2020 Honda Accord Road Test and Review

2020 Honda Accord Grey Front Three Quarter ・ Photo by Honda

Remember when the Accord was the best selling Honda in America? No? Well, it was a while ago. Times change, and market trends come and go. The CR-V crossover has taken over the spot of America’s most popular Honda, while the Civic compact car also now outsells the Accord.

We aren’t knocking Honda’s mid-size sedan. In fact, the 2020 Honda Accord is one of our favorite cars. And we’re not the only ones that love the Accord’s sporty driving characteristics, high fuel-economy, spacious cabin, and legendary quality and durability. Americans have bought more than 12.7 million Accords since 1976, and it’s still one of America’s best-selling cars with sales of nearly 270,000 last year. Now in its 10th generation, the family-friendly Accord is still built in Marysville, Ohio, just as has been since 1992. It competes very successfully against a long list of popular, high-quality, high-value family sedans including the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Subaru Legacy, Volkswagen Passat, and Mazda6.

Prices Start Below $25,000

The Honda Accord sedan is available in five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Most Accords use a smooth and responsive 192-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a CVT automatic transmission. Another engine is optional on the Sport and EX-L, and standard on the Touring: a turbocharged 252-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, typically paired with an excellent 10-speed automatic. However, the Sport model offers a six-speed manual transmission with either engine — the only one in its class. A gas-electric Honda Accord Hybrid is also available, and we review it separately. 

Prices start at $24,800, including a $930 destination charge, and top out at $37,030 for a Touring 2.0T like our test vehicle. Standard features on the Touring include leather-trimmed upholstery, heated front and rear seats, a 10-speaker audio system, 19-inch wheels, and navigation.

Photo by Honda

Still Seriously Fun-to-Drive

Unlike some of its competitors, the Honda Accord has never been boring to drive. While some mid-size sedans lull you to sleep, the Accord has always been sporty and engaging. It’s one of the keys to its continuous success over the years.

That tradition continues with the 2020 Honda Accord. This isn’t a car you have to drive — it’s a car you want to drive. Our Accord Touring test vehicle was comfortable and effortless, but its powerful engine, responsive steering, and athletic handling kept it from ever feeling like an old man’s car. On a twisty road, it’s more fun-to-drive than a family sedan is supposed to be — especially in Sport Mode, which increases its throttle response and firms up its suspension. Unfortunately, some may find the Accord’s ride to be a bit busy, especially with the Touring’s 19-inch wheels and low profile tires. It isn’t uncomfortable, but it doesn’t isolate you from the road either. Potholes are felt.

Photo by Honda

Quick and Powerful

Honda has always made fantastic four-cylinder engines, and most buyers will be satisfied with the Accord’s smooth and powerful 1.5-liter. Although we prefer the more responsive 10-speed automatic, Honda’s CVT is one of the best on the market, and it’s a good match with the small-displacement turbocharged engine.

If you need more power, don’t hesitate to step up to the 2.0-liter, which is similar to the engine used in the Honda Civic Type R — one of the premier high-performance hatchbacks in the world. The engine makes 273 lb-ft of torque, so there’s plenty of power up and down its tachometer, and the punch off the line will make you smile. There's occasionally a bit of turbo lag, but it's not enough to be a problem, and the 10-speed is usually in the right gear. If you catch it napping, Sport mode wakes it up nicely, and there’s also manual control with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Photo by Honda

Exceptional Fuel Economy

Unlike many turbocharged engines out there, both of the Honda’s run on regular-grade gasoline to keep costs down. Their fuel economy is also very good for this class. With the 1.5-liter and six-speed manual transmission, the Accord is rated at 26 mpg in the city and 35 mpg on the highway. And with the CVT, those numbers climb to 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway.

With the 2.0-liter four-cylinder and the 10-speed automatic, the Accord EX-L is rated at 23 mpg and 34 mpg highway, while the Sport and Touring are rated at 22 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. We averaged 27.7 mpg during a week of mixed driving, beating the Accord’s 26 mpg combined rating.

