2013 2014 and 2015 Honda Accord EX Road Test and Drive Review
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- čas přidán 19. 08. 2024
- Honda has long been known as a serious kind of car company. Press events are orderly, the Honda folks wear suits and their products are similarly starched. While we have a new corporate nose up front with a chrome "smiley" face and aggressive headlamps, the rest of the profile is buttoned up and professional. The large (and low) greenhouse says "I have kids," an image that Honda has been embracing with their latest commercials, essentially admitting they are leaving descriptives like "sexy" and "dramatic" to Hyundai and Ford. I have to admit I am quite torn, I love the Fusion's sexy sheetmetal making it my first pick in terms of looks, but oddly enough the "plain Jane" Accord is number two for me because it's simple clean. The new Kia Optima is a very, very close third thanks its nose job for 2014. I'm not convinced that the Camry's nose or the Sonata's dramatic character lines will age well, let me know what you think in the comment section. Something important to keep in mind is the Accord has bucked the growth trend and has shrunk on the outside compared to the previous generation making it among the smallest in this segment. Good if you live in the city, bad if you were hoping for a Honda land yacht.
Honda's interiors have long been known for their simple functionality rather than opulence or elegance and Honda is still singing the same tune. Despite being an all-new model for 2013, Honda hasn't radically changed the interior design, opting instead for incremental improvements and more standard features. All Accords now get standard dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth phone integration, a backup cam and active noise cancellation. Honda seems to have listened to the complaints from reviewers and customers and took a methodical and dedicated approach to making the Accord quieter on the road. In addition to the fancy noise cancelling software, there's more foam, more carpet and a one-piece dash designed to prevent squeaks later in life.
Honda's seat engineers seem to be designing seats specifically for my back lately. The Accord and the refreshed Civic both sport supportive seats that coddled by back and backside on long journeys. There is a caution I must toss in however, the lumbar support in Sport, EX and LX models is fixed and pronounced. If you need some adjustibility in your back support, you'll need to step up to a leather model to get it. 2013 has brought a raft of materials improvements to the Accord cabin from improved seat fabrics to more squishy dash bits and the ever-so-popular stitched pleather. Thankfully Honda spares potential owners the shame of faux wood trim, instead opting for a modern brown pattern that I found attractive. The trim and the style are not as stylized or futuristic as eh competition, but controls are easy to locate, and consistent in their high quality feel.
What piqued my interest at the launch even was Honda's new 2.4L direct-injection four cylinder engine. The engine and the brand-new CVT turned my impression of the Accord on its head. The engine's 185HP still arrived at a very-Honda high RIM of 6,500, but thanks to the direct-injection sauce torque jumps to a [nearly] HP matching 181 lb-ft with a strong pull from idle and a peak at a decidedly un-Honda 3,900RPM. If you choose the 6-speed manual, this means you no longer have to rev the nuts off the engine to get the Accord in motion. Most shoppers however will find a Continuously Variable Transmission under their Accord's hood, although they may not even notice. Why? This is quite possibly the world's best CVT.
Music by Kevin MacLeod
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I just purchased this car and though not a visual adrenaline junky, it's pleasing to look at, nice interior and a great driving car! I got the sport!!
I just got one too. I can’t believe how effortless and comfortable the drive was on the test drive. I drove like 45 minutes without even realizing it
I love my '13 Accord EX 6MT and I wouldn't trade it for anything on the market today. I don't find the exterior styling lacking at all. It is conservative, but that's what I prefer. I'd like to see someone review an EX 6MT, but I was pleased to see this review, since so many reviewers "tested" the Sport.
I also like the fact that Honda still offers a manual transmission in a family sedan and that trumps all the automakers who do not.
Minimal issues with my 2015 LX, 78k miles. Mirror issue I never noticed.. maybe my car didn't have it. Zero challenges with the starter. Minimal oil dilution issues. Zero CVT slippage, even at steep grades. Had no problems with the CVT, and actually preferred the immediate "downshift" compared to other cars (2018+ Camry) having to hunt for the right gear when you just need to go. Averaged 36mpg per tank, 70% highway. I did 6 hour drives with the cloth seats in the LX and was never uncomfortable. Really a great car. Only real issue was left rear power door lock stopped working. not a big deal since I rarely use that door. I could still manually unlock it with the button, and would just leave it locked all the time by default. Some wind noise in the rear.. overall road noise wasn't great, but I got used to it. Bluetooth always sync'd to the phone before I even got in the car. Always worked flawlessly. Backup camera was great. Tires.. while on the narrow/bubble side (205/65/R16), were at least cheap to replace.. $110 for Continental True Contact, which had better ratings than what came on the car, Pro Contact.
