Honda introduces an all-new Accord for the 2018 model year. It embodies an athletic shape with simple and restrained styling features. The interior has been reimagined and features quality materials and fine details. The safety and infotainment technologies have been enhanced and simplified. This new generation also receives two new engines while even a six-speed manual is even offered for enthusiasts.
What's New for 2018
The 2018 Honda Accord is a complete redesign.
Choosing Your Honda Accord
The 2018 Accord's trim levels are familiar to anyone that's wandered into a Honda showroom in the past couple years, with a base LX, a stylish Sport, volume-focused EX and EX-L, and a range-topping and Touring. All trims see increased levels of standard features. A Hybrid model is also available, but is listed separately.
Honda Sensing is standard on every trim, bringing adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning with lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition to even the most affordable Accord. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is available on everything but the base Accord LX (it's optional on the Sport).
Honda is offering the 2018 Accord with two engines, both from the smaller Civic – an uprated version of that car's 1.5-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder rated at 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque and a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four borrowed from the Civic Type R that pumps out 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. You can get the former engine across the board and the latter engine only on the Sport, EX-L, and Touring for an additional $4,530 over the base price.
All 1.5-liter Accords work alongside a continuously variable transmission, except for the Accord Sport, which offers a no-cost six-speed manual. Move up to the 2.0-liter (which is also available with a six-speed stick on the Sport) and you'll be stuck with a 10-speed automatic.
The 1.5-liter with the CVT returns an EPA estimated 30 miles per gallon city, 38 highway, and 33 combined while the Sport and Touring trims, equipped with wider tires, return 29 city and 35 highway for 31 combined. The 2.0-liter Sport returns 22 city, 32 highway, and 26 combined regardless of transmission, while the Accord EX-L with the ten-speed nets 23 city, 34 highway, and 27 combined. Finally (and unsurprisingly), the 2.0-liter Touring is the least efficient model, hitting 22 city and 32 highway for 26 combined.
The 2018 Honda Accord is far better than it needs to be, which means there isn't really a bad buy here. The 2.0-liter sounds nice, but the 1.5-liter provides plenty of gusto while the EX trim is a fantastic value.