Review: 2020 Honda Accord El Turbo
By most accounts, the Accord is starting its deadening descent towards automotive purgatory. Flanked yesteryear contest such equally the Camry in addition to the Mazda6, Honda’s 1 time celebrated executive sedan is straightaway outperformed, outvalued, in addition to equally a result, outsold yesteryear the contest (and this isn’t taking into consideration the proliferation of mid-sized SUVs, too). However, instead of taking its fate lying downwards (hello, Altima in addition to Legacy), Honda has come upwards up alongside this: the tenth-generation Accord. The inquiry straightaway is: is it a siren vocal that lures buyers back, or is it a memorial for a dead machine rolling?
On the surface, things don’t bode good for the Accord. With only a unmarried trim back available, it seems Honda themselves lead maintain dismissed it to a niche beingness (remember the Camry withal has two, in addition to the Mazda6, three). Officially called the EL Turbo, this solitary variant is priced at P 2.288-million—around P 200,000 in addition to P 38,000 to a greater extent than than the top-line Camry in addition to Mazda6, respectively. And yet, despite its high toll tag, it doesn’t pack the single, most sought-after feature: the de-tuned Civic Type R engine; instead, it gets a re-tuned version of the Civic RS’s.
Surprisingly, all those worries become out the infinitesimal yous start driving. Its lack of a melodious depository fiscal establishment annotation aside, this 1.5-liter turbocharged motor is silky smooth. It’s tranquility in addition to unobtrusive inwards all but difficult driving situations, in addition to fifty-fifty then, it emits an angry purr when caned. Its 190-horsepower output is to a greater extent than than plenty to satisfy enthusiasts, a subjective feeling backed upwards yesteryear the fact that the Accord’s power-to-weight ratio is unopen to the Civic RS in addition to fifty-fifty beats the Mazda6 Diesel. Despite its reliance on boost, there’s no noticeable lag equally powerfulness comes inwards strong, holds on through the mid-range, in addition to alone eases upwards at the top-end. What’s lacking hither is torque. Since its peak figure comes rushing inwards early on at 1,600 rpm, yous larn that showtime hitting of urgency, followed yesteryear non much; there’s no additional surge that follows.
Some of the blame sure enough goes to the Accord’s solid, but unspectacular 260 Nm output, but largely, it’s downwards to Honda’s conclusion to spot inwards a CVT instead of a traditional torque converter gearbox. While it’s perfect for a daily driver (great for trotting inwards the metropolis or cruising on the highway), the condom band outcome is e'er acquaint whenever yous wishing it to produce something to a greater extent than enthusiastic. Toggling the ECON trend on or off seems to lead maintain footling effect, though switching to Sport does agree the revs much longer for a to a greater extent than entertaining drive. That said, the pocket-size displacement turbo in addition to CVT gearbox does better the fuel economic scheme hither registering 7.2 km/L inwards heavy in addition to 9.5 km/L inwards low-cal traffic.
The entire drivetrain is fitted to a well-rounded chassis. Honda is especially proud of this accomplishment due to its construction. It’s a mix of aluminum, 57 pct high-strength steel, in addition to 29 pct ultra-high-strength steel, resulting inwards a curb weight that’s 66 kilograms lighter than the previous Accord 2.4 S. Its on-road demeanor is tuned to a greater extent than towards a comfort-oriented drive, in addition to for that, it absorbs fossil oil patches of metropolis route alongside poise. Furthermore, it does a cracking project at suppressing route noises, too. Yet, force it to a greater extent than in addition to it obliges. Gifted alongside a natural in addition to well-weighted steering coupled alongside a taut body, it controls torso gyre quite well. It’s quite responsive, in addition to fifty-fifty fun. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 fleck of a caveat is that it does footling to mask its size. It exudes a big-car feel, perchance fifty-fifty to a greater extent than so because of the broad hood when viewed from the driver’s seat. Psychologically, this robs some feeling of agility, in addition to admittedly, takes getting used to.
Of course, the Accord was never meant to endure equally agile equally a Civic, so its big-car experience does hateful 1 of import matter to would-be executive sedan owners: big-car space. The novel fastback styling way extra attention must endure exercised when getting inwards in addition to out of the nurture seats, but aside from that there’s nix to complain about—there’s far to a greater extent than legroom hither than what the average Filipino adult would e'er need. The seating spot is cracking in addition to lets the driver larn equally depression or equally high equally desired. Still, it would endure prissy if the forepart seats were a fleck to a greater extent than sculpted. As they are, the bolsters are decent, but the middle share is a footling flat.
More than offering sheer space, Honda’s also done a fine project of improving yet some other Accord weak point: interior blueprint in addition to materials. The musical instrument panel in addition to infotainment concealment are both brilliant in addition to sharp, alongside the latter the best inwards whatever modern Honda alongside its snappy responses, in addition to big, easy-to-tap icons. It’s a far outcry from the ugly, low-res organisation installed inwards the Civic, in addition to thankfully, supported yesteryear rows of physical buttons in addition to switches. Though Honda’s non genuinely known for interior flair, hither it gets some inwards the temperature command knobs where the backlighting changes to ruddy or bluish if yous increase or decrease the temperature. All of the switches are inwards their logical places, though its strange why the gear lever is extra tall.
