Honda is putting one other large wager on hybrids.
The Eleventh-generation Accord, which mixes the sedan’s traditional fastback styling with a brand new air of class and forward-thinking tech, will provide three well-equipped gasoline-electric trims in Canada — 4 trims south of the border — which might be anticipated to attract half of all patrons in each nations.
The Japanese automaker initiatives 50 per cent of buyers will go for the hybrid fashions positioned on the prime of the 2023 Accord’s simplified lineup.
Very similar to the revamped 2023 CR-V hybrid, arriving in dealerships now, and the forthcoming Civic hybrid, prone to launch early subsequent 12 months, stoking curiosity within the newest Accord’s hybrid fashions is a part of Honda’s plan to shift clients into electrified powertrains. Honda goals to attain world carbon neutrality by 2050.
Along with checking a key field on Honda’s electrification technique, Lance Woelfer, Honda’s assistant vice chairman of gross sales, says that the redesigned Accord, unveiled Thursday, will “reinvigorate” the shrinking midsize phase.
Steve Hui, assistant vice-president of Honda Canada, referred to as the automobile “ an integral piece of our North American electrification technique.”
SEGMENT SHRINKS
The U.S. midsize automotive phase fell beneath 1 million models in 2021 and is off one other 16 per cent this 12 months via September, as shoppers migrate to crossovers and different mild vehicles.
On the similar time, Canada’s midsize automotive phase fell beneath 35,000 models in 2021 and is off one other 22 per cent this 12 months via September.
“Whereas dynamics are altering and the phase is not the powerhouse it as soon as was, it stays vital to the business and vital for Honda, which has been a mainstay of the class,” stated Stephanie Brinley, affiliate director at S&P International Mobility.
U.S. gross sales of the Accord slid 30 p.c to 122,214 this 12 months via October. Together with the venerable Civic, and extra just lately the HR-V subcompact crossover, the Accord stays a key entry level to the Honda model for a lot of U.S. households.
“The difficulties for Accord gross sales of the previous two years are as a lot about exterior elements than a scarcity of competitiveness or power for the Accord,” Brinley stated.
The Accord holds the No. 2 place on the midsize automotive leaderboard behind Camry, in line with the Automotive Information Knowledge Middle. The Camry is No. 1 with 214,403 U.S. deliveries in 2022 via September and Nissan’s Altima is No. 3 with gross sales of 106,122.
The updates to the 2023 Honda Accord are designed to maintain it aggressive. When it goes on sale in January, it’ll nonetheless provide patrons a sporty and sensible bundle with a spacious inside however up to date styling.
In whole, the most recent Accord is available in three trims: EX, Sport and Touring.
The EX retains the present turbocharged 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine mated to a repeatedly variable transmission that delivers 192 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque. Honda says the carryover powertrain has been up to date for improved gas financial system.
The opposite trims use Honda’s new fourth-generation 2.0-litre, inline four-cylinder engine with a pair of electrical motors mounted facet by facet. The hybrid engine makes 204 hp and 247 pound-feet of torque. The brand new hybrid system is extra responsive and refined, particularly at freeway speeds, in line with Honda.
Honda didn’t launch gas effectivity rankings for both powertrain.
The Accord’s new physique has been stretched 2.8 inches (7.1 centimetres) longer, emphasised by front-to-back higher character traces alongside the facet and an extended hood. The fastback roofline remains to be intact however with cleaner traces due to laser brazing versus welding expertise.
The entrance finish has been fully revised with a brand new upright grille and LED headlight design. New straight LED taillights on the rear spotlight the Accord’s broader stance — up 0.4 inches (one cm).
The Sport trims and the highest Touring get 19-inch black wheels and the EX will get 17-inch grey wheels. Different styling cues set the trims aside corresponding to silver and black exterior trim on the Touring and black facet mirrors and spoiler on the Sport fashions.
Inside dimensions stay near the outgoing Accord. Passenger quantity is 105.7 cubic ft (2,911 litres) whereas rear-seat legroom is a smidge extra beneficiant at 40.8 inches (103.6 cm), up .04 inches (one cm). The trunk area stays the identical at 16.7 cubic ft (473 litres); fold-down rear seats are normal.
New expertise options prominently on the 2023 Accord. All trims however the base EX are geared up with an enormous 12.3-inch touchscreen with a bodily quantity knob and wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Touring fashions function Honda’s first integration of Google, which has three ranges: Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play. Google Assistant will help with in-car capabilities corresponding to local weather management or navigation through Google Maps. The Touring mannequin additionally presents a 6-inch head-up show and 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.
All Accords are geared up with an up to date model of the Honda Sensing suite of superior driver-assistive expertise, which features a new digital camera with a wider 90-degree subject of view and a wider-angle radar with a 120-degree subject of view, that improves collision prevention efficiency.
Blind-spot data has been expanded to incorporate 82 ft — or 25 metres — of vary. For the primary time, site visitors jam help is normal on the Accord, and adaptive cruise management with low pace observe and lane hold help have been up to date. Visitors signal recognition is now normal and low-speed braking management is out there on the Touring.
The Accord additionally now features a rear seat reminder and a rear seat belt reminder.
Honda has not launched pricing.
The Eleventh-generation Accord will probably be in-built Honda’s meeting plant in Marysville, Ohio.