2018 Honda Accord Review

Name: 2018 Honda Accord Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 12995 USD

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

Turbo engines are both powerful and fuel-efficient
Interior is cavernous and fitted with upscale materials
Sporty handling makes it fun to drive
Many advanced driver safety aids come standard

Cons

Not as quiet as some other rival sedans
Low seating position slightly hampers entry and exit

What's new

The 2018 Honda Accord is fully redesigned
New turbocharged four-cylinder engines
Lower, wider and longer than the outgoing model
Redesigned interior with improved touchscreen system
Part of the 10th Accord generation introduced for 2018

Thanks to the increasing popularity of crossovers, midsize sedans are no longer the default vehicle of choice for small families. Automakers aren't giving up the fight, however, with a number of traditionally popular models significantly refreshed or fully redesigned this year. Headlining the list is the 2018 Honda Accord, and its improvements are dramatic.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Honda Accord LX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.01 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$112/mo

$158/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

It starts on the outside. The new Accord's fastback profile and pronounced styling lines make it look more luxurious and European than the norm. Inside, Honda has thoroughly reworked the interior, and it's now one of the nicest cabins in the class. On the top Touring trim, there's a pleasing mix of soft-touch plastic, leather upholstery, faux-leather door inserts, and convincing open-pore wood trim on the dash. Even on lower levels such as the Sport, the cabin is decked out with carbon-fiber-look trim and faux-leather-trimmed seats.

Front and center is a new touchscreen that is much easier to use than the old system. Unlike the last Accord — which featured a touchpad-only interface that was slow and often maddening to use — the new screen is thoughtfully laid out and uses physical buttons and knobs for tuning and high-level navigational functions. The touchscreen, which is standard on all but the base LX model, also supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Pleasingly, the Accord also offers plenty of advanced driving features. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and lane departure warning and mitigation are optional on other Hondas, but they are standard on every Accord. Top-notch crash test safety scores give you added peace of mind, too.

Overall, the redesigned 2018 Honda Accord significantly moves the needle forward in the midsize sedan segment. Its many strengths and lack of major drawbacks make it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a spacious, comfortable and upscale four-door.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Honda Accord as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize Sedans for 2018.

What's it like to live with?

When we first drove the 10th-generation Honda Accord, we knew it would be the bar by which all other midsize sedans were judged. We quickly added an Accord EX-L with the 1.5-liter engine to the Edmunds long-term test fleet and drove it for more than a year. To learn more about what the Accord is like to live with, read our long-term Accord test, where we covered everything from performance to long-distance seat comfort.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.3 / 10

The 2018 Honda Accord is everything a family sedan should be: roomy, comfortable, safe, powerful and fuel-efficient. Honda's done a fantastic job with this redesigned Accord, and it should be at the top of your list if you're considering a vehicle in this class.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2018 Honda Accord Touring (turbo 1.5L inline-4 | CVT automatic | FWD).

Scorecard

Overall	8.3 / 10
Driving	8.5
Comfort	8.0
Interior	8.0
Utility	9.0
Technology	8.0

Driving

8.5

The Accord has a lot of strengths on the road. The drivetrain responds quickly and provides sufficient power. The car corners well, sticking to the road with no drama, and the brakes feel natural and strong. Only the steering falls short: While it's accurate and easy, it also feels artificial.

Acceleration

8.0

What sets the 2018 Accord apart isn't the raw numbers, it's the rapid response to driver input. Our as-tested 0-60 mph time of 8 seconds is average for a base engine in this segment. Around town, though, the engine feels similarly adequate. Power delivery is smooth.

Braking

8.0

The Accord's brake pedal is firm, and it's easy to judge and get consistent stopping; the brakes never feel grabby. Our panic-stop braking distance from 60 mph of 122 feet is average, but the Accord's brakes instill confidence thanks to good feel and arrow-straight stops.

Steering

7.0

The steering is accurate, but the feel in your hands is a bit artificial. There's a lack of feedback from the front wheels, and resistance doesn't noticeably build through turns — it's pretty much just on or off. There's also a little vagueness where true on-center is.

