Remember the Honda Accord? The de facto family sedan for parents who didn’t want a Toyota Camry? It wasn’t too long ago when we all grew up around Accords, but families have adapted to using CR-Vs and Pilots for that crucial transport duty. The big question is whether it is car buyers or the Accord that have changed. and we spent a week with this 2022 Honda Accord Touring 2.0 to find out.
Unlike previous generations, the current Accord is only offered as a sedan and its silhouette is not the traditional three-box design that we are familiar with. The 2022 Accord is all business in the front thanks to its sharp looking LED headlights and grille, with a party look – a swooping fastback design – starting from the C-pillar rearward. This unconventional design has drawn a bit of controversy since it was unveiled but the styling has aged well and we prefer it over the dull crossovers in the school pick-up lane.
A lesser known advantage of sedans is that they generally come with more seating space when compared to similarly priced crossovers in the market. The Accord is no exception – there is more legroom than a Honda CR-V and headroom is not much less either despite the sloping roof. The Accord’s 473-litre trunk volume pales in comparison to compact crossovers, but its lower and wider opening makes loading easy and the Accord is more accommodating than the figure suggests.
The Accord comes with a choice of two engines – a base 1.5-liter and this upgraded 2.0-liter mill. Both are four cylinders and both sport turbochargers to aid with its power output. Horsepower on the optional 2.0T gets a healthy bump to 252, and torque is rated at 273 lb-ft. that arrives as early as 1,500 RPM. Thanks to maximum torque arriving early in the powerband, the Accord 2.0T feels quick off the line and even gives a bit of tire chirp when you hammer the throttle.
Steering is fairly good; there is decent road feel and the response is accurate and predictable. The chassis is tuned well for street comfort, and is responsive enough to allow for some joyrides when roads get twisty. There is understeer when the Accord is pushed into a corner to remind of its family sedan roots, but we would still much rather have the Accord’s driving dynamics over most crossovers.
Fuel economy is rated at 10.4L/100km in the city and 7.4L/100km on the highway for an average of 9.1L/100km, closely matching our observed 9.5L/100km fuel consumption for the week. Regular fuel is accepted on the Accord 2.0T and its fuel tank capacity is rated at 56 litres. It’s on the smaller side for the segment but does the job adequately.
Interior appointments follow the typical Honda no-frills practicality-first approach – there is plenty of storage space and all buttons are clearly labeled and within reach. Unlike most manufacturers who follow the same interior layout across their portfolio, Honda’s designers mixed things up a bit, resulting in varying amounts of shortcut keys and slightly different user experiences. Good news here is that the Accord has the best layout with two columns of shortcut keys running alongside the seven-inch touchscreen, making it easy for quick navigation without much distraction.
The Honda infotainment system is fairly intuitive; most command prompts are easily found and there are not too many submenus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration is standard across the Accord lineup, with the premium ten-speaker sound system along with a wireless charging pad standard on every model except the base SE. The top-of-line Touring model tested here includes HD Radio, navigation, and Wi-Fi hotspot function not found anywhere else in the lineup.
We love that the Honda Sensing driver assist suite is standard on every Accord, which includes features such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Blind Spot Information, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Collision Mitigation Braking, Auto High Beam, and Lane Departure Warning systems. Exclusive on the Touring model is the Low Speed Braking Control system that alerts its driver of potential collisions with any obstacles up front or behind while traveling at speeds up to 10km/h as well as aiding in braking if the driver does not respond in time.
The 2022 Honda Accord starts at a reasonable $33,670 for the base SE with the 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, with the Touring 2.0 trim coming in at $42,870. The only option available is the colour – $300 for any colour except for the standard Modern Steel Metallic. This brings the sticker for our Sonic Grey Pearl painted sample to $43,170.
The Accord is alive and competing as well as it ever did in the once-popular family sedan segment, and it remains a top choice alongside its archrival – the Toyota Camry. The main question is whether it is still a capable family hauler, and we think the answer is a resounding yes, especially for those who are not outdoorsy. What you lose in cargo space is easily made up for by the 2022 Honda Accord Touring 2.0’s accommodative interior space and responsive handling.
