Is The 2018 Honda Accord A Good Car? What To Know
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The Honda Accord has the distinction as one of the most beloved cars around, boasting yearly sales that surpass those of many entire car manufacturers (and we’re not talking about the small players). This success story is Honda’s golden goose, making it possible for them to produce exciting models like the Civic Type R at a lower price than other high-performance hatchbacks.
Despite the SUVs and crossovers gobbling up the majority of the car-buying market share, the Accord continues to be a key factor in how people view the Honda brand, thanks to its stylish design and reliable performance. It’s simply a car with a near-universal appeal.
If you want to get into the Accord bandwagon, the 2018 model year is worth checking out. But is the 2018 Honda Accord a good car? Let’s take a look.
Engine, Performance, and Fuel Economy
The 2018 Accord comes with two engine options: The base engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine available, generating 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. While the base engine should be plenty powerful for most people’s needs, the more powerful 2.0-liter engine is the highlight.
This engine, especially when paired with the optional 10-speed automatic transmission, allows the Accord to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just under 5.9 seconds, according to testing by Car and Driver. While many Honda fans have cried foul when the company decided to scrap the V6 engine with this Accord, those fears are rather unwarranted.
Moreover, The 2018 Honda Accord’s 2.0-liter engine pairs with a six-speed manual gearbox inspired by the Civic Type R. This transmission is celebrated for its smooth operation, precise gear shifts, and short throw distances, making it a joy to use. It’s built to be durable and can make the most jaded enthusiasts jaded in excitement.
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The 2018 Honda Accord showcases impressive lateral agility, making it highly enjoyable to drive around corners. Its light and responsive nature allows for a spirited driving experience, even allowing for some tire chirping during gear changes. While it may not be as sharp as luxury sport sedans, the Accord offers stability in turns, outperforming many other front-wheel-drive sedans in its category.
For fuel economy, The 1.5-liter engine with CVT achieves an EPA-estimated 30 city/38 highway mpg. Sport and Touring trims see a slight decrease to 29⁄35 mpg. With a manual transmission, the ratings are 26⁄35 mpg. Meanwhile, fuel economy figures for the 2.0-liter engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission are EPA-estimated at 23 city/34 highway mpg.
Interior and Tech Features
The Honda Accord has always been notable for its spacious and comfortable interiors, and the 2018 model year is no exception. That said, the Honda Accord’s interior is a nice place to get stuck in traffic. Sport models boast seats that offer softness and durability, complemented by leather-like accents for a touch of luxury. However, there are a few sections with hard plastics, but they’re not a dealbreaker.
Regarding interior space, the 2018 Accord impresses with its 40.4 inches of rear legroom – the best-in-class rear legroom space. The Accord’s rear legroom trumps many of its main competitors, such as the 2018 Toyota Camry (38.0 inches), 2018 Nissan Altima (36.1 inches), 2018 Hyundai Sonata (34.8 inches), and 2018 Ford Fusion (38.3 inches). The 2018 Accord provides 16.7 cu-ft of trunk space for hauling your gear and groceries.
Techheads will be happy to know that the Accord’s entertainment system was overhauled for the 2018 model. The previous HondaLink system, criticized for its exclusivity to touchscreen inputs, unresponsiveness, and unintuitive interface, was replaced with a more user-friendly setup. The new system features an 8.0-inch Display Audio touchscreen (with a standard 7.0-inch system on lower trims) that combines physical buttons for essential functions—such as home navigation, song selection, and volume adjustment—with touchscreen capabilities.
Sadly, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support is only available starting from the Sport trim and above—however, even the base LX trim benefits from an improved interface that is functional and user-friendly.
7 GREAT HONDA ACCORD COMPETITORS
Since a car is no small investment, it’s a good idea to consider all your options before making a purchase. You might wonder - what are the best Honda Accord competitors?
Safety Features and Ratings
Is the 2018 Honda Accord a good car? For many, it depends on its ability to keep the driver and passengers safe.
The biggest deal is that the Honda Sensing Suite is now standard across all trims – making the 2018 Accord a must-have for those prioritizing car safety. With the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, you have access to standard safety features including:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System
- Lane Keeping Assist System
- Lane Departure Warning
- Road Departure Mitigation
- Traffic Sign Recognition
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
Several optional advanced safety features are mainly offered within the Honda Sensing suite. However, additional amenities like parking sensors are reserved for higher trims like the Touring model.
For safety ratings, the 2018 Accord earned a “Good” rating in several categories from the IIHS, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. The organization awarded it the 2018 Top Safety Pick. On the other hand, the 2018 Accord received high marks from the NHTSA with a 5-star rating.
8 CARS LIKE HONDA ACCORDS
There are still plenty of solid options available to you if you don’t want a Honda Accord. We’ll go over some cars like Honda Accords and discuss how they compare.
Long-Term Reliability and Lifespan
When it comes to Honda vehicles, reliability and longer lifespan will always be major selling points – that goes for the 2018 Accord, too. According to RepairPal, the Honda Accord is the most reliable midsize car you can get, which is saying a lot considering the competition.
As for its lifespan, the 2018 Honda Accord should have no trouble clearing the 200k-mile milestone, provided it’s properly maintained. For a more detailed look at the Accord’s potential lifespan, please read our Accord lifespan guide.
Final Verdict: Is The 2018 Honda Accord A Good Car?
Like many of its other model years, the 2018 Accord checks all the right boxes for a well-rounded midsize car. It’s practical, enjoyable to drive, and highly reliable transportation. It’s hard to find anything wrong with it. Is the 2018 Honda Accord a good car? Yes, especially if you can get it for a good deal.
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