Honda Accord

Overview

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. finally enters the executive sedan market with the new 10th generation Honda Accord. The car carries an array of upgraded tech attributes, new generation Honda Sensing, and a sporty exterior (designs inspired by the all-new Honda Civic). The midsize sedan boasts of a turbocharged power source and CVT developed by Earth Dreams which can pull up 190 PS and a torque of 243 Nm. The 1.5 EL Accord with all of Honda’s safety suite features comes at a price of Php 2,288,000 . The new Accord is available in shades of Platinum with Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, and Crystal Black Pearl.

Interior & Features

The interior of the Accord is dressed up in black leather upholstery and is furnished with many features. Included in the list is - a touchscreen 8-inch Advanced Display Audio System with Trip Computer (full-color TFT display), two USB ports, Bluetooth, iPhone & iPod Connectivity, 8 speakers including 4 Tweeters, Intelligent Dual Zone Automatic Air-conditioning System, auto-dimming rearview mirror, Silver and Piano Black, Dark brown wood Interior Trim Finish, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay Smartphone Mirroring, Navigation, Turbo Meter, Front Center and Rear Seat Armrest, wireless phone charging system and automatically updated climate control setting. The driver also gets a three-spoke steering wheel equipped with cruise control and media buttons alongside paddle shifters.

Exterior

The new Accord shows off  'Solid Wing Face' outline. At the front are present sharp LED headlights, daytime running lights (DRL), newly designed grille, LED multi-projector lamps, and a refurbished front bumper. The side profile benefits from side sill and door sash garnish, and chrome door handles.

The 2019 version features shark fin antenna, auto rain-sensing front wipers. The twin exhaust pipe, rear windshield defogger and LED C-shaped tail lights are present at the rear.

Ride & Handling

The Honda Accord promises a smooth and comfortable ride with the help of a MacPherson Strut suspension system at the front and a Multi-link suspension at the rear. It provides good handling with Electric Power Steering (EPS), Adaptive Cruise Control, and Straight Driving Assist.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

The Accord is powered by a 16-valve VTEC DOHC TURBO engine working on ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ with a displacement of 1.5 litres. The all-new accord now has the highest torque and power-producing capability compared to its earlier models, owing to its turbocharged engine.

The engine is highly fuel-efficient and generates less emission, thanks to its excellent valve control system that skillfully takes care of the timing and duration of valve lift and intake with exceptional precision. It can reach a maximum power of 190 PS at 5,500 rpm and a maximum torque of 260 Nm at 1,600 to 5,000 rpm and thus has a mean spec of 190 ps at a torque of 243 N-m. The engine is mated to a continuously variable transmission also developed by Earth Dreams.

Braking & Safety

The midsize Honda sedan comes with a bunch of safety features comprising of Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-Force Distribution system and Electronic Brake Booster, Multi-view Reverse Camera, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Dual SRS airbags and seatbelt (Automatic Tensioning System - 3 Pt.) Reminder for both driver and front seater, ELR x 3 - 3 pt. seat belts for rear passengers, Side Curtain Airbags, Child Seat Anchor (ISOFIX), Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE), Hill Start Assist (HSA), Speed Sensing Auto Door Lock and parking sensors (two at the front and four in the rear).

The Honda Sensing safety suite consists of radar technology aids, road departure mitigation (RDM), lane keep assist system (LKAS), low-speed follow (LSF), adaptive cruise control (ACC), forward collision warning (FCW), lane departure warning (LDW) and collision mitigation braking system (CMBS). When it comes to braking, the front tires are equipped with Ventilated Discs while the rear ones carry Solid ones. The car also has an Electric Parking Brake (EPB) and Auto Brake Hold (ABH).

Verdict

The Honda Accord offers a little less on engine capacity (1.5 litres) compared to its 2.4 litres and 3.5 litres V6 options in earlier models. It also has not developed much since its last update that took place two years ago. But its comfortable drive and advanced tech feature still make it a strong competitor in the midsize sedan market.