2020 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 Review

Intro

The family sedan market has been shrinking rapidly in the last decade. The rise of crossovers and SUVs seems to be unstoppable for the foreseeable future. Ironically, it is during this challenging time we are seeing some of the best family sedans from major manufacturers. The recently reviewed Mazda 6 and Hyundai Sonata are two prime examples of these offerings, and the 2020 Honda Accord is another. In fact, it is the second best selling family sedan in North America, outselling the Mazda 6 and the Sonata combined. 

Thanks to Honda Canada, I was loaned the 2020 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 for one week to test drive. Below is my unbiased review. 

Exterior
The 2020 Honda Accord has an unique look that is modern, streamlined, and polished. At the front, a thick chrome bar runs across the entire length of the nose to give the car a sense of width. The grille design is too basic for my liking. In my opinion, it fails to carry the futuristic vibe provided by the unique Jewel-Eye headlamps, and the linear fog lamps. 

From the side, the sweeping roofline is extended to the trunk to give the Accord a streamlined profile. The sharp shoulder line spans across the entire length of the body, connecting the front headlamp to the tail light. Honda has updated the design of the 19” alloy wheels to be more aerodynamic. The large wheels compliment the long wheelbase for a proportional, low-slung side profile.

The rear design of the Accord is inline with the current Honda lineup. C style wraparound tail lights are the most prominent features from the back. The integrated lip spoiler and the dual chrome exhaust tips do add a sense of sportiness to the rear profile. 

Interior
The interior of the Accord is upscale and spacious. Quality materials are being appointed throughout the cabin. They include padded dashboard, wood dash trims, metal highlights, and solid switchgears. Honda has been actively removing shift levers from the entire lineup. The button style gear selector opens up the front cabin space and allows easy access to the cup holders and the phone charging pad. 

Our Touring trim tester comes with heated and vented leather front seats that are nicely bolstered for lumbar and lateral supports. It also comes with the optional heated rear seats. There is a surprising amount of legroom and headroom for rear passengers. Taller passengers will find the rear cabin of the Accord a comfortable place to be, even for longer drives. 

Overall, the interior of the 2020 Accord feels rock solid and well put together. It is also very quiet on the road, with minimal road and wind noises permeating into the cabin. My only complaint would be the thinly padded arm and knee rests for the driver. Another half an inch of foam would make them so much more enjoyable. 

Infotainment
All Accord models now come with an 8.0” touchscreen that is sharp and bright. The user interface is very intuitive and the updated graphics look sleek and modern. I also appreciate the fact that Honda kept the physical buttons and volume knob in the Accord. They make operating the infotainment system while driving so much easier. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are standard, and the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot allows up to 7 compatible devices to be connected to the internet. There are two 2.5A charging ports for front passengers. Our tester also comes with two optional charging ports for the rear passenger, and a wireless charging in the center console. 

The 7” colour TFT instrument cluster display provides an array of vehicle, trip, and infotainment information. It is easily controlled via the switchgears in the steering wheel. 

Other than the LX model, all Accords come with a 10 speaker premium audio system that is powered by a 452-watt amplifier. It takes full advantage of the quiet cabin and sounds fantastic.

Safety and Driver Assistance
Honda is very generous in providing standard safety features. The Honda Sensing Technologies include:

• Auto high beam
• Brake Assist
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Forward Collision Warning system
• Hill Start Assist
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Slow-Speed Follow
• Road Departure Mitigation
• Traffic sign recognition

It earns a five star safety rating from the NHTSA and is named a top safety pick from the IIHS. 

Driving
The Accord comes equipped with either a 192hp turbocharged 1.5L four-cylinder engine or a 252hp turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine. The smaller engine is mated to a CVT transmission, and the later is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Honda has recalibrated the throttle response to provide better low end performance, and the effect is noticeable. I love how much torque the 2.0L turbocharged engine of our tester provides. It easily spins the front tires if you push the accelerator hard. The 10 speed automatic transmission is smooth and confidence inspiring. It shifts when you want it to, and is barely noticeable the times. For people who appreciate manual transmissions, a 6-speed manual is available for both the 1.5L and the 2.0L engine. It is a pleasant surprise as manual transmissions are getting hard to find in the market.

What really impresses me about the Accord is how it handles. The car feels nice and balanced with its body roll kept to a minimum in corners. At the same time, road disturbances are rarely felt in the cabin. Part of this is thanks to the available Adaptive Damper System (ADS) in our tester. In Sport mode, the ADS tightens the suspension to deliver precision around corners, and in Normal mode, the ADS softens up the suspension for a more comfortable ride.  

The steering is light and precise. I would personally appreciate a little bit more weight and feedback from the steering system, but the majority of people will appreciate the easy steering of the Accord.

Overall the Honda Accord provides an excellent balance between sportiness and comfort for a family sedan. It never left me wanting for more from the engine, and despite being a Front Wheel Drive car only, it handles various road conditions with ease. 

The 2.0L Accord is rated at 10.4L/100km in the city and 9.1L/100km on the highway. Our hard driven city test drive returns a fuel economy rating of 11.6L/100km.

Cargo Space & Storage
The trunk of the Accord is decently sized with 473L of storage space. The 60/40 split rear seats can be folded to allow access to the rear cabin. Underneath the trunk floor are tools for tire change, and a spare tire. 

In cabin storage options are plentiful. The center console storage bin is decently sized, so are the side door pockets. There are slim pockets behind the front seats and two additional cup holders in the rear fold-down armrest. 

Verdict
The 2020 Honda Accord is a solid family sedan that is equally good at everything. Its pleasing exterior design, roomy interior, capable drivetrain, as well as its strong safety rating all make the Accord a perfect family vehicle for the masses. In this SUV crazed world, we need more sedans like this to keep the segment alive. 

Test Vehicle
2020 Honda Accord Touring 2.0L
MSRP
$43290 CAD including freight & PDI
Color
Still Night Pearl