Darwin’s concept of evolution doesn’t simply apply to the pure world. You can too use its fundamental precept of ‘solely the hardest survive’ towards the speedy modifications throughout the automotive panorama too.
An ideal case examine is the newest, Eleventh-generation Honda Accord and the way it has weathered the erosion of the normal mid-size sedan phase towards the rising tide of SUVs, which have taken over because the default alternative for contemporary household automobiles.
The Accord has been a mainstay of Honda’s native lineup for almost 50 years, starting its life as a smaller, reasonably priced, and extra environment friendly various to the likes of the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon.
However as we speak, the Accord is taking part in a distinct function for Honda. It’s now the Japanese model’s flagship – and most costly – mannequin that challenges the bottom flooring of the luxurious market together with established European gamers corresponding to BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and extra.
So, how has Honda Accord advanced and is it robust sufficient to outlive? Let’s discover out…
How a lot does the Honda Accord price?
Honda Australia solely provides a single specification of the newest Accord – the totally loaded e:HEV RS you see right here, which prices $64,900 drive-away.
| Mannequin | Worth |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord e:HEV RS | $64,900 drive-away |
That’s a good chunk of change and positions it above the small group of standard mid-size sedans that also stay out there from mainstream manufacturers, such because the Hyundai Sonata N Line ($55,500), Mazda 6 Atenza ($52,590), Skoda Octavia RS ($59,990) and its most direct rival, the Toyota Camry SL ($53,990).
It does, nevertheless, put it in a white house between entry-level luxurious sedans like the brand new Audi A5 (from $79,900), BMW 3 Collection (from $92,900), Genesis G70 (from $87,114) and Mercedes-Benz C-Class (from $89,900).
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s the Honda Accord like on the within?
There’s quite a bit to love about Honda Accord’s cabin, because it nails the basics and feels genuinely luxurious with none pomp or pretence.
It’s not overly flashy or fashionable, with a monotonous darkish gray color palette solely damaged up by the contrasting crimson stitching, aluminium-look highlights and refined LED ambient lighting strips all through the cabin. However it does really feel exceptionally effectively constructed, with good high quality supplies and tactile surfaces and switchgear.
The one unconventional parts are the honeycomb grille that runs throughout the center of the dashboard with protruding joysticks to vary the route of air flow from the air vents, and the spherical digital multi-function display screen within the centre of the sprint.
In any other case, it’s pretty conservative with a big centre console that encompasses a decent-size tray with a wi-fi cellphone charger on the entrance, two massive cupholders subsequent to the ‘regular’ gearlever and drive mode selector change within the centre, and a big lined bin between the seats.
There are, in fact, twin digital screens together with a ten.2-inch instrument cluster forward of the driving force and a 12.3-inch central touchscreen unit for the infotainment, each of that are crisp and shiny – though susceptible to glare in harsh daylight.
The infotainment system is simple to make use of with a logical menu construction and huge widgets for every of its capabilities, in addition to a bunch of handy shortcut buttons on the right-hand aspect for fast entry to the house display screen, the embedded Google Assistant, smartphone mirroring and radio.
Its split-screen format additionally supplies a transparent show to the left of the temperature and fan settings, quantity controls and present audio enter. However there are additionally straightforward up/down toggles on both aspect of the rotary controller under to bodily alter the temperature for both sides of the cabin, which is sweet.
Throughout our check interval, we discovered the wi-fi smartphone mirroring to be fast to activate every time we began the automotive, but it surely did drop out sometimes whereas on the transfer.
A standard drawback was if the system learn out an incoming textual content message, the audio would disappear from no matter observe was taking part in when the textual content was accomplished. To get well it, we needed to change off CarPlay within the cellphone settings and re-activate it every time, which was annoying.
When it was taking part in, the 12-speaker Bose system was crystal clear with wonderful staging by way of the encompass sound and nice depth.
As for the remainder of the package deal, the entrance seats are tremendous snug and there’s loads of adjustment to search out the appropriate relationship between the steering wheel and pedals to go well with every kind, with nice all-round imaginative and prescient. Even with the glass sunroof, the Accord has greater than sufficient headroom within the entrance for tall drivers.
For these within the again, there’s acres of house with loads of legroom – greater than most mid-size SUVs – and a commanding view forward. Plus, there are twin rear air vents, two USB-C energy shops, cupholders within the flip-down armrest, bottle holders within the door pockets and built-in sunshade blinds for the home windows. It’d positively a snug place for a protracted street journey.
Whereas there’s room sufficient for 3 throughout the bench, the center seat is increased and there’s a tunnel by way of the centre on the ground, together with the extruding rear of the centre console, making it higher fitted to smaller children or occasional use. However the boot is big, with 570 litres of cargo house, cargo hooks on both sides and a large aperture for simple loading.
| Dimensions | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Size | 4975mm |
| Width | 1862mm |
| Top | 1449mm |
| Wheelbase | 2830mm |
| Cargo capability | 570L |
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What’s underneath the bonnet?
With just one variant to select from, the Accord e:HEV RS is powered by a lean-burning Atkinson-cycle 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that’s assisted by Honda’s newest superior hybrid system.
| Specs | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl hybrid |
| System outputs | 135kW / 335Nm |
| Battery | 1.06kWh lithium-Ion |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Drive sort | FWD |
| Weight | 1609kg |
| Gas economic system (claimed) | 4.3L/100km |
| Gas economic system (as examined) | 4.5L/100km |
| Gas tank capability | 48L |
| Gas requirement | 91-octane common unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 98g/km |
| Emissions commonplace | Euro 6b |
This distinctive configuration sandwiches two electrical motors into the Repeatedly Variable Transmission (CVT) with a small generator unit that’s used primarily to recharge the 1.06kWh battery pack behind the seats, which in flip supplies energy to the bigger traction motor at the back of the gearbox.
