2023 Honda Accord launched with hybrid power, enhanced safety

The 2023 Honda Accord midsize sedan sees the light of day, retaining the two-motor hybrid powertrain that originated in its ninth-generation guise while bringing improvements to occupant safety. 

The 2023 Honda Accord exudes a European-looking vibe

Honda is keen to build on the Accord’s reputation as the best-selling model in the U.S. market over the last five decades, projecting that it will make up about half of the brand’s sales. 

“The all-new 11th-generation Accord is essential to our lineup as a critical driver of brand loyalty, and with hybrid models representing 50 percent of sales, a key part of honda’s electrification strategy,” said Mamadou Diallo, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Vice President of Auto Sales. “This is our best Accord ever, a true benchmark in its class, offering an unbeatable combination of style, efficiency, performance, and connectivity.”    

Exterior 

The 11th-generation Accord retains the fastback silhouette of the 10th-generation model, but with a slightly longer length of 4,971mm and width of 1,862mm. Height and wheelbase have been retained at 1,450mm and 2,830mm, respectively. The rear track has been increased by 10mm to improve stability while delivering a wider stance. 

It sits longer and wider than the outgoing model

An extended hood flows into a new front end comprising two streamlined LED headlamps flanking an upright grille that features a lattice background where the Honda emblem sits. A full-width air dam on the front bumper adds to the clean presence. 

The prominent upper character line along the profile emphasizes the body’s increased length, joined by the roofline that uses laser brazing technology that removes the need for a roof molding. Horizontal LED tail lamps are joined by a full-width light bar at the rear. The new Accord’s European vibe is accentuated by a range of 17- to 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels at each corner.   

Interior 

There’s room for five in the new Accord’s interior that features a sporty and modern layout, with premium materials used on touch points. A new elegant Piano Black trim adorns the surfaces, while the dashboard also sports the same lattice pattern found on the grille.

A modern yet sporty-looking interior greets occupants

All-new Body Stabilizing Seats in front use a next-generation seat frame to provide support and reduce fatigue. The thin A-pillars contribute to the open greenhouse for excellent outward visibility. Available ventilation and heating complement the 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat and 4-way power adjustment for the front passenger. 

The new Accord is said to offer the most cargo space in its class, with 473 liters of trunk space across the range, expandable by collapsing the split-fold rear bench.    

Tech & Safety

A 10.2-inch digital instrument panel shows unique display functions depending on the powertrain, alternating between a tachometer on standard combustion trim levels and a digital power floor meter on hybrid-electric versions. 

Electrified models come with the largest-ever Honda touchscreen at 12.3 inches, with the flagship Touring trim featuring Honda’s first integration of Google along with a 6-inch heads-up display and wireless charging. Base and midrange variants feature a 7-inch touchscreen display and USB Type C ports. Over-the-air (OTA) updates are standard for all Accords. 

The latest version of Honda’s Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) underpins the 2023 Accord, bringing improved occupant protection in angled frontal collisions. New driver and front passenger airbags featuring a new tuck sewing structure minimize the potential for brain trauma, while front knee and rear side impact airbags are now standard.     

Updates have also been introduced to the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features, starting with a wider field of view for both the camera and radar to improve collision prevention. Blind-Spot Information now has 82 feet of radar range, while Traffic Jam Assist (TJA) has been added. Expanded security features include a stolen vehicle locator and remote immobilizer.  

Engine & Drivetrain

The LX and EX trims come with a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine under the hood, rated at 192 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque with an updated continuously variable transmission. Moving up the range with the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring gets a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle inline-4 accompanied by dual electric motors to yield 204 horsepower and 335 Nm of pull, with the motors also simulating gear shifts. 

The new Accord is offered in a choice of standard combustion and hybrid powertrains

Drivers can choose from four drive modes ranging from Normal and Econ to Sport and a fourth Individual setting. Enhancements to Honda’s global architecture work with front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link suspension to deliver better handling and overall refinement. These include increased chassis rigidity and new front brace bars.  

Pricing

No pricing information has been disclosed for the 2023 Honda Accord as of this writing. The automaker says that the model will be assembled at Honda’s Marysville plant in Ohio, where 12.5 million Accords have rolled out since Stateside production began in 1982.      

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