2023 Honda Accord

The fact that you're reading the eleventh-generation Honda Accord'review today proves that there is still a place for mid-size sedans in the USA. Crossovers and SUVs have largely taken over and now make up about 60% of vehicle sales in America, with trucks at about 20%; the remaining 40% is a spread of various types of passenger cars. This suggests that at least a portion of American car buyers still prefer sedans. The 2023 Honda Accord is not all-new and is based on the bones of the tenth generation, but it's a major overhaul. It's grown in size to the outer reaches of what we can still call a mid-size sedan. It looks different, and it's become a range made up of mostly hybrids. The two base trims still have regular gas powertrains and just one engine option - a 192-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder driving the front wheels, as has always been the case with Accords. The rest of the trims are 204-hp hybrids. How does the new one stack up against stalwarts such as the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Nissan Altima? And will the loss of a performance option and a slightly higher starting price hurt sales?

The base price of the 2023 Honda Accord LX starts at $27,295, slightly more expensive than key rivals. The only other gas trim is the EX, which will cost you $29,060. All the other trim levels are hybrids; they are the Sport Hybrid at $31,345, the EX-L Hybrid at $32,990, the Sport-L Hybrid at $33,325, and the flagship Touring Hybrid at $37,340. Keep in mind that these are MSRP prices for the Honda Accord, and they don't include any extras or the $1,095 destination fee.

In terms of the driving experience, not much has changed, and the car feels much like the old one to drive -but that's not faint praise. Honda has fine-tuned the Accord, and now it's slightly better in all respects. The only transmission on the 1.5T gas trims is a CVT, and while we generally don't like CVTs much, the one in the Accord is tuned to simulate upshifts and is generally responsive and unobtrusive. You won't notice much of the dreaded CVT drone unless you drive the even more refined hybrid and realize it's still there in the 1.5T models, just well-damped. Many detail refinements make the Accord nicer to drive, too, such as low-friction ball joints, revised strut mountings, and modified bushings for the rear trailing arms. The result is communicative steering, quick reponses and a general feeling of keenness to tackle corners; there is also improved bump absorption and lower noise levels than before, even on the larger 19-inch wheels. A great ride/handling compromise, then, and more fun than most.

It's an easy trot for the new Accord to the top of the podium, and it remains the standard according to which mid-size sedans are measured in the USA. It has few flaws, except perhaps the unavailability of AWD and the lack of a proper performance model, but the former is unlikely to bother most people except those living in the Snow Belt. The latter isn't a deal-breaker, as the existing powertrains are adequately powerful, and the hybrids are responsive and refined. Another irritation is that you can't have niceties like leather seats and a large touchscreen in the 1.5T gas models, as Honda forces you to upgrade to the hybrids to get better equipment. But stretch to the EX-L Hybrid, and you'll have the roomiest mid-size sedan on the market, a decent level of equipment, exemplary safety, and enjoyable driving manners.

The non-hybrid Accord lineup is tiny and comprises only the base LX and EX trims, of which you'd probably want to skip the LX, because it's a bit bare. For a premium of less than $2k, the EX adds a sunroof, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a power driver's seat, blind-spot monitoring, and an upgraded audio system, making it good value in our book if you want to stick with a gas Accord. It's not the best trim in the entire lineup, though, and you're still stuck with the small touchscreen and more rudimentary infotainment system that requires you to connect your phone with a cable. The EX-L Hybrid fixes all that and is far lighter on fuel to boot, if you can stretch to around $35k with destination included.