Overview & Reviews

Few vehicles from overseas manufacturers have garnered as much respect in North America as the Honda Accord. It hasn't achieved this status by being glamorous, sexy or thrilling. Instead, Honda just seems to have its finger on the pulse of what Americans value most. Take an Accord for a spin and you'll find it to be comfortable, roomy, intelligently engineered and easy to drive. It's also backed by strong resale value and a solid reputation for reliability.

You'll find that certain competing sedans and coupes are quicker, more prestigious or simply less expensive than the Accord. What's special about the Honda Accord, though, is its completeness. It scores well across a broader range of categories than practically any family-friendly sedan or coupe on the market. When examined from this holistic standpoint, it's easy to see why the Accord has become an automotive icon and remains one of our editors' top recommendations.

User Reviews:

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  An Utterly Depressing Car - 2012 Honda Accord
  By E_W - August 18 - 2:39 pm

  Powertrain: Slow slow slow acceleration. No torque, with flat spots and hesitation everywhere. 5-speed manual has had a crunchy 1-2 shift since new - Im not a rookie driver. Geared for fuel economy with long jumps between 1-2 and 4-5. Falls on its face when you shift unless youre perfect. E-Throttle is absolutely atrocious and unpredictable. Once I turn the A/C on in the late spring, it stays on until October, because it takes two days to re-learn how to drive the terrible E-throttle and jumpy engine when you toggle between A/C on and off - the engine response is different to the point of multiple personalities. Engine is quiet at speed but thrashy if (when) you have to rev over 3500 RPM in search of some power for everyday acceleration needs. Be prepared for tailgaters unless youre comfortable shifting at Nascar RPM levels. Highway driving is better - 5th is just right for economy vs. not having to downshift much. Interior: Cheap materials. Ok layout and good space. I dont share the complaint about the seats, I can drive this car for 10 hours without back issues. Im 240 lbs, maybe I have a different spine than most. Road noise is insane, louder than commercial trucks Ive driven. Ive never owned a louder vehicle in my life. Honda doesnt even pretend to make an effort to quiet these cars down. The stitching on the most frequently used seats hasnt separated yet, but its looking pretty sorry. Economy: Until about 60k miles I averaged right around 30 MPG in highway-biased mixed driving with A/C on. Good real world mileage for a bigger car. 33-34 MPG fully loaded on family roadtrips with A/C on. MPG has dropped to about 26 in similar driving, but Im on factory spark plugs at almost 90k so its probably time for a tune-up. Reliability: No check engine light for 90k miles. 3rd set of rear brakes, but factory fronts - common complaint in these cars but abnormal for a passenger car. Weird popping sound when I first pull out of a parking spot after sitting - happened since day 1 and I dont hear it anymore. Uneven tire wear despite alignments and rotation. Terribly, horribly loud tires as a result of cupping and no sound insulation. Second set of tires, different brand, same result. Had to replace two lower motor mounts at 85k due to clunking, and the car still isnt right. Im afraid it needs axles although I dont know why it would after 90k of mostly highway. The boots are fine. Overall Driving Experience: MISERABLE Slow, hesitate-y, boring, loud, depressing. What seems like a smart buying decision on paper leads to disappointment. Value: I got what I considered a screamin deal on a no-option stick base model. The car feels every bit an economy car although it is economical.

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  Disillusioned - 2010 Honda Accord
  By Michael F. Kelly - August 15 - 12:24 pm

  Most disappointed. At 50,000 problems with coil, not once, but twice before 64,000. Cracked spark plug in addition to front end problems. Perhaps Honda needs to keep manufacturing in Japan or stick to four cylinder engines.

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  Transmission Failure - 2003 Honda Accord
  By Shannon - August 13 - 1:53 pm

  I bought this car as my first car. It worked wonderfully, I loved it! Then two weeks later the transmission fails. Everywhere I read says this is a common problem with this year. I spent all my money I saved on this car, I dont have enough to buy a new transmission.

