Five-Point Inspection: 2013 Honda Accord Coupe HFP

Taking something from ordinary to extraordinary is no easy task, and there might not be a better example of ordinary than the Honda Accord.

A solid family car that offers dependability and ease of use over all else, are the folks at Honda crazy for trying to make this family hauler perform on the track?

Starting with a V6-powered Accord Coupe, Honda tacks on new suspension and a full body kit in an attempt to take this car from bland to spicy. It costs $4,620 before installation. Will your money be well spent or are you better off buying something a little less obscure? Read on to find out.

The Accord Coupe HFP is a good looking car. It has the benefit of already being slung forward in typical sloping coupe fashion, but it also benefits from losing 15 millimeters of ride height along with a body kit complete with a decklid spoiler and underbody spoilers all around. HFP badging finishes off the exterior, which offers a clean look that is not overdone in any way.

Lines are taut on this car, and nothing about the Accord sags or bends. There is just enough added style to reveal the car’s quick nature, but not so much that is shouts “hey look at me!”

The main dose of sport found in the Accord Coupe HFP comes courtesy of a revised suspension setup that enhances this car quite a bit. Thrown into a corner, it sticks and stays composed while carrying decent speed, feeling like a whole different machine compared to the stock Accord. Ride quality is firm, but isn’t too intrusive in everyday driving, and is definitely worth putting up with for the added performance.

Combined with the 278 hp of the V6, the Accord Coupe HFP has more than enough power to keep a driving enthusiast happy, but still offers most of the practicality of the family-oriented Accord, save the deletion of two doors of course.

In their fervor preparing this car, the engineers at Honda Performance Development seem to have forgotten all about the steering. As mentioned, the car dives into corners and sticks, but the steering does nothing to let the driver know how close to the limit the car is. That’s because whether you are mid-turn on a race track or just on your favorite stretch of road, the steering wheel offers almost no feedback.

It is light at all times, never once suggesting that this is anything more than a standard Accord. The suspension lives up the HFP badge, but the steering definitely does not.

The insides of the Accord Coupe HFP are nearly identical to the standard car, which is disappointing. HFP models get red floor mats along with some red accent lighting, and that’s about it. There is very little in this interior to suggest it is anything more than a grocery-getting family car, offering little reward for buyers who spring for the HFP model.

Although it would be nice to see more interior goodies, it is hard to argue with the effectiveness of the stock setup. Seats are comfortable and dash layout is creative and offers different control options for the same systems, meaning you can use the touchscreen, or a knob to change your music for example.

*non-HFP model shown.

The last and most important statistic about the Accord Coupe HFP is the price, starting at $35,760. Add a navigation system, and the price rises to $37,760.

This car is a bit of an anomaly with no direct competitors, but there are quite a few other two-door sports cars that offer more value. A 2013 Ford Mustang V6 Track Pack can be had for $30,585, while even a base Mustang GT equipped with a beastly 5.0-liter V8 can be had for less money than the Accord Coupe HFP. Probably the most direct competitor, the V6 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Track also undercuts the Honda, ringing in at $33,875.

A fun car based on its own merits, when compared to the power and handling that can be found elsewhere for less money, the Accord Coupe HFP becomes much less appealing. Honda has only committed to building 500, most of which will probably be bought by Honda loyalists or those who didn’t do their homework.

Are you interested in a Honda Accord Coupe? Take a look at our Honda new cars buying page.

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