2013 Accord Tops Rivals in Cars.com

The midsize sedan segment continues to showcase some of the freshest, best-selling vehicles in America, and that includes the all-new 2013 Honda Accord. The latest generation of the Accord has seen sizzling sales since its recent introduction, capped off by a November in which deliveries increased by nearly 83 percent. But it’s not just customers who are driving the car’s current run of success; the new Accord also has become a winner with the automotive press. Consider: In a recent shootout between the Accord and five of its closest rivals, the Honda entry bested the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima with its award-winning combination of value, efficiency and driving satisfaction.

 The comparison gathered together all the mid-size sedans capable of at least 28 mpg in combined driving and priced no higher than $26,000—eliminating contenders like the VW Passat and Chevy Malibu, neither of which can meet that mileage mark at that cost—with judging by a panel of experts from Cars.com, USA Today and MotorWeek. Also, to provide real-world input, all players were put through their paces by a real-life family of four.

The Accord’s decisive victory came based on factors like:

• A continuously variable transmission (CVT) that “responds in a jiffy, serving up passing power in concert with your right foot”
• Engaging driving dynamics that make the Accord “surprisingly athletic and light on its feet … with quick, better-weighted steering” than the Fusion
• High levels of content, with judges noting that: “one of only two cars in the test with a backup camera … the Accord wins double extra brownie points for squeezing this feature in at this price point”

The bottom line from Patrick Olsen, editor-in-chief of Cars.com: “Accord is one of the oldest and most trusted midsize sedans on the market. With each redesign, the Accord continues to get better and better. The 2013 won our showdown because of its high-end standard features, value for money and great driving ability.”

 

Courtesy of Honda in the News

2013 has never looked this good on you!

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The 2013 Honda Civic - "Things Can Always Be Better"

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2013 AutoGuide Car of the Year Nominee: Honda Accord

A testament to just how good it is, the final nominee for the 2013 AutoGuide.com Car of the Year didn’t just beat out the rest of the new models to make our short list, it bested three other cars in its own class.

 

We are, of course, speaking of the 2013 Honda Accord, which makes our short list in a year that also saw the launch of an all-new Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu and Ford Fusion; a car that could almost make the list on its looks alone.

And the Fusion put up a fight, with numerous engine options, plenty of tech and some of the best fuel economy numbers in its class. Two of the segment leaders, when compared head-to-head, the Honda came out on top, with a more polished interior, a more engaging (and more comfortable) ride, not to mention superior real world fuel economy in our tests. And while the simplicity of its tech features won’t wow you like the glossy MyFord Touch, they won’t enrage you either. Overall, the Honda just packs more value.

While far from a revolution, the new Accord is different in a few key areas. First, it’s smaller, resulting in better proportions and a more enjoyable drive, while still retaining the same interior space as the previous generation. Second, it’s the first Honda to get the brand’s new Earth Dreams direct-injection engine technology.

The new 4-cylinder delivers 36 mpg on the highway, and with a modest 185 hp Honda claims it’ll out-accelerate any of its rivals. Helping achieve those figures is another new-to-Honda item, a CVT transmission. While a solid offering, it’s still not quite becoming of a brand built on the notion of connecting the driver to the road.

Still holding back on the switch to turbos, Honda’s more potent engine offering in the Accord continues to be a V6. There’s no direct injection here, and no CVT (a 6-speed automatic takes its place), though the 276 hp motor still manages to achieve 34 mpg on the highway. A bit conventional, it really is a superb setup.

Along with Honda qualities of durability and reliability, the new Accord brings with it another familiar trait: value. Even base models, which start at just $21,680 ($22,480 for the CVT), come equipped with dual-zone climate control, Honda’s i-MID system with an 8-inch touch screen and back up camera, as well as an Eco button to achieve even better fuel economy.

The sedan, however, is the popular choice and the smartest in the segment. Knowing as much, Honda aimed to include a bit more of its two-door model in the family sedan with an all-new Sport trim with paddle shifters, 18-inch wheels, an 8-way power driver’s seat and a slight bump in power to 189 thanks to a dual exhaust system. All for $23,390.