The only main downside to the 4cyl Sedans is the cornering. Lots of body roll! Those curves are NOT fun with this car. However you'll find forums on a simple easy 30 minute do it yourself rear sway bar upgrade that helps the understeer/body roll significantly. I never got around to doing it myself, but people are confident in it.
It's nice to know I can fit a body in the trunk.
Thanks for the positive feedback, this is why I love my job :)
Very good review, actually the best I've seen, for the average consumer looking for a new midsize car. Honest and based on facts along with a good dose of personality. Keep it up, thanks!
Wow great video! I'm looking at this vehicle and have seen tons of video reviews on it but this was by far the best and most thorough one- hands down. You do a very good job reviewing what's important to practical regular consumers. Keep it up.
Great job, Alex. I really appreciate the direct approach and thoroughness of your reviews. Everything is factual and unbiased.
As always, excellent review Alex. I may be in the market for a 5-8 yr old sedan to replace my wife's '02 Bonneville, and I think the '13-'15 Accord is a strong contender.
Here in NY you get a mix of all the trim levels. In one single day you can see a couple of sports, ex, fully loaded accord and the base trim level, though the sport trim seems to be very popular in the bronx because of the standard fog lights you get with that one. But this has been changing as the months past and people are starting to have more interest in getting the accord with the led taillights and front led lights. With those lights it looks like a different monster.
Educative and well explained.
Makes me proud of my '15 LX accord 👍😃🙏
Nice "California stop", Alex! @11:25
Good to hear. I'm leaning toward an EX model, and I still prefer good old fashion buttons and knobs for radio and climate controls.
I for one should really appreciate someway to down shift the CVT Transmission for those times when going down steep hills. It sure saves on the brakes while being more in control of your car at the same time. I agree, that using it for acceleration is of no advantage--except for those who feel they are having a sportier drive when using them.
Still better looking than the Camry of the same year.
Thanks for the feedback on the infotainment skip!
I wouldn't normally r3ecommend a hybrid (just personal preference), but I would give the new Accord hybrid a good long look. The fuel economy numbers are very impressive and performance is very close to the EX. As I recall the return is somewhere in the area of 5-6 years depending on the cost of gas in your area. We have a video of that on the channel.
Best reviewer on You Tube.
10:17 was that Jizz in my pants? Lmfao
To like for real I was like “WTF”
I think the view on the styling is subjective and definitely a matter of perspective. It's definitely one of the better looking generations. The styling is more refined than the Camrys of those same years. And I hate the triangle shaped side mirrors of the Camry. I have a 2014 Accord Touring and it's a beautiful ride!
I don't own a honda cvt but subaru cvt. I use the downshift paddle shift feature often in city traffic or slowing down a hill. Uses engine braking and less brake. It automatically goes back to normal mode on its own.
Great video. I love how thorough you were.
Alex, your review is one of the best.
No, the system is very reliable and works well, I just don't care for the interface all that much. It has however grown on me a bit since I looked at it last.
I have paddle shifters on my 2010 Honda Insight hybrid CVT. Its great for holding gears on hills, locking gears for driving in snow, and engine braking on hills. Thats why paddle shifters work on CVTs.
I did, but it's more of a personal preference. I suggest driving both and deciding which features you can't live without.
This was a very nice an indepth review. Last week I got my Accord Sport and I just wanted to clarify one thing. Even though the iPod usb is underneath the center console compartment, you can put the wired iPod in the armrest compartment. There is a small hole for the USB cable to snake thru to the car's USB port.
In the 2016 refresh, the EX model will receive LED DRL's, fog lights, and tail lights (no LED headlights though), HD radio, XM radio, remote start, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, etc.
When it comes to Car reviews., you are a god. Am a fan. Nice review.
12:30 - I could do without that beep every time I activated a turn blinker or canceled from a turn. 11:40 As far as handling goes, you got that backwards: An upper-lower control arm(double wishbone) front end will in most cases out-handle a Macpherson setup.
As an owner of the previous generation Accord, a 2010, I can attest to that.
He rolled right through that stop sign at 11:24
The Forester is at the top of our wish list.
I drove all of the Accords and settled on the Sport. You made several comments about the paddle shifters being useless on a CVT. This was also my thought, until I drove the Sport model. The Sport mode does a very good job of replicating a traditional 6 speed auto. Blip changes are also very quick. It functions a lot like the TSX, which I also tested. You should try it out. I find myself using it quite often. It can also be used in "D" mode, which is useful for engine breaking.
