2020 Honda Accord: First impression

Honda Malaysia recently launched the tenth-gen Accord in the country which was due for a full model revamp from a quite some time now and the D-segment sedan has a plethora of changes. Over the years, the Accord has been one of the flagship-models for Honda contributing to sales year after year. Every time a new-gen model of Accord was introduced it set new standards in terms of technology, features and styling. So, does the new 2020 Accord has what it takes to set higher standards? Let’s find out.

2020 Honda Accord - Exterior

On the outside, a lot has changed. It appears to be longer than before and on the sleeker side than the one we had earlier in our markets. However, in reality, the length of the sedan has been reduced by 34 mm, now measuring 4,901 mm. The increased appearance of the sedan is probably due to the extended wheelbase, which has a significant change of 55 mm, now measuring 2,830 mm. As far as other dimensions are concerned, the 2020 Accord’s width has been increased by 12 mm, while the height has been reduced by 15 mm.

Talking about the appearance, Honda Accord has got a major design overhaul. It is no longer a traditional sedan, rather a fastback now, very similar to what Honda has done to the latest Civic. The back includes an upswept deck, wrap-around tail lights, again similar to the Civic’s but not identical and integrated twin exhaust exists that are garnished in chrome for a premium look. The new Accord gets a sloping roofline just like a coupe with a neat kinked window line.

At the front, there is large chrome wing flanked by slim headlamps and an extended grille that goes all the way down to the bumper. The bumper design is sharper than before, features horizontal slim LED fog lamps.

Exterior Highlights:

• LED headlamps with auto high beam function
• LED daytime running lights
• LED tail lamps
• 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels
• Short rear deck
• Sweeping roofline that gives the coupe-like appearance
• Extended wheelbase and shorter length

2020 Honda Accord - Interior

Inside, the sedan is a typical Honda, with a premium feel and soft leather touches. There is plenty of leather use that makes the cabin more upmarket, including on the dash, steering and central area between the front seats. The dash is completely new with wood-like material used that subtly gels with the black interior, unlike the previous Accord where the wood on the dash was a bit too bright.

The main highlight of the cabin is the floating 8-inch touchscreen display at the centre that’s a mixture of touch and physical controls, a significant enhancement from the old 7-inch display. The infotainment system is advanced and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support along with a subwoofer and ten speakers. The 7-inch fully-digital instrument cluster is also new that has two dials, one shows an analogue speedometer while the other is for all the essential vehicle details.

The legroom at the rear has increased significantly, thanks to the extended wheelbase. Though the lowered roofline can be a bit of worry for tall passengers. Additionally, the new Accord specs get integrated window blinds and two USB slots underneath the rear vents. Overall the space inside the cabin is enormous and you won’t find a reason to complain.

Next important upgrade happened to the 2020 Accord is the boot space, up by 120 litres, there is now a humongous space of 570 litres to load in all the vital things you need to take along on your next road trip.

Interior Highlights:

• Powered front seats (driver’s seat with memory function and passenger’s side shoulder switch)
• Dual-zone climate control
• Four USBs (two at the front and two at back)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Keyless push-button start/stop
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• 360-degree reverse camera
• Front and rear parking sensors (4 each)
• Auto parking
• Remote engine start
• Electronic parking brake

2020 Honda Accord - Engine

Under the hood, there is the same 1.5-litre VTEC turbo-petrol engine that powers the latest-gen Civic and the CR-V, but it’s in the highest state of tune in the Accord, mated to a Earth Dreams CVT. The setup pumps out a max power of 201 PS at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 260 Nm between 1,600 and 5,000 rpm. It has a top speed of 190 Kmph and can sprint from zero to 100 Kmph in just 9 seconds. (the higher grade TC-P variant does that in 9.1 seconds). There are two drive modes on offer– Econ and Sport.

The same power mill on the Civic churns out 173 PS and 220 Nm, while on the CR-V it does 193 PS and 243 Nm.

2020 Honda Accord - Safety

Like always, Honda has paid special attention to safety. Following are the standard safety features:

• 6 airbags (front, side and curtain)
• ABS with EBD
• Brake Assist
• Agile Handling Assist
• Vehicle Stability Assist
• Hill Start Assist
• Immobilizer
• ISOFIX child seat anchors for two outer rear seats

In addition to the standard ones, the higher-grade Accord TC-P gets the Honda Sensing Safety suite which includes features like:

• Lane Keeping Assist
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Warning
• Collision Mitigation Braking System
• Road Departure Mitigation
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Low-Speed Follow (this is a new addition to the tenth-gen Accord)

Moreover, there are following features on offer with the Accord TC-P:

• Tyre Deflation Warning
• Smart Parking Assist System with rear Brake Assist
• LaneWatch
• Cross-traffic Monitor

2020 Honda Accord - Optional accessories

Honda is offering the new Accord with a range of optional accessories. Details and pricing for the same are mentioned below:

• Urban Package for RM 2,777 (this includes illuminated side steps, door visor and rear bumper under garnish)
• Modulo Package for RM 5,414 (this includes side skirts, front and rear under spoilers and trunk spoiler)
• Protection Package for RM 3,007 (this includes glass body coating, window coating and wheel lock nuts)
• Utility Package for RM 865 (this includes windscreen sunshade, car cover, boot organiser and boot tray)

There are several reasons to fall for the new Accord, from coupe-styling to fastback-like appearance, from a roomy cabin to an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. What’s yours? Let us know in the comments section.

Also Read: Honda Malaysia launches 2020 Civic facelift