Vehicle Tested
2013 Honda Accord EX Sedan (2.4L 4-cyl. CVT Automatic)
Driven On
8/28/2012
Ratings Summary
Honda's 2013 Accord is more than the sum of its parts -- smooth and comfortable yet never out of its element. Honda has once again hit its stride with a midsize sedan that does everything well and feels like something we'd be happy to drive every day for years.
A
Performance
Accord EX is among the best performing four-cylinder midsize sedans in dynamic tests. Fuel economy is on par for the segment.
| Acceleration |
B
|
CVT still feels weak off the line, but its 0-60 and quarter-mile performance is at the top of the segment (among 4-cyl models). |
| Braking |
C
|
Customarily weak Honda brakes. No significant distance fade in our test, but an uninspiring pedal. |
| Steering |
B
|
Nothing special, but electric power steering offers adequate feel and feedback. |
| Handling |
A
|
Substantially better than old Accord despite the loss of double wishbone suspension up front. |
| Driveability |
A
|
Superb here. Mindlessly easy to drive. Not fun, but not offensive, either. A terrific midsize sedan. |
B
Comfort
As comfortable as it needs to be -- comparable to Camry SE, which offers real damping. Never sloppy or soft in its suspension movements or creature comforts.
| Seating Comfort |
B
|
Vastly improved over 2012 Accord, which had awkward lower back support. |
| Ride Comfort |
B
|
Comfortable, but the Accord does not live on the plush end of the scale. |
| Quietness |
B
|
Average for the segment despite active noise cancellation. |
B
Interior
A step above the old Accord and on par with the best in the segment when it comes to usability and functionality.
| Ergonomics |
B
|
Fewer buttons than before is nice. Also, they're logical and well placed. |
| Ingress/Egress |
B
|
Ingress and egress are never a problem in Accord. |
| Space/Room |
A
|
Smaller outside but the same size inside -- an impressive engineering feat. |
| Visibility |
B
|
Above average for the class. A low waistline aids visibility from the rear seat. |
| Cargo/Storage |
B
|
An additional .8 cubes in the trunk is awesome considering this Accord's shorter overall length. |
A
Value
More features, better handling and efficiency than before with only a mild price increase. Solid overall value.
| Build Quality (vs. $) |
A
|
Better than many competitors. Looks and feels like a Honda again. |
| Features(vs. $) |
B
|
Good safety features including LaneWatch. HondaLink, too, helps bring the Accord up to current feature-tech standards. |
| Cost |
A
|
A solid value. See above. |
| MPG |
B
|
This is a very close race among midsize sedans. Accord is better than before, but so is everyone else. |
| Warranty |
B
|
Nothing spectacular here. Middle of the road. 3-year/36,000-mile basic, 5-year/60,000-mile drivetrain. |
B
Fun To Drive
Better-than-average dynamics help the Accord be more fun than many competitors, but it's still a family car and not a sports car.
| Driving Experience |
B
|
CVT is rarely fun, but it gets the job done. The six-speed manual (base transmission) and the Sport package (optional) raise the bar for fun to drive. |
| Personality |
A
|
More Honda personality than many Honda products in recent years. Solidly built with good materials, good visibility and a powertrain that's adequately powerful, miserly and utterly smooth. |