It is considerably quieter than before, however, it is still a bit louder than the Altima and Camry.
Hi Alex,
A quickpoint about the paddleshifters: You mentioned that they are not very useful. However let me just say that they have been very lifesaving for me in certain situations - when driving in snow and when going down a hill - when the car needed to be in a low gear. They were actually important safety system.
Actually, I did not get Subaru Forester even though I liked it a lot, as it was missing a paddle shifter.
paddle shifters on a CVT can simulate gear ratios, and gives you more control than in normal drive mode. you would think an automotive enthusiast would know this.
You would think you would know what the word "simulated" means. As in not real, so how does a simulated shift help you. LOL Again, it's useless, just admit it.
It has full Android support, however it may be limited between Android devices. For instance- the Galaxy Nexus only will stream Bluetooth, on the other hand the GS4 is completely compatible with all functions including SMS text, and email.
Your reviews are good. Surprised you don't have more subs
This model had the 6 speaker package and sound quality is high for the segment.
5:58 lol
Yeh, and I'm glad they have a handle inside the trunk so it's convenient to close myself inside of it. I'm also glad that if someone tries to escape, they can use that handle instead of "pawing" on the outside of my trunk.... That part of the review made no sense. LOL
Yes, we averaged a few MPG better in the Altima.
doesnt the v6 have 278 hp not 272?
You can open it completely or tilt the rear up for venting.
Thank you for sharing!!!
luv my 2014 Accord Ex !! the Cvt does take a bit to get use to but i think Honda got it right... great review Alex... :-)
Another great review and onboard.
I swear that more than 60% of car reviews on youtube involve talking from the trunk and thinking it's original. Otherwise, good review.
Good review!
this is a tough bid for me... im planning to buy a second hand model of this or subaru legacy... theyre pretty close, and i like both... what do you suggest?
Alex,
First, thank you. I've really come to enjoy your reviews lately and I find them much more thorough and accurate than most other reviews especially for the average person such as myself.
Second, I am comparing mid-sized sedans such as the Mazda 6, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. I am leaning towards the Accord EXL, but I had someone tell me that I needed to compare it to a car from a car manufacturer that I never would have considered in this price range. Mercedes-Benz. Any chance you can do a review of the Mercedes CLA250? It's starting price is only $1,500 more than the Accord EXL and fuel economy is apparently just as good.
Thanks Alex!
We should have the CLA250 review in about 2 months.
Alex on Autos Thanks Alex! I may actually purchase a vehicle prior to two months, but I still look forward to your review.
Please do 2013 Honda Crosstour and 2014 Subaru Forester XT
Very nice review, I expected a comment about the additional features like lane watch....
Thanks
The Mazda 6 feels lighter and more nimble, possibly even slightly cheaper. The Honda has a more substantial feel, but I wouldn't call it heavy.
Excellent review, thanks.
This is a very good review and I agree with most of the comments. One thing that no one seems to be mentioning is the audio sound system. I have an EXL supposedly with a 360 watt stereo system with a subwoofer. This sound system is simply the worst I have ever heard on any car I have owned or driven. Other than upgrading the speakers, which could affect my warranty, what are other owners thoughts?
There's a simple trick on the forums about making that sound system sound much better.
Pasted from DriveAccord.net:
Steps:
Press Nav + Menu + Back 3 seconds
The 2 screens will display debug menus you should not have access normally
Press return on the touch screen one (you don't need it)
Press Menu for 3 seconds
You will be in the developer menu
Scroll down to DSP/AMP settings
Scroll to 'Flat' set it to 'On'
Enjoy!
Good luck!
Sir u missed the lane watch camera!!!
Actually, the paddle shifters in the sport would have helped you coming down the hill. Plus, the Sport gives you dual exhaust and 4 more ponies!
@AAutoBuyersGuide: I have a 2013 Sport Manual Transmission. The lumbar support on my seats is adjustable, not fixed. Did that change on the Sport trim for the 2014 and 2015 model year?
5:58!
Great review thank you.
Nice review, you have me interested in trying the cvt.
Jeff Sol wat u mean I’m bout to buy a 2014 with 82k miles should I get it??
Ex
2014 Accord EX-L 4cyl in White Pearl
i hear that road noise has been decreased from last year
I know this video is pretty old but why doesn’t it not have a leather steering wheel on ex?
So, the new Accord handles better than the old one. I also infer that it rides better from what you say. But, is it quieter?
Quiteness and low NVH seem to be in the forefront in this segment nowadays.
Hi Alex, glad you discussed telescopic motion of steering. Looks like Camry/Fusion are best. What about the most comfortable seats? I have back and knee issues so looking for most telescopic range and comfortable seats among non-luxury sedans. Thanks.