While the Accord feels large inside, thankfully it doesn’t await it from the outside. With a fastback-like roofline, depression in addition to broad stance, it has an undeniably sporty vibe. The tight creases in addition to lack of extraneous vents in addition to grilles larn inwards await lean in addition to athletic. Unfortunately, there’s 1 bothersome exceptional here, in addition to that’s the gawky taillights. Perhaps Honda should consider cleaning that upwards come upwards its refresh.
But an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than pressing trouble concern than the taillights is the price. As previously mentioned, it’s the most expensive amid the 3 best-selling executive sedans. Yet, it doesn’t lead maintain a sunroof, retention seats, or fifty-fifty a fancy good system. What it does lead maintain is Honda SENSING—a pack of driving aids that basically prevents a crash. Some, including Honda themselves may run across this equally a worthy tit for tat exchange, but at this toll range? It’s everything in addition to the kitchen sink, or bust.
All told, non giving its all is the Accord’s alone sin. While it looks in addition to drives well, is noticeably to a greater extent than refined, classier, in addition to genuinely comes packing driver tech, yous know Honda could lead maintain done to a greater extent than to larn inwards stand upwards out. Adding inwards Honda SENSING, spell impressive, isn’t plenty to seal the bargain inwards this already sparsely populated segment. Just equally how they’ve weaved their magic inwards the compact machine story alongside the Civic in addition to the compact SUV story alongside the CR-V, Honda could lead maintain opted added to a greater extent than features, plopped inwards a bigger motor (or hybrid), or sell it for less. Instead, they’ve played it safe, in addition to for that, they mightiness lead maintain sealed its fate.
2020 Honda Accord EL Turbo | |
| Ownership | 2020 Honda Accord EL Turbo Honda SENSING |
| Year Introduced | 2019 |
| Vehicle Classification | Executive Sedan |
| Warranty | 3 years / 100,000 kilometers |
| The Basic | |
| Body Type | 4-door sedan |
| Seating | 5 |
| Engine / Drive | F/F |
| Under the Hood | |
| Displacement (liters) | 1.5 |
| Aspiration | Turbocharged |
| Fuel Delivery | Direct Injection |
| Layout / # of Cylinders | I4 |
| BHP @ rpm | 190 @ 5,500 |
| Nm @ rpm | 260 @ 1,600-5,000 |
| Fuel / Min. Octane | Gasoline / 91 |
| Transmission | CVT |
| Cruise Control | Yes, Adaptive w/ Low Speed Follow |
| Fuel Economy @ Ave. Speed | 7.2 km/L @ 12 km/h, 9.5 km/L @ sixteen km/h |
| Dimensions in addition to Weights | |
| Length (mm) | 4,901 |
| Width (mm) | 1,862 |
| Height (mm) | 1,450 |
| Wheelbase (mm) | 2,830 |
| Curb Weight (kg) | 1,476 |
| Suspension in addition to Tires | |
| Front Suspension | Independent, MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Independent, Multi-link |
| Front Brakes | Vented Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc |
| Tires | Michelin Primacy 3 ST 235/45 R xviii V (f & r) |
| Wheels | Alloy |
| Safety Features | |
| Airbags | 6 |
| Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) | Yes, alongside EBD |
| Traction / Stability Control | Yes |
| Parking Sensors | Front in addition to Rear, alongside Reverse Camera |
| Front Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR alongside pre-tensioner x 2 |
| Rear Seatbelts | 3-pt ELR x 3 |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor | Yes |
| Other Safety Features | Lane Watch Tire Pressure Monitoring System Hill Start Assist Hill Descent Control Driver Attention Monitor Forward Collision Warning Collision Mitigation Braking System Lane Keep Assist Lane Departure Warning Road Departure Mitigation |
| Exterior Features | |
| Headlights | LED |
| Fog Lamps | Yes, Front (LED) |
| Auto Lights | Yes |
| Rain-sensing Wipers | Yes |
| Interior Features | |
| Steering Wheel Adjust | Tilt/Telescopic |
| Steering Wheel Material | Leather |
| Seating Adjustment (driver) | Electric, 8-way |
| Seating Adjustment (front passenger) | Electric, 4-way |
| Seating Surface | Leather |
| Folding Rear Seat | Yes w/ Pass Thru |
| On-Board Computer | Yes |
| Convenience Features | |
| Power Steering | Yes |
| Power Door Locks | Yes |
| Power Windows | Yes |
| Power Mirrors | Yes, alongside Fold |
| Proximity Key | Yes |
| Climate Control | Dual Zone w/ Rear Vents |
| Audio System | Stereo Aux USB Bluetooth GPS Apple CarPlay Android Auto |
| # of Speakers | 8 |
| Steering Controls | Yes |