Handling

9.0

Our test car was the Touring, which has the multilink adaptive suspension. So fitted, it was impressively stable, planted and confidence-inspiring around turns. The car changes direction eagerly. Less expensive Accords won't be quite as good, but this is still one of the best-handling sedans around.

Drivability

9.0

Honda's smartly tuned CVT automatic helps make the Accord a good companion on the road. It will try to "upshift" as much as possible to improve mpg, but it responds quickly and smoothly to requests for power when you need it. The Accord also feels more maneuverable than its size suggests.

Comfort

8.0

The new Accord is quiet and comfortable in most situations. It insulates against traffic noise particularly well, though tire noise is noticeable on the highway. The ride smooths out small imperfections and absorbs larger bumps. Front-seat comfort is adequate.

Seat comfort

7.5

Overall seat comfort is good, with well-placed headrests and nice back support, especially with the adjustable lumbar. But the leather-wrapped seat cushions don't have a lot of padding, so finding the right adjustment is important to staying comfortable on longer drives.

Ride comfort

8.5

The Accord Touring comes with an adaptive suspension that provides an excellent ride for this class. The car feels solid and easily irons out smaller imperfections and absorbs larger hits. You don't feel sharp edges in this car.

Noise & vibration

7.5

Around town, the Accord is impressively quiet, isolating you from traffic and feeling almost like a luxury car. Once you get up to freeway speeds, there's some wind noise, but tire noise is much more noticeable. It's not enough to intrude on conversation, but it's not as quiet as some rivals.

Climate control

8.0

All climate settings can be adjusted with straightforward and clearly labeled manual controls, and the system regulates cabin temperature easily. The temperature knob lights change colors as you adjust up or down, which is a fun touch. Seat cooling in the Touring trim is only moderately effective.

Interior

8.0

Some small points aside, the interior of the Accord offers modern design, quality soft-touch materials, lots of room, and a user-friendly infotainment system and control layout. Taller drivers will want to test the seating position, though, as their knees may rub on a piece of hard plastic trim.

Ease of use

7.5

This infotainment system is clean, crisp and user-friendly, and basic functions are easy to navigate thanks to physical buttons. Most controls are easy to find and recognize. But the media and information-display controls on the wheel aren't intuitively laid out and take getting used to.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

The doorsills are high and wide, creating a noticeable stepover, but access is otherwise easy. The rear doors open wide, and access is good even in tight spaces. The low seats mean you have farther to stand up than in competitors, and taller passengers will have to duck exiting the back seat.

Driving position

7.0

You can sit low, ensconced in the car, making it feel sportier and more luxurious. There's plenty of adjustability for those who want to sit closer, higher or more upright. Taller drivers will wish for more steering-wheel telescope and may find their right knee bumps against some hard plastic trim.

Roominess

8.5

The interior feels large, which makes sense because, by EPA interior volume measurements, this is a full-size car. The driver's kneeroom may feel cramped to long-legged drivers, but otherwise the cabin feels airy and open. Rear legroom is excellent, though taller passengers will run out of headroom.

Visibility

9.0

Forward visibility is excellent, and well-placed rear windows mean there's a good rear three-quarter view. No problems looking out the large rear window on the road, though the high decklid means you'll rely on the camera when reversing in tight spaces. We found no serious blind spots.

Quality

8.0

The Accord's interior design is modern and upscale. The touchpoints are covered in soft-touch materials and the fit tolerances are tight. Only a few of the textured surfaces reveal themselves to be somewhat tacky-feeling, hard plastics. We had some glitches in our TPMS and the infotainment system.

Utility

9.0

With excellent trunk volume, plenty of spots for small items in the cabin, and generally more space than you'll know what to do with, the Accord offers about as much utility as is possible for a sedan.

Small-item storage

8.5

The center console armrest bin is generously sized, and the front charging ports and wireless charging pad (if equipped) are in a cubby with room for more than one phone. The door pockets have space for water bottles, and the anti-tip cupholders are large. Only the glovebox is a little shallow.