Al Dev I would put the Camry low on the list actually. The Accord has the most comfortable seats in my opinion followed by the Altima.
Alex on Autos Thank you for the reply. Bit apprehensive about the sporty ride on Accord, might go with Altima.
Very real and review. However I don't like the bumpy ride of this Gen. Accrod. I have ride in many generations of the Accord. I found this Gen. has sacrificed the ride quality. I can definitely feel Small road imperfections passed into the cabin. You can see in the video how shaky is the camera.
how does the mazda6 fit in compared to the accord? that would be my first choice, followed by the accord, if i were shopping with percieved reliability in mind
11:20 Stop signs mean Full Stop. Lol.
Hey Alex your videos are great! I was just wondering how much the fuel economy changes with the ECON mode, and also do you calculate the mpg yourself or just rely on the displayed average? Thanks -Brian
Econ has a fairly small impact on economy, we're talking 1-3% tops. I use both the in dash display and the fill-drive-fill method of MPG calculation, usually they are quite close so I go with what the car says unless there is a large difference.
Alex on Autos I enjoyed your review about this car, esp. since I am considering buying one (EX-L without navigation) and that you are in Los Gatos which is close to San Jose where I was born and moved out of last year. My biggest concern with this car are the many online complaints about the jerking motion at times with the CVT when trying to accelerate. Did you experience this in your test drive? This concerns me. (I currently own a 1998 Camrey with only 120K miles on it but not sure if I want to buy another one.) Your feedback is welcome and thanks again for a great review of this car. I have to put you with Dave Larson from Everyman Driver as the BEST CZcams car reviewers!
Doug Celeste Personally I like CVTs. I find that a great number of my fellow journalists dislike the way they feel however. I would say that it is a personal preference and you should drive one yourself and make your own judgement. Honda's EarthDreams CVT is the best on the market at the moment from a feel standpoint. The way the CVT shifts is much faster than the Nissan units.
Alex on Autos Thanks for your reply, Alex, and you are right about the other reviewers and the mixed reactions to the CVTS of different car makes. Dave Larson is not a big fan of them but DID like Honda's for the Accord. Other online comments by owners have been unhappy with the jerking motion of the Accord CVT at times but since you did not mention this in your comments, I guess that you have not experienced this with your test drives. My brother owns a 2013 Accord Sport and has had no problems with his CVT, though the ride is not as smooth as he had hoped since he feels the bumps more. Anyhow. I will take a test drive or two someday and when I do, I will get back to you with my thoughts.
Alex on Autos Did you notice any interior (non-wind) noise issues when you drove over 40 mph.?? One Accord owner did with several Accords and told about it on CZcams. With these issues, he sure is NOT happy with his 2014 Accord purchase but I asked him if he did a test drive or two before buying his Accord and I am awaiting his reply. Also, in your heading for this video, it also mentioned about 2014 and 2015 Accords but you did not feature them in this video like I was led to believe.
its a first year car with the cvt transmission... I heard these cars have transmission issues
Only lazy Americans drive automatic. Real man drive like us european drive with sick shift
Am I the only one who laughed when he opened the trunk ?
His sharp S's distract me
Considering the consistent complaints on the upper trim radio touchscreen, did you experience any issues with syncing or anything else?
Interesting. Like every other car out there? Could you give us an example? For instance, in what ways does the Accord look like the Camry? Or like the Altima? Or the Fuson? I guess this is what happens when your synapses shoot from their teeny-weeny metaphorical hips.
Nice review as always! You're up early, ha! (7:46)
what about car seats in the back seat?
Hey Alex, why do car manufacturers insist on putting speedometers that list speeds higher than what you would drive, such as the Accord's speedometer that lists speeds up to 260 km/h. Wouldn't it be useful to list it lower and actually let people know if they're driving at 40 or 60 km/h?
WuWei Xu Nobody has a really good reason but I do know that the 85 MPH speedometer era was just silly :)
Is he comparing the ford fusion with the accord or a review for the accord
What’s the title of that song when the credits are going up?
J**z in my pants lmao love the music!
I'd love an answer to this question from you Alex, or anyone who'd like to weigh in.
Road noise and outside noise in the accord, how is it? compared to the camry for example.
Ahmed Nabil The Accord is quieter and is among the quietest in the segment.
Alex on Autos really surprising. I have a 2014 camry and it's pretty well insulated for a non premium medium sedan. but everyone here keeps saying accord has crappy insulation.
Time for a test drive then.
