Introduction
At the stunning St. Regis Resort and Club in Dubai, the 2018 Honda Accord was unveiled alongside the sixth generation of the Honda Gold Wing, in front of company executives and journalists. Following its global success with over 19.9 million units sold since its debut in 1976, the 2018 Honda Accord is anticipated to achieve remarkable success and dominate its class due to its stunning design, turbocharged engine lineup, and an array of standard features.
Exterior Design
The new Accord is available in 10 distinctive exterior colors and two interior options. It is constructed with 29% high-strength steel (the highest percentage used in any mass production), and features a longer wheelbase than its predecessor. It also boasts a lower and wider stance, with a reduced height compared to the previous model. The Sportback variant features a shorter body length behind the wheels and a lower front end, shifting the center of gravity closer to the rear wheels.
Interior Design
Inside, the cabin has seen an increase in space across all seating areas due to the changes in wheelbase and added width; the rear legroom increases by 48 mm, with a total cabin space increase of 70 liters, and a 25-liter increase in trunk capacity. Visibility has improved through a narrower front bumper and a noticeably lower dashboard. To enhance its sporty character, the steering wheel has been redesigned to a thicker profile, equipped with paddle shifters behind it, and aluminum pedals in the higher sport trims.
Technology and Safety
The 2018 Honda Accord is equipped with impressive technology and safety features, including:
- 8-inch infotainment system display.
- Knee airbags (standard in base model).
- LED headlights.
- Driver attention monitoring system.
- Heads-up display.
- Honda Sensing safety suite.
- Adaptive cruise control.
Honda Sensing System
To clarify, the Honda Sensing system is Honda's comprehensive suite of safety features intended to distinguish itself from competitors. This system includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (integrated with pedestrian detection).
- Lane Keeping Assist System.
- Road Departure Mitigation System.
- Lane Departure Warning.
- Adaptive cruise control adjustable for low-speed traffic conditions.
Engines and Performance
Regarding its engines, the 2018 Honda Accord introduces new options. In addition to its well-known naturally aspirated engine, the car now offers two turbocharged engine options to replace the 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter engines. The new 1.5-liter turbo engine replaces the previous 2.4-liter, generating 198 horsepower and 260 Nm of torque, paired with a CVT transmission. This represents a notable power increase over the previous 2.4-liter engine, which produced 189 horsepower and 247 Nm of torque.
The 3.5-liter engine has been replaced with a smaller turbocharged unit; the new 2.0-liter turbo engine delivers 247 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine enables the new Accord to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds (6.3 seconds for the Toyota Camry V6), demonstrating Honda's assertion that smaller turbo engines can be more efficient than larger ones.
Pricing and Competition
The prices for the 2018 Honda Accord range from AED 94,900 to AED 120,000 for the 1.5-liter engine variant, while the 2.0-liter engine version is priced at AED 140,000. Undoubtedly, the new Honda Accord is poised to enhance its competitiveness and boost its sales.
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