Cargo space

9.5

The Accord's trunk is absolutely huge, with a capacity of 16.7 cubic feet. The opening is wide, if a little narrow, but it's easy to maneuver objects in and out. The 60/40-split folding rear seats open up even more room for long objects.

Child safety seat accommodation

9.0

LATCH anchors are located under clearly marked flaps and are close to the surface with no seating material impinging on access. Considering how large the rear seat is, even bulky car seats shouldn't pose a problem. The new, lower roofline might require more bending over to situate seats and kids.

Technology

8.0

Honda's new infotainment system is a huge step up from the last generation, and it's integrated nicely with the gauge cluster screen and head-up display. A lot of active safety and driver aids come standard, and they work well. Voice commands fall short, and we generally relied on manual controls.

Audio & navigation

8.0

The premium audio system in our tester can produce a lot of volume without distortion, but sound quality is unexceptional for an upgraded system. The navigation system has a robust feature set that's easy to operate, the graphics are clean, and instructions easy to follow.

Smartphone integration

9.0

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work well and are integrated with the infotainment system, so smartphone navigation appears in the head-up display and music appears in the media screen. The near-field Bluetooth pairing is neat, but setting up a connection is easy enough that it's mostly a novelty.

Driver aids

8.0

Only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert aren't standard on lower trims; otherwise you get a lot of aids. Adaptive cruise mostly works well, but it sometimes picks up neighboring lanes in curves. Forward collision alert doesn't deliver false alerts but is very sensitive.

Voice control

6.5

Voice commands are a mixed bag. While the system's not prone to misunderstanding, specific phrasing is required and it often takes many steps. Luckily there are on-screen prompts. You can't switch to Bluetooth audio streaming with a command, but there are extensive USB music and navigation commands.

2018 Honda Accord models

The 2018 Honda Accord is sold in five trim levels. The LX is the most affordable model and is loaded with features, including dual-zone climate control and advanced safety features. The Sport doesn't cost much more and comes with some visual upgrades and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay compatibility. The EX gives up some of the Sport's flair but counts a sunroof and heated front seats among its upgrades. The EX-L primarily adds leather upholstery, while the top-trim Touring boasts every feature available on the Accord, including adaptive dampers for an even cushier ride.

A direct-injected, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine (192 horsepower, 192 pound-feet of torque) is standard on all trim levels. It comes connected to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that helps achieve fuel economy of up to 33 mpg combined with front-wheel drive (optional all-wheel drive is curiously absent). If you're looking for a little more excitement, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder (252 hp, 273 lb-ft) is available on Sport, EX-L and Touring models. A 10-speed traditional automatic is paired to this engine. A six-speed manual transmission is a no-cost option on the Sport model regardless of engine.

Accord LX

Standard features on the base LX model include 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting (headlights, taillights and running lights), automatic high-beam control, a rearview camera, push-button ignition, a driver information display, dual-zone automatic climate control, a height-adjustable driver seat, Bluetooth, a 7-inch touchscreen, and a four-speaker audio system with a USB port. Standard driver aids include lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Accord Sport

Upgrading to the Sport adds 19-inch wheels, LED foglights, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tips, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat (with four-way power lumbar), a 60/40-split rear bench, cloth and simulated leather upholstery, an 8-inch touchscreen, and an eight-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Accord EX

The EX builds off the LX model, adding the Sport's interior upgrades (minus the Sport's unique upholstery and shift paddles), 17-inch wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, rear air vents, an additional USB port, and satellite and HD radio.

Accord EX-L

The EX-L further adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver-seat memory settings, a four-way power passenger seat, leather upholstery and a 10-speaker audio system. A navigation system is optional.

Accord Touring

At the top of the ladder is the Touring trim, which equips the Accord with 19-inch wheels, adaptive suspension dampers, chrome exterior trim, illuminated door handles, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, adjustable driving modes, a head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, the navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot and a wireless phone charger.