+Ahmed Nabil
I just drove a 2014 Honda Accord LX on a 500 mile roadtrip and I found it very noisy with a lot of road noise and wind noise. I thought the 2013 Camry, 2015 Chevy Malibu and a 2014 Altima I drove recently were really quiet and well isolated compared to this Accord I drove the LX "base" only so maybe Honda did some cost cutting and that's why it's loud, maybe the EX and above trim levels Alex tested are better insulated. However this new generation is still more quieter then the previous one still.
PeterGriffin4200 i know, Honada and Mazda, are the loudest out there. they have better interior and features than toyota though. malibu is quiet, great interior and features but very pool reliability. toyota is the best out there you just have to go to the very highest trim or just go straight to the avalon and you'll have no competition then. the avalon is even better than the accura.
+PeterGriffin4200 accord has more wind noise for sure. there is a design flaw that a Honda engineer stated exists to which excessive turbulence occurs. it's on par with the Camry, Altima, with respect to road noise. The CVT 4 banger will create a lot more motor boat noise so on par with the Altima with its similar CVT but the Camry still uses traditional auto trans so the winner is Camry if you want quiet.
Consumer Reports rates the Honda v6 gas mileage on the highway at 39, the Camry at 37, and the Altima at 35. It appears that you got worse gas mileage with the Honda than the Altima?..
How many speakers does this car have and how is the sound quality
Hi Alex, my commute is 70 miles round trip, which would you personally recommend for my case? The regular accord or the hybrid? Why?
If you plan on keeping your car for over 5 years, then I would get the hybrid as you'd pay off the investment with the better fuel economy. If you''re more of a 2-3 year kind of person then the four-cylinder Accord would make more sense.
So the 2015 Accord hasn't changed at all?
vasiq shair Aside from a price bump and standard HomeLink, that;'s correct.
***** I drove the manual version at the launch event but it is unlikely they will put one into their loaner fleet for review.
Why in the world would you want to put someone in your trunk?
Just because the guy makes it look easy, doesn't mean anybody can do it. Please post a VIDEO review....You're old enough to drive right? start with your car. we'll be waiting.
Alex on Autos Alex, how would you rate Honda CVT compared to Mazda 6spd automatic transmission? Thanks!
Many people seem to prefer a traditional automatic, but I prefer Honda's CVT.
Like many, I'm not familiar with CVT. Any particular maintenance issues with CVT? What about its reliability? Thank you again!
Yong Kim Maintenance on a CVT is the same as a standard automatic and while it is too early to really tell about Honda's CVT design, CVTs in general are as reliable as a standard auto.
@11.25 - you're suppose to come to a full stop at a stop sign buddy, not roll stop. Great review otherwise
Everybody does the damn roll stop. After you get your license, it seems like nobody even cares anymore. It's like people throw half the information out the window when they get their license!
Thinking!
Looks like every other car out there
Everything is perfect about this car except the road noise. It sounds like the 2006 Honda Civic inside. It's so loud
At 18:20 are you comparing the Nissan Altima v6 millage to the Honda 4 cylinder! Or you are comparing Nissan V6 to the Honda V6??
The Altima V6 vs the Honda I4. The Nissan V6 with the CVT got only slightly lower MPGs in real world driving than the Accord I4.
Alex on Autos Alex... please consider a review on the 14 Honda Accord Coupe Exl V6 with the manual transmission... i hear that's a blast to drive.. like to hear your review on it versus the 4 Cylinder Accord Coupe and Sedan with the Cvt...
hmm... im wondering is it possible to add navigation on that existing screen?
No. I asked when I visited my local Honda. You need the EX-L if you want Navigation.
Pfft in that case I'll stick to my google maps lol
Just use a GPS device. I read that the 2014 Civic and Fit has a new GPS HD Display.
Alex: did you test drive the Accord Sport? it drive the same quality as the EX ? let me know please, Thanks
Yes, there is really very little difference between the two, it's just a different trim level so a few trim parts are swapped and the tires are different, etc. Personally I would get the EX-L because I think the leather looks well done in the Accord.
Alex on Autos you right , !! EX-L is a take me home please!! I will get it by next week o 2. My wife love it . Thanks again
dabell12
Just wish they'd offer a leather-wrapped steering wheel in the EX trim. Not sure why Honda's so stingy.
Get one of these, because it looks pretty good and it is way more comfortable than the OEM leather wrapped steering wheels.
Pilot Genuine Black Leather Steering Wheel Cover
It actually looks OEM from the exterior.
BORING...is to drive different cars/SUVs a week and get paid to do it?? Please!! tell me..where do i sign up?
I thought you made a nice video review