- The brand-new 2023 Honda Accord mid-size sedan has been unveiled.
- The updated hybrid powertrain and the sleek new exterior design are the biggest news.
- The American market will start to sell the Accord in 2023. early in 2023.
The 2023 Honda Accord won’t be the first generation of the venerable mid-size sedan to do an impression of a luxury car, but it might just be the first Accord that truly looks the part. The 11th-generation model is the newest entry in its class, and it has a beautiful new design that makes it look sharper, more contemporary, and better proportioned. While we regret the loss of the potent 2.0-liter turbocharged upgrade engine, Honda assures us that the hybrid drivetrain is significantly improved, and the base 1.5-liter engine remains with improvements to refinement and fuel efficiency.
Honda wants the gas-electric Accord to account for 50% of sales, so the lineup has been reorganized to highlight the hybrid model. The nonhybrid LX and EX trims come with a revised turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four and continuously variable automatic transmission; horsepower and torque are the same 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet as before. (Honda did away with the manual transmission midway through the previous Accord generation due to low demand, so it won’t be making a comeback.)
The 2023 Accord’s other four trims—Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring—are hybrid only and come with an updated version of the two-motor drivetrain from the previous Accord hybrid. The 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four gas engine now has direct fuel injection, and the two electric motors are now arranged side by side, just like in the new CR-V hybrid. 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque are produced as a combined output, and Honda claims that this system will feel more responsive than the previous one. Although EPA fuel economy ratings aren’t yet available, they should improve slightly over the 48 mpg combined rating of the current Accord hybrid.
The new Accord is 2.8 inches longer than the previous model, but because of its unchanged wheelbase, it should ride and handle similarly. Although Honda claims to have increased chassis rigidity, tuned the suspension, and widened the front track by 0.6 inches, we don’t mind because we appreciate the current Accord’s refined on-road manner. All Accords have Normal and Econ drive modes, and the hybrid models also have Sport and Individual modes that let drivers adjust various vehicle settings.
Even though the interior looks better than before, the exterior’s sleek new styling steals the show. The Accord’s interior features piano-black trim, mesh air vent covers that span the width of the dashboard, and new Civic and CR-V cabins with piano-black trim. Non-hybrid trims come standard with a 7.0-inch touchscreen with volume and tuning knobs, while hybrid models can be had with a 12.3-inch screen (also with a volume knob). Wireless smartphone mirroring is offered only with the bigger screen, but a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster is standard across the board. Rear legroom has been slightly increased, and the 17 cubic feet of cargo space has remained constant.
A full complement of driver-assistance features will come standard on every trim level, but many of the nicer features—such as leather upholstery—are reserved only for the hybrids. The Touring trim has the most features, including a head-up display, heated and cooled front seats, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and a variety of Google apps integrated into the infotainment system.
We’re expecting a slight price increase for the new Accord, but we won’t know the details until closer to the car’s on-sale date in early 2023. Expect the Sport hybrid to start around $33,000 and the LX to start around $28,000, with the loaded Touring pushing $40,000 as a starting price.
Source: https://www.caranddriver.com/