At that price, it’s just about perfect; and as mentioned in our video review, you don’t have to look for a reason to buy an Accord, you have to look for a reason not to. Likewise, when it comes to assembling a short list of the year’s best new cars, if there’s a new Accord, it’s a given.

Competing head-to-head with the luxurious and engaging Cadillac ATS, as well as the incredibly fun (and affordable) Scion FR-S, the Accord’s popularity and success as a mainstream, volume car are certainly in its favor. It’s likely the Accord will outsell the other two nominees combined, five times over. Certainly its importance in that regard can’t be overlooked. Then again, when looking at the big picture, both the ATS and FR-S are game-changing cars for their respective brands. Can the same be said of the Honda Accord?

 

 

Courtesy of Auto Guide

2013 Civic Si: Start Your Engines

The holidays are all about joy!

Take advantage of Honda Happy Days and check out this 2013 Honda pilot with included entertainment system-- happiness is one thing your family won’t be missing!

 

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MY13 Civic Coupe Demo Video

2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid Gets EPA Rating of 115 MPGe, Going on Sale in January 2013

For the longest time, Honda was synonymous with fuel-efficiency. But sometime around when the second generation Prius came to market, Honda took a wrong turn and its halo lost some of its shine. Its vehicles were still fuel-efficient, but it lost leadership at the very top of the MPG rankings. In my opinion, their most obvious mistakes were sticking with their IMA mild-hybrid drivetrain technology for way too long, and putting too much of their R&D resources into hydrogen-powered vehicles (the Honda FCX Clarity is a great tech showcase, but that's about it for now).

So it's great to see that Honda is getting back into the race with its latest "green" model, the 2014 Accord plug-in hybrid.

The 2014 Honda plug-in hybrid scored an impressive 115 MPGe in the EPA's tests, handily beating the Ford C-Max Energi (100 MPGe), Chevy Volt (98 MPGe), and Prius Plug-in (95 MPGe).

While that's very impressive, and comparing these numbers is the best we can do, we have to remember that with plug-in hybrids, how much fuel you will actually burn in real-world usage is highly dependent on your driving habits. Basically: Lots of short trips with charging in between = best, lots of very long trips and few chances to plug-in = worst.

So if you can stay within the 13 miles electric range of the Honda Accord PHEV for most of your trips, you'll get an almost pure EV experience, while still having the longer range available for when you need it. Not that fuel economy should be that bad after those 13 miles, as the 2014 Accord is the first to use Honda's new two-motor hybrid system, which is conceptually more similar to other 'full hybrids' by Toyota and Ford, for example.

On the smog-forming emissions side, the 2014 Honda Accord Plug-in is also impressive. It's the first production car in America to meet the more stringent new LEV3/SULEV20 emissions standard. Nice work Honda. Now I'd love to see a mass-market fully electric vehicle...

The 2014 Accord PHEV will go on sale in New York and California on 15 January with an MSRP of $39,780. Hopefully it'll be rolled out to more states quickly after that.

 

Courtesy of Tree Hugger Cars

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Honda EV-STER at LA Auto Show Hints at Future Production Model

Ever since its debut at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, the Honda EV-STER Concept has been at the center of speculation and rumors of whether or not it’ll become a production model.

 

Its peculiar appearance at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show will undoubtedly stir the pot some more as the Japanese automaker is clearly interested in what American consumers have to say about the EV-STER Concept.

Rumor has it that Honda wants to revive its Beat model and that the EV-STER Concept is a preview at its future design. In fact, the concept is the car that excites Honda President Takanobu Ito the most. Honda had confirmed late last year that the EV-STER Concept was heading to production, though there were still several variables yet to be decided – its powerplant, for example.

If feedback and suggestions are what the automaker wants, Los Angeles is definitely the place for it with its diverse collection of automotive enthusiasts and consumers with a penchant for electric cars.

 

Courtesy of Auto Guide

2013 Civic Sedan Demo Video

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