Models with the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine are essentially the same as their 1.5-liter counterparts, but the Sport 2.0T is equipped with keyless entry, heated front seats and blind-spot monitoring.

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4.5/5Excellent

#5 out of 28 among Midsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Honda Accord from 2008-2022.}

$377/yr

vs. $415/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.75x/yr

vs. 0.87x/yr
for Average Midsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

8.3%

vs. 10.2%
for Average Midsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Honda Accord.

5 (56%)

4 (19%)

3 (11%)

2 (6%)

1 (8%)

4.1

340 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

The Best Honda Just Keeps Getting Better

aglobetrotter, 11/04/2017

2018 Honda Accord EX 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

Update: after owning the car for two years, I still think it’s a great car. I’ve had no problems or mechanical issues of any kind. Just what I expected when I bought it so I am pleased. #### I traded my very good 2014 Honda Accord EX-L for this 2018 Accord EX. So far I am extremely pleased. This car is better in almost every way. The look of the car is more sophisticated and luxurious. … The technology is on par with almost any car on the market today especially at this price point. The layout of the dash is crisp and clean. Everything is very intuitive. You don't have to hunt for a dial or a switch. It is right where you expect it to be. The fake wood veneer is tasteful. The 8 in touch screen makes the tiny screen in my 2016 BMW look old and dated. I think the addition of knobs plus a touch screen is a winning combination. Road noise is down a bit...not Lexus quiet but a little better than before. The stock stereo is fine for most folks. There seems to be a bit more room in the newer Accord but I haven't looked at the numbers. The trunk is large and spacious. Seats are pretty comfortable. This is always a matter of taste. My wife thinks my old Accord's seats were better. The 2014 had leather. This time I opted for cloth with heated seats. I am crossing my fingers and using Scotchguard. I saved 2K by not going with leather but I don't know if I will miss it. Important to note is that you can get heated with cloth in the Accord for 2018. This was really an attraction for me. I also opted for the heated steering wheel and the USB plug for the back. The ideas was to get most of the benefits without the cost. We shall see. The ride is comfortable but not plush. If you have had Accords before you will know what I mean. A few small things to note. I love the new 'Honda Sensing' , the blind spot warnings in the mirror are good. I also like the adaptive cruise control and the lane keeping assist. I have used it on the highway and it does seem to keep me in the lane a bit easier. It is not autonomous driving but an aid. I didn't opt for Nav The car has Apple Car Play. I don't think you can bring up Google maps on screen so you are stuck with Apple maps which I think are inferior...but I am not 100% certain.. the tech guy said.. Apple Car Play.. Apple maps..haha. This is odd... but someone else will care. You get Michelin tires on the EX but I don't think they come standard on the EX-L. Michelins are important to me so this was another incentive. I think the wheels are stock 17's. I am not in love with this design but didn't want to pay for better or bigger wheels. The professional reviewers say the 17's ride better but I only rode in the EX. before I bought the car. I had already made up my mind that it would be one car EX or the EX-L. I was satisfied with the EX after I drove it and then it just came down to color. There are a few nit picks. The CVT is just ok. Don't expect a miracle. Acceleration is adequate and only just so. My 320 xi BMW drives better as far as road feel but I really do like this car as well. Food for thought, you may not want to pull the trigger til after the 2.0 I think it is... 10 speed automatic comes out. All of life is about choices. I didn't want to pay more for what I perceived would be limited value for my money, nor did I want to wait. Others may disagree. I did like the wheels on the Touring by the way so of course there is that. All in all I am very pleased, I opted for no extended warranties nor maintenance plans. that is why I buy Honda's. I think Honda knew who its buyers were and built a great car for them. I think you will be hard pressed to find a better mid priced sedan. UPDATE: Still think the car is a great car. Mixed emotions on the lack of leather... I am always worried about spills.. I treat the cloth every few months. Just today I had a spill. I think it will clean up but we will see tomorrow. One thing I will note, you do sit down lower in the car than I might like. I also think I would like a bit more power. All in all a solid performer. Just note a few quibbles.