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  Never again - 2008 Honda Accord
  By Sharon - August 9 - 5:23 pm

  At 96000 miles, I just put my 5th set of back brakes on the car! Honda tells me its the way I drive... Funny Im driving a Toyota for the last two years and the back brakes still need replacing... Other than a new battery at 3 years and problems with spiders and webs causing a sensor to break, front brakes x 1 and tires etc its been reliable that is if you dont mind replacing back brakes every year or two!

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  Reliable? No - 2009 Honda Accord
  By Martha Lamb - July 19 - 10:59 am

  I bought my 09 Honda Accord sedan because I wanted reliability, and I was willing to pay more up front to avoid the repairs that one expects from less reliable American made cars. When I bought my dealer certified Accord, it had 65000 miles and now it has 165000. During the time Ive owned it I have had to replace the rear brakes, the drivers side window control, the entire air conditioning system, and now, the rack and pinion steering. I am bitterly disappointed with this cat and will NOT purchase another Honda.

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  Poorly redesigned - 2015 Honda Accord
  By tmahler - June 26 - 7:04 pm

  The redesign of the 2015 Accord is poorly done. Seats are extremely uncomfortable, dashboard is poorly planned out, doors are awkward and heavy to open. The exterior design looks like a box and it has poor maneuverability. The steering wheel has that infernal Bluetooth poorly located. Every time I put my hands on the wheel the Bluetooth comes up. Very poor positioning.

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  Dont Buy - 2012 Honda Accord
  By taranm1985 - June 18 - 1:49 am

  I have a 2012 Honda Accord ex 4 cyl. It hesitates when pulling out and when changing gears. Its still under warranty and Im having to go through a consumption test on the oil because its using so much oil. I had a Honda Accord LX 2000 V6 that I wish I still had it was a great car. I decided against leather interior and went with fabric. The interior is a dark black plush fabric and is a total nightmare to clean and to try to keep clean. I wish I had never purchased this car. Also the seats are not comfortable.

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  Our 4th and last Accord Coupe, and our last Honda - 2009 Honda Accord
  By bass56 - June 14 - 5:08 pm

  We have owned 4 Accord Coupes starting in 1999. All purchased new and each new model has been progressively worse, in quiet , comfort and reliability. I am fastidious about car maintenance and the detail of maintenance of this Accord has been excellent. The car is noisey and has rattles . The braking system has been nothing short of unreliable. All brakes and rotors have been replaced 2x and now it appears as if we must replace a brake caliper... it is locking up on us after short trips. We have also replaced wheel bearings and have had an on going oil problem. This oil problem is related to the same issues that prompted the class action suit.

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  Accord: nice features, awful ride quality - 2015 Honda Accord
  By ks1234 - March 20 - 9:04 pm

  After driving a Camry for years, I bought a new 2015 Accord LX last week. Boy do I regret it. Just sitting in the Camry and Accord, there is no comparison - the Accord is nicer, has more standard features, and appears to be more solidly built. On my test drive I noticed that the ride was pretty bumpy but I wrote that off to the lousy condition of the local roads. The uh-oh moment came the next day on my ride to work when my brand new Accord found road bumps that I never knew existed. Im sure its just personal preference, but I find the ride quality to be HORRIBLE. For all the would-be Accord buyers out there, please test drive thoroughly before you buy. I wish I had.

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  Stay away from this one - 2000 Honda Accord
  By Matthew Hamann - March 15 - 2:16 pm

  While Accords are typically reliable cars, they seem to have frequent transmission problems. Unless you find one of these for dirt cheap (including an already rebuilt transmission), I suggest looking for a different car entirely. My 2000 Accord got to about 130,000 and suddenly developed severe transmission issues. Its now approaching 140,000 and Im still driving it 20+ miles to work every day, but every day I get in, I wonder if it will make it home. I asked Honda for some good-will in helping me fix the transmission (even a discount wouldve been fine!) since these cars are known for their transmission woes, but they flatly declined. I dont see myself buying another Honda.