It’s no surprise that the world’s richest man, Jeff Bezos, was seen driving a Honda Accord as recently as 2013. It’s a fun car to drive, and it seems to have everything you could ever want from a car, which means it is the perfect car for everyone, apparently, including the man who has it all. The 2020 Honda Accord is no exception as it keeps building on the Accord legend.
The Accord has become a household name in its 42 model years and has established itself as the go-to in the midsize family sedan segment, which is well-earned, but doesn’t tell the whole story. The secret to the Accord’s market dominance lies in its ability to engage the driver, and this is something that cannot be understated. People enjoy driving the Accord. And Honda realizes this, as the Accord is one of the only remaining family-oriented sedans that is still available with a manual transmission.
The 2020 Accord seems to get everything right. The current generation won the 2019 Kelley Blue Book (KBB) Best Buy Award for a midsize car, and it’s easy to see why. You know you can count on strong resale value and a reputation for excellent reliability, which is why it has won numerous awards throughout the years. But what specifically is so great about the 2020 Honda Accord? Let’s take a look at some of the features that make the Accord one of the best cars on the market.
Let’s Take a Test Drive
The standard base engine is a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 with 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque, and as you merge onto the freeway, you can feel it has enough power to get in front of a semi-truck and pass a few cars easily before settling into your lane. You had to see if it had enough power, and you’re pleased with the quick acceleration and capable handling. The ride is surprisingly smooth, too, thanks to the CVT automatic transmission. With this powertrain, the Accord gets an estimated 30/38 MPG, which is among the top of its class.
You can only wonder what the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 would feel like. With 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, you might have been tempted to pass a few more cars. This engine can be paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission or a 6-speed manual on the Sport trim. The manual transmission is a great option to have as it really turns the Accord into a more performance-oriented car, and adds a level of excitement you won’t find in other family sedans. The manual transmission can also be paired with the 1.5-liter engine.
The other option is the Accord Hybrid with a 2.0-liter inline-4 with an AC Synchronous Permanent-Magnet Electric Motor and CVT automatic transmission. This engine produces a respectable 212 combined horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is an impressive 48/47 mpg. It’s hard to say no to numbers like that. Imagine how much you will save on gas and the total cost of ownership.
Honda Sensing
Clearly, safety is one of Honda’s main priorities, and this is evidenced by the fact that every Accord comes standard with a host of safety features and driver assists. These include forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Keep in mind; these features are standard for all trim levels, which shows how committed Honda is to safety. If you are looking for a family car, this is definitely something to remember when you are shopping around for your next car.
It’s no wonder that the 2020 Honda Accord has a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Transportation Administration as well as a Top Safety Pick classification from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Standard Features
The 2020 Honda Accord comes in six trim levels: LX, Hybrid, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. You can get the hybrid in Hybrid, EX, EX-L, and Touring. For the base model LX, there are a lot of options included that might surprise you: Honda Sensing (mentioned earlier), push-button start, a multi-angle rearview camera, and 7-inch LCD screen with Bluetooth and USB connectivity, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a 4-speaker audio system.
That’s a lot considering that the Accord starts at only $24,020! For under $25,000, you can have all of those features with the option of adding whatever else makes sense for you and your family. Let’s take a look at the next trim level, the Sport: an 8-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone integration, 12-way-power driver’s seat, 8-speaker audio system, 60/40-split/folding rear seats, and 19-inch wheels. Not bad for only about $2,500 more.
The next level is the EX, and here you’ll find blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, heated front seats, power moonroof, remote start, rear-seat air vents, and keyless entry with an automatic locking function. The EX-L adds a 450-watt/10-speaker premium audio system, leather seats, 4-way-power passenger seat, HomeLink universal garage remote, and auto-dimming rearview mirror.
At the highest trim level, you’ll feel like you’re in a luxury sedan with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, navigation, a head-up display, rain-sensing windshield wipers, adaptive damper suspension, a wireless phone charger, and a mobile hotspot.
Interior
The 2020 Honda Accord seats five passengers, so it’s perfectly suited for a family. If you’re looking for a car built for road trips and soccer practice and carpooling duty, this is it. The interior is roomier than you would expect from its sleek exterior lines. The rear seat is especially roomy with plenty of legroom to stretch out. And with 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, there’s lots of room for gear and suitcases. The Accord is among the top of its class in trunk space.
The passenger area offers lots of bins and pockets for miscellaneous items such as phones, books, water bottles, etc., so you can keep your kid’s stuff neatly organized. It should be noted that the Accord Hybrid does not have different dimensions in terms of trunk space or interior room. Some hybrids are known to have reduced space in the back to accommodate the batteries, but the Accord is not affected by this. The hybrid model even has a split-folding rear seat.
An Icon
The 10th-generation Accord has established itself once again as one of the best sedans on the market, bringing a sense of urgency to the family sedan, with a focus on safety and exciting features. With the Accord, you’ll find a rare combination of performance, refinement, technology, and value, which is why it’s won dozens of awards and accolades since its introduction over forty years ago, including the 2018 North American Car of the Year. This generation’s Accord has been named “America’s Best Sedan” by Car and Driver, and it’s no secret why. Accord is the all-time leader in the magazine’s “10 Best” awards, with 33 appearances on the exclusive list.
Now we know why Jeff Bezos was still driving around in a Honda Accord, despite his billions of dollars—most likely he just couldn’t part with his Accord, and you won’t be able to either once you get behind the wheel.
