Vehicle Spotlight: Can the 2018 Honda Accord 2.0T Save the Sedan?
It would be, uhh, naïve to say that your average sedan is still what it used to be. There’s no doubt that the model has continued to improve fuel economy and affordability. But that just doesn’t cut it in the market anymore. Trucks continue to develop as multi-purpose and smart vehicles. They’re haulers that can do a whole lot more than just move big objects from Point A to Point B. Likewise, crossover sales continue to grow as their name means more than a simple merging of car and SUV. And perhaps more than any other model, they embody their grasp on the auto market. They can DO more. However, if there is a silver lining to be found in the decline of the sedan, it is in forcing some innovative thinking upon automakers.
Feeling the Pressure
No one has felt the brunt of this trend as much as Honda, a perennial player in providing the common folk with a reliable, long-lasting vehicle. And the Accord, which for years has been a bell-cow for the company, is getting some of the worst of it. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Accord sold almost 23,000 units in the month of November. Compared to other vehicle sales that month, a respectable figure. In fact, it places the Accord well within the Top-15 in November sales. But compared to November 2016 totals, that number has fallen 15%, and in Year-to-Date sales, the Accord has seen a 3.5% decrease from 2016.
So Honda, in the face of adversity, has decided to give Accord owners, you guessed it, MORE. We emphasize “more,” because the Accord has already been a beacon of safety, longevity, and practicality for years. And guess what? It still is. Except now it has stylish trims and toy-like features that allow for some primal interactions between car and driver. Meet the 2018 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T.
Upgrading Standards
The 2018 Accord Sport lives up to its name with a more muscular look than in previous years. Perhaps this is symbolic of Honda’s ambitious hope for the prosperity of the sedan. But it might be the interior that really speaks to that shift. The Accord out-shoots all other competitors in passenger legroom. And thankfully, none of its spacious qualities sacrifice its reasonable size and control.
The Accord has also made strides in the infotainment department with brand new features. It has enhanced Bluetooth capabilities (audio and phone come standard) and added a user-friendly interface that operates quicker than competitor systems such as the Toyota Camry’s.
The Accord Sport 2.0T has a manual and automatic model for both the casual driver and the purist. The six speed incarnation puts power back into the hands of the driver, quite literally. But it also embodies the spirit that people still like to be in control of their cars. And the Accord’s automatic offspring has proven its worth, too. Though some may miss the V6 of the previous Sport model, the 2018 Sport has a powerful turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four (à la Civic Type R). This ten-speed is faster than its 2017 V6 older sibling, going 0-60 in 5.5 seconds while the older generation gets there in 5.8.
Some Things Never Go Out of Style
Keep in mind that the 252-hp engine operates on these levels while upholding the family-friendly qualities that have kept it in contention for best sedan year after year. For one thing, it gets 34 miles to the gallon. This efficiency is nothing new for Honda, but it may be a quality that is often under-appreciated about the automaker. Look no further than YouTube or eBay for all of their engines still running well into the 200-300K range (and still climbing, with good care).
The Accord also now comes standard with collision-avoidance technology, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Potential buyers can also upgrade to get blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking sensors. The 2018 Accord Sport has yet to undergo official safety ratings, but these features will likely only improve its solid reputation.
Reinventing the Wheel
With this exploration into what a sedan could be, comes a sort of self-acknowledgement by Honda. The nuclear family (especially in the US) shrinks every year. And as the world continues to redefine what a “family” is, Honda has taken it upon itself to adjust for what “family-friendly” will come to mean. It’s clear that safety and affordability ($31,185) are still top priorities. Yet the Accord Sport 2.0T is capable, lively, and ever-improving upon previous generations as far as performance and innovation.
It’s also no secret that Honda is looking toward the future. A hybrid Sport will be available in early 2018 with an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors. Honda is making it known that it will do whatever it takes to keep the Accord a staple of the industry. And given their history and so far rave reviews for the Accord Sport 2.0T, we owe them the chance.
