driver if the car is moving out of its lane without using the turn signals.

For night-time visibility, top-of-the-line Touring models featured new LED (light emitting diode) projector beam headlights, which provide better illumination than the standard halogen projector beam headlights on all other Accord trims.  In addition, LED daytime running lights and LED taillights were now standard on all Accords.

Value

The Accord has always delivered in the value department, both as a new purchase and used.  The only negative mark here is that you’ll have to pay more for a used Accord than most competitors because of its high resale value.  You’ll get some of that back down the road when it’s time to sell, though, as Honda’s have some residual value far into their lifetimes.  But the higher price does hurt the value equation a bit, as there are many models, foreign and domestic, that have become worthy competitors at a lower price – even in the reliability department. Still, of all the mid-sized sedans out there, it’s tough to go wrong with this one.

Competitors