It’s hard to imagine the Honda Accord when it debuted in 1976. It was a small two-door hatchback with little to show for itself. Fast-forward to 2014 and the Honda Accord is a stalwart, a well-equipped family sedan perennially among the country’s top-selling cars.
After a redesign last year, the Honda Accord, now in its ninth generation, remains much the same as the 2013 model. But buyers now have additional choices. The Honda Accord hybrid has been re-introduced after a several-year absence. And a Honda Accord plug-in electric has been introduced in a limited edition.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: Accord EX-L, one of six trims, with a 2.4-liter 16-valve four-cylinder, an automatic transmission and 185 horsepower.
- Prices from less than $23,000 to approaching $40,000 across the Accord lineup.
- New choices: the Accord hybrid has been re-introduced and an Accord plug-in electric arrives in a limited edition.
- 26 mpg city, 35 highway and 30 combined in current EPA figures for the 2.4-liter CVT.
- LaneWatch: The Accord in the EX and Touring models has one terrific feature, LaneWatch.
- Overall: The Honda Accord stands out in the sedan crowd because it does everything well.
The additions of the new models add to the already vast offering of available Accords at prices ranging from less than $23,000 to approaching $40,000.
The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Since the Weekly Driver column began in 2004, I’ve driven a Honda Accord every year. I drove the Accord hybrid, too, and liked it. I recommended it to a friend in 2006, and he and his wife have been driving it since.
The original Honda Accord hybrid wasn’t the carmaker’s most popular car. But it was still a quality car, like all Honda models. Even the Honda Crosstour, which is hard to fit into a car segment. My point: Honda works for me, just as it does for a lot of buyers.
Trims and Competitors
My recent weekly drive was in Honda Accord EX-L model, one of six trims. It had a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder, 16-valve engine with an automatic transmission and 185 horsepower. It’s an upscale model with standard equipment that greatly expands an already long list.
Base LX models include an 8-inch color display with rear-view camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, 16-inch wheels, and a 160-watt AM/FM/CD stereo with Pandora Internet radio compatibility. Sport models add a power driver’s seat, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a slight increase in horsepower.
EX models include a power moonroof and the LaneWatch system, while EX-L models gain leather, upgraded audio, heated front seats, and lane-departure warning. A V6 is only available in the top-line Touring model. It also features forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. Hybrid models include LaneWatch, LED daytime running lights and a 10-way power driver’s seat.
The mid-size sedan market is packed with quality cars: Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion, Nissan Altima, Chevy Malibu, Chrysler 200, Kia Optima, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat and Hyundai Sonata. They’re all good cars.
2014 Honda Accord Verdict
The Honda Accord stands out in the sedan crowd because it does everything well. Steering is precise. Acceleration is quick enough. Gas mileage isn’t the best in the segment, but it’s strong. Comfort is a strong point, too, with good leg room and head room. There’s room for five as long as the rear-seat passengers aren’t NBA-size.
The Accord in the EX and Touring models has one terrific feature, LaneWatch. It’s a safety addition that views where the driver can’t. A small camera positioned under the passenger side mirror displays in the navigation screen what’s in the blind spot. It can be adjusted to stay on or automatically engage when the right-hand turn signal is likewise engaged.
Likes
LaneWatch. Unlike some over-the-top hi-tech features, the blind spot detection system is innovative and helpful.
Overall comfort.
Great resale value
Dislikes
Back seat is not a 60/40 split. With the back seat forward, the Accord becomes a two-passenger car.
Gear indication letters on shifter are hard to see in daylight.
Facts & Figures: 2014 Honda Accord
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Price Range | Less than $23,000 to approaching $40,000 (all trims) |
| Engine | 2.4-liter 16-valve 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 185 hp |
| Transmission | Continuously variable automatic (CVT) |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel Economy | 26 city / 35 highway / 30 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Seating | 5 |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.