2018 Honda Accord Debuts With Turbo Engines, 10-Speed Transmission

Despite these minor changes, interior space has grown by an appreciable amount. Honda claims backseat legroom has been increased by 1.9 inches, a boon for taller folks. Additionally, passenger volume swells to just shy of 106 cubic feet.

Likewise, this car’s cargo hold is larger, clocking in at nearly 17 cubic feet, likely a best-in-class figure. Take that, Camry!

Oh yeah, sorry fans of affordable stylish coupes – this new-generation Accord spells the end of the Accord Coupe.

Providing up to 32 percent greater rigidity than the outgoing model, more than 54 percent of the new Accord’s structure is comprised of high-strength steel. This should improve both refinement and safety, not that today’s car is lacking in either of these areas. Still, depending on variant, overall weight is down by up to 176 pounds, an impressive figure for a vehicle that’s not that large.

SEE ALSO: 2018 Toyota Camry Review

Improving forward sightlines, the 2018 model’s cowl height has been reduced and its A-pillars have gone on a crash diet, their girth shrinking by 20 percent. Helping improve efficiency, this is supposedly the most aerodynamic Accord Honda has ever built.

Further cutting consumption is a pair of downsized, turbocharged engines. Both feature direct fuel injection and are matched to advanced transmissions. The base engine is a 1.5-liter unit that’s rated at 192, both horsepower and lb-ft of torque. For drivers who want more, you can also get a 2.0-liter engine. Sharing components with the Civic Type R’s powerplant, it delivers a stout 252 ponies and 273 units of twist. Honda is projecting best-in-class fuel economy and performance figures.

As for gearboxes, Honda is throwing a major bone to driving enthusiasts because a six-speed manual is available with either engine, as unpopular as it will probably be. For other motorists, the 1.5-liter unit can also be had with a CVT, while its larger sibling is offered with a 10-speed automatic, a world first innovation for a front-wheel-drive car.

For ultra-thrifty motoring, a hybrid version of the Accord will also be offered. Its drivetrain is centered around a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine that achieves 40 percent thermal efficiency, the best of any mass-produced Honda engine. It’s augmented by a pair of electric motors that were developed in-house. Interestingly, they use magnets that contain no heavy, rare-earth metals.

On the technology front, all 2018 Honda Accords feature Honda Sensing, the brand’s suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies. This includes goodies like lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and much more. Full-LED headlights are also on the menu, along with available adaptive dampers.

SEE ALSO: 2018 Honda Civic Type R Review

Inside, there’s a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an all-new HMI with a seven-inch TFT display in the instrument cluster as well as an eight-inch touchscreen on the dashboard. Responding to our biggest gripe, physical knobs for volume and radio tuning are back.

Beyond this, the car offers wireless device charging, 4G LTE-powered Wi-Fi and even over-the-air system updates. Naturally, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility are baked right in for maximum convenience.