What's New for the 2018 Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord has always been held up as one of the standards against which other midsize sedans would be measured, so Honda's 10-th generation redesign due out this year certainly had big shoes to fill. As a vehicle that could appeal to large families, efficiency aficionados and performance enthusiasts alike, the Honda Accord has been the car that tried to be everything for everyone, and it has consistently succeeded. The 2018 Honda Accord is no different, shaking up everything from the interior and exterior look to the engine selection and infotainment technology. The 2018 model is sleeker and more graceful than the predecessor, while bringing the same excellent comfort, utility and performance that the Accord has always been known for.

The most obvious change in the 2018 Honda Accord is the car's look. Honda's designs have been getting more angular and aggressive, and the Accord's appearance shows just that, with narrow headlights with a row of insect-like LEDs replacing the traditional projector lamps. From the side, the 2018 Accord has a sloping fastback style, with a trunk smoothly integrated into the overall curve of the car.

In addition to looking great, this also increases rear passenger space and slightly reduces air drag on the car. While there is no coupe model this year, the Accord Coupe has left its touches on the new design: the wheelbase is longer, though the overall car is slightly shorter than last year, and the seating position is about an inch lower than last year. Nonetheless, the updated design has added about 2 inches extra legroom for the rear passengers and 2.5 cubic feet more total passenger volume, as well as another cubic feet in the trunk. This makes the 2018 Accord even more comfortable and versatile than last year's already-impressive model.

In terms of performance, fans of the old Accord may initially be disappointed by the lack of a V6 engine on the specs list. However, it is replaced by a powerful and efficient 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that still spits out a fearsome 252 horsepower. The base engine is also replaced with a turbo - a 1.5-liter one - with 192 horsepower. The third engine choice is a Hybrid model, which is now also made in America and has a compact battery that allows for a full-size trunk. The dashboard and instrument cluster have also been modernized, with a 7-inch thin-film-transistor (TFT) display for the instrument cluster and an 8-inch touchscreen display that can be controlled using both touch commands and several physical knobs and buttons for improved ease of use. The infotainment system fully supports smartphone integration, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and all Accords now come standard with Honda's full Honda Sensing active safety suite. The latter includes radar cruise control, road sign recognition and automatic emergency braking.