Silver bullet Accord Sport 2.0T

Ted Wright, 12/01/2018

2018 Honda Accord Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6M)

The six speed manual transmission is very smooth comfortable shifting. The 2.0T motor has great acceleration and incredible torque. I live on a mountain and my favorite part of driving home is when I hit the hills, this car loves to climb! The infotainment touch screen is very easy to use and the sound system is outstanding. My only complaint about this car is that the emergency brake … must be applied in order to start the car, not a big deal, and I got used to it, but seems like it would be a major pain in the neck if I happened to stall in traffic.....it hasn't happened, but I don't like the thought of it. Overall a great car. Well now to update, it is about a year since I bought the six speed manual Accord, and about 6 months since I traded it in for a 10 speed automatic. I injured my shoulder which required surgery, so the dealer gave me a pretty good deal on the automatic. I must say that overall, I don't miss the manual transmission. As much as I liked the manual, the 10 speed shifts super smooth and is incredibly quick, particularly in the "sport" mode. Fuel economy is better as well, averaging about 32 mpg combined. There is a considerable lag with the push button transmission when shifting into gear from park and shifting from drive to reverse. Once in gear it performs very well but the lag shifting into gear is annoying. Otherwise, great cruiser, plenty of room inside front and back, love the Android auto and Apple CarPlay, decent fuel economy, and fast! My biggest complaint now is the low front end, I have to be real careful of parking front curbs, which are hard to judge...haven't hit one yet. So I have owned the car over a year now and have a couple issues, Honda seems to think it’s a great idea to be able to remotely open all the windows and roof on a hot day, only problem is that it is possible to do this accidentally. I keep my keys in my pocket and have had 2 occasions when everything opened up. It happened once with my car parked outside and 10 inches of snow dumped inside when the roof opened! Apparently 2 remote buttons have to be pressed and held at the same time...but it happened. Honda has no way to disable this feature. My other issue is the climate control, blows cold air through the upper vents when heat is demanded. Dealer said this is normal, just trying to satisfy the temperature, but it doesn’t seem right to have cool air blowing through top vents and warm at bottom on a cold day.

Having Trouble

Dave M., 04/03/2018

2018 Honda Accord Touring 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

As I look over other reviews I am seeing a pattern. This is my first Honda product and I have to say I am not impressed. I thought for the price the technology packed in my Accord 1.5 Touring CVT was a value. I was mistaken. I have owned it for 5 months and it has been in the shop 5 times for a variety of issues starting with rattles to more serious issues. The latest is a message …

Luxury car on a budget

Legal Eagle, 11/22/2017

2018 Honda Accord Touring 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl Turbo CVT)

I bought a 2018 Honda Accord Touring model only four days ago. I was planning on purchasing a Toyota Camry XSE; however, I could not find any moon roofs in the 4-cylinder model. Then, I decided to test drive the Accord with Touring trim. I bought my Accord only two days later! The Touring trim comes standard with a moon roof and leather, my two wants. The Accord blows away the Camry: …

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2018 Honda Accord videos

2018 Honda Accord vs. 2018 Toyota Camry Comparison

Midsize family sedans have been steadily losing ground to crossover SUVs for the last couple of years. That trend may slow with the latest redesigns of the most popular sedans: the 2018 Honda Accord and the 2018 Toyota Camry. There's a lot to like about both of these cars, but which…

2018 Accord Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$23,570
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	33 MPG
Cost to Drive	$112/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Accord models:

Collision Mitigation Braking System: Scans the road ahead and alerts the driver if a front collision is deemed imminent. Automatically applies the brakes to lessen the impact.
Blind-Spot Information System: Warns the driver if there's a vehicle in a blind spot, first with a light on the mirrors. It then beeps if the turn signal is activated.
Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a user-selected distance between the Accord and the car in front. Automatically speeds up and brakes as needed.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.3%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Marginal
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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