The web result’s first rate – however hardly earth-shattering – outputs of 135kW and 335Nm.
Nevertheless, contemplating the superior hybrid system can decouple the petrol engine whereas at cruising speeds, this Honda is all about effectivity. And, in that regard, its claimed common of 4.3L/100km is well matched in the true world.
It may not beat the Camry’s decrease claimed common of 4.0L/100km, however it’s nonetheless remarkably environment friendly for such a big sedan. Plus, the engine is tuned to run on essentially the most reasonably priced 91RON commonplace unleaded, which counteracts its rival’s potential benefit over an extended interval of possession.
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How does the Honda Accord drive?
Right here’s the place the Accord can justify its pricetag. Put merely, it is a very, very good automotive to drive.
There’s no fancy suspension or myriad of settings to fiddle with.
As a substitute, it simply rides superbly by ironing out any street imperfections, with crisp and exact steering and a sure-footed stability between consolation and confidence-inspiring dealing with.
Certain, it’s not as quick or as thrilling as its RS (presumably an acronmyn for Race Sport) badge suggests, however this can be very effectively sorted and simply as refined as any European various. It’s clearly constructed by people who know what they’re doing.
The identical goes for the hybrid powertrain. As you’d anticipate, the electrical motors do a lot of the heavy lifting at low speeds and when transferring away from a standstill, which makes it really feel easy and easy to drive round city in heavy visitors.
And it’s barely perceptible when the engine kicks into life, with a seamless transition between EV and hybrid modes.
Right here, with all three motors offering most torque underneath heavy acceleration, the Accord feels extra highly effective than its numbers counsel, with virtually no indication through tugging by way of the steering wheel that it’s front-wheel drive.
What’s much more telling – particularly in comparison with automobiles from newer manufacturers – is the excellent calibration of Honda’s superior security methods, which by no means really feel overzealous or hyperactive.
They work, for positive, however extra like they’re guiding the driving force fairly than taking up the controls haphazardly.
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
With just one Accord grade, and a excessive sticker value, you’d anticipate to get the works, which you do… largely.
2025 Honda Accord e:HEV RS tools highlights:
- 18-inch black-finish alloy wheels in Michelin e-Primacy tyres
- Tyre restore equipment
- Tyre strain monitoring
- Adaptive LED headlights
- Lively cornering lights
- Rain-sensing wipers with built-in washer nozzle
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- Keyless entry and begin
- Distant begin
- Alloy paddle shifters
- Economic system, Regular, Sport and Particular person drive modes
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up show
- 12.3-inch Google built-in touchscreen infotainment system
- Embedded Google apps together with Maps, Assistant
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- 4 x USB-C shops
- 12-speaker Bose sound system
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Lively Noise Management
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Tilt and telescopic steering column adjustment
- Ambient lighting
- 8-way power-adjustable entrance seats
- Fold-down rear centre armrest with cupholders
- Leather-based-appointed upholstery
- Leather-based-appointed sprint, centre console and doorways
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Leather-based-wrapped shifter
Honda additionally provides a five-year Honda Join related providers subscription, which incorporates:
- Distant adjustment for local weather management, locks, lights and horn
- Computerized collision detection
- Emergency name button
- Geofencing and pace alerts
- Automobile diagnostics
The one little luxurious that’s notably absent from that record, particularly for the cash, is heated and/or ventilated seats.
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
Is the Honda Accord protected?
The most recent era Accord hasn’t been given an unbiased security rating from ANCAP, but it surely does come outfitted with an in depth array of superior driver help capabilities.
Normal security tools contains:
- 8 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Motorcyclist detection
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Entrance and rear parking sensors
On high of that, the Accord is fitted with Honda Join, the corporate’s on-board telematics service with a free subscription for the primary 5 years.
This enables homeowners, by way of a smartphone app, to remotely entry options corresponding to lock/unlock the car, and activate the local weather management, lights and horn. Homeowners can even select to make use of their cellphone as a digital key, seek for its precise location, and set pace restrict alerts and geofenced location alerts.
Within the occasion of the automotive being concerned in a collision, the system will robotically detect an affect and speak to the Honda name centre which may talk with the driving force or help emergency providers.
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the Honda Accord price to run?
Like all Honda automobiles, the Honda Accord e:HEV RS is roofed by a normal five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee with free roadside help over the identical interval.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 50,000km |
| Complete capped-price service price | $995 |
This, nevertheless, might be prolonged by an extra three years if the car is maintained in keeping with its prescribed upkeep schedule inside the Honda vendor community, and if it meets sure standards.
Honda requires the Accord to be serviced each 12 months or 10,000km and subsidises the primary 5 visits at simply $199 every, which is likely one of the most reasonably priced capped-price service schemes out there.
To see how the Honda Accord strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda Accord
The standard three-box sedan is perhaps a dying breed, however the Accord is a superb alternative for many who nonetheless desire a ‘correct’ automotive.
Discover out extra
Discover out extra in regards to the automotive
It’s spacious, snug, quiet and ultra-efficient, and what it lacks in wow issue or model cache it actually makes up for with a stage of refinement and construct high quality that matches even one of the best European manufacturers.
Curious about shopping for a Honda Accord? Let CarExpert discover you one of the best deal right here
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