Photo by Honda

Exceedingly Handsome

The 2020 Honda Accord is handsome from every angle, and our Touring test vehicle — with its oversized 19-inch wheels and dual exhaust — looked quite upscale. And sporty. It gets noticed, and looks more expensive than our test car’s $37,000 sticker price. One neighbor thought it was a BMW. Another asked if it was the new Cadillac CT5, which has a similar C-pillar treatment.

Last redesigned in 2018, the Accord still looks fresh. Its exterior design isn’t exactly radical, or even as aggressive as some others in the class, but its combination of athletic proportions, intricate use of brightwork, and wide stance keeps it from blending into the landscape.

Photo by Honda

One of the Best Interiors in Its Class

Much like its exterior, the interior of the 2020 Honda Accord is a bit understated, but far from boring. It’s also spacious, very well-appointed, and extremely comfortable. It’s undoubtedly one of the best interiors in its class.

Outward visibility is outstanding; the leather seats in our test vehicle were firm, well-shaped, and supportive; and it’s easy to find the perfect driving position. It felt good even after hours behind the wheel, and its seat heaters warm up quickly. Control placement is excellent, and Honda uses class-leading materials throughout the cabin. Build quality is very high. All the knobs and switches function with precision, nothing feels cheap or flimsy, and the thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel feels good in your hands. I love that big red engine start button, though the Accord’s push-button shifter does take a few days to get used to.

Photo by Honda

Plenty of In-Cabin Tech

Our loaded Accord Touring test car was packed with tech. Its cabin featured a 10-speaker audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, onboard Wi-Fi, a wireless phone charger, a driver attention monitor, and a head-up display. There are also easily accessed USB ports and a large, well-placed touchscreen.

Unfortunately, the systems graphics are dated, especially its navigation maps. They just look a bit old fashioned. The systems prompts are also a bit wonky. It could be easier to use. On the plus side, the sedan also had a multi-view rear camera, which made parking and maneuvers in tight spaces much easier.

Photo by Honda

Family-Friendly Cabin

The 2020 Honda Accord offers more rear-seat room than many of its competitors. It seats five easily and rear passengers will like the rear air conditioning vents. Parents with younger kids will appreciate its easy-to-reach LATCH connectors in the outboard seats and easily accessed upper tether anchors.

Storage inside the Accord’s interior is generous and well thought out. The center console bin, door pockets, and two front cupholders are large. They’re also deep and well placed so tall drinks don’t interfere with any of the switchgear, and they won’t tip over when you swerve to avoid the truck that just veered into your lane. The Accord also offers 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space, which is above average for its class and larger than the trunk of the Toyota Camry. Every Accord comes standard with a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, which easily drops flat to accommodate longer items.

Photo by Honda

Advanced Safety Systems Are Standard

The 2020 Honda Accord is also one of the safest cars in its class. It has been named a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and it earned the highest crash test rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Many active safety systems are standard. Every Accord comes with Honda Sensing, which includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, and lane-keeping assistance. It uses a camera mounted atop the windshield to read the lines of the road. When it determines you’re leaving your lane unintentionally, it will turn the steering wheel to correct your line and keep you in the lane. Our test vehicle also included a blind-spot monitor with a rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. 

Photo by Honda

Final Thoughts

Comfortable, stylish, family-friendly, and fun to drive, the 2020 Honda Accord is a favorite in the very competitive mid-size sedan category. Although sedan sales are soft as the popularity of SUVs continues to climb, Americans still buy plenty of them, and the Accord remains one of the very best.

Unfortunately, Honda doesn’t offer the Accord with all-wheel drive. If you’re after all-wheel drive in this class, check out the Nissan Altima, Subaru Legacy, or Toyota Camry. Also, don’t be so quick to pay up for the more powerful 2.0-liter engine. The 192-hp 1.5-liter is more than enough for most buyers. And you’ll appreciate the additional fuel economy over time. Drive it with a light foot and you can average over 30 mpg.

Photo by Honda