Honda Accord - Old vs new

The tenth-generation Honda Accord recently made its debut in the country with prices starting from RM 186,000. It came out almost a week after the company started accepting bookings for the renewed version. Aesthetically, it sees a sea of changes, with some of the cues taken from Civic; these changes lend it a refreshed look. Speaking of the interior, it carries the same charisma familiar with Honda’s premium models. The plush cabin emanates luxury and promises a comfortable ride experience to the occupants. Besides, the cabin packs a long list of equipment; most of which are commonly found in other models in the segment while some are exclusive to it. While it undergoes cosmetic tweaks, the heart of the Honda Accord has been borrowed from its siblings, Civic and CR-V. As for personalization, customers get wide custom choices. From visual changes to the new onboard features, here is everything that the new outing offers over the previous version.

The 2020 Honda Accord is available in two variants-2.0 VTi-L and 2.4 VTi-L Advance. With new elements added to enhance its visual appeal and accentuate the interior comfort, the new Accord price sees a slight bump over the preceding generation. The list below shows the pricing for the two variants.

Variant	Price
Honda Accord 1.5 TC	RM 185,900
Honda Accord 1.5 TC-P	RM 195,900

How is it on the outside?

Honda has made radical changes to the new Accord. Changes are not limited to styling; it also receives dimensional tweaks. The 2020 Honda Accord now measures 34 mm shorter at 4,901 mm, though the wheelbase has been extended by 55 mm to 2,830 mm, the height has been reduced marginally by 15 mm. However, the new Accord now measures 12 mm wider than before.

Aside from changes in proportions, the latest iteration of Accord sees prominent design tweaks, as it gets rid of the traditional look. A lot is common in terms of styling elements between Accord and Civic. The face now comes with a large chrome wing and sleek headlamps. There is an extended grille that touches the lower bumper. The restyled bumper appears sharper and now feature horizontal LED fog lamps. View from the back is equally endearing with integrated chrome garnished dual exhaust pipes. Also new to the tenth-gen Accord is the sloping roofline, which ups the styling quotient and lends it a coupe-like look. LED daytime running lamps, 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels, short rear deck, etc. are some of the other vital styling elements on the new Accord.

How is it on the inside?

On the inside, it surpasses the previous-gen Accord on several fronts. It looks more premium with leather touches all over the cabin including the dashboard, central area between the seats, and steering wheel. Also, the new wood-like materials used on the redesigned dash complement the black interior perfectly. The 7-inch display in the predecessor has been left out for a larger unit with touch and physical controls placed on the console. Also new to the Accord is the 7-inch digital instrument cluster with two dials, one shows the analogue speedometer and the other displays all requisite vehicle-related information.

From the perspective of comfort, there is ample legroom, especially at the rear. This has been possible due to the extension in the wheelbase, though the lowered roofline is a bit put off, as it squeezes the headspace. It still offers generous room to the passengers. Honda has also paid attention to the luggage storage space, which has been increased by 120-litres to a whopping 570-litres, which makes it the perfect vehicle for a long weekend getaway.
What’s new on the feature front?

Honda is known to arm its cars with a plethora of goodies, and the new Accord is no different. Listed below are some of the vital features available with it -

• Powered from seats
• Apple CarPlay
• Android Auto
• Four USB slots (front & rear)
• Rear AC vents
• Ten speakers & Subwoofer
• Dual-zone climate control
• Tilt and telescopic steering
• Adaptive cruise control
• Keyless push-button start/stop
• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree reverse camera
• Auto parking
• Remote engine start
• Electronic parking brake

What’s the performance like?

The new Honda Accord specifications remain intact as it continues sourcing power from the same 1.5-litre VTEC turbo-petrol engine found in the latest-generation Civic and CR-V. However, it gets the highest tuned version of the turbo unit which works together with Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT. The petrol engine emanates 201 PS of top power at 5,500 rpm and 260 Nm of torque between 1,600 to 5,000 rpm. This unit offers top speed g 190 km/h and touches 100 km/h mark in just nine seconds. It additionally comes with two driving modes- Econ and Sport.

What’s new on the safety kit?

Safety has occupied the top spot on the priority list when it comes to modern vehicles. The vehicle safety is paramount, as car giants continue to make cars safer for the customers. Speaking of the new Honda Accord, the standard safety suite consists of the below-mentioned features-

• Six airbags (front, side and curtain)
• Agile handling assist
• Hill start assist
• Anti-lock-braking system
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Brake assist
• Immobilizer
• ISOFIX child seat anchors for two outer seats

While the standard packs is quite comprehensive, the higher Accord TC-P benefits from some additional bits including-

• Lane keeping assist
• Lane departure warning
• Road departure mitigation
• Collision mitigation braking system
• Low speed follow (new to the tenth-gen Accord)
• Forward collision warning
• Adaptive cruise control

Also, tyre deflation warning, lane watch, cross-traffic monitor, and smart parking assist system with rear brake assist.

Conclusion

While the new Accord is packed to the gill, it can also be availed with some special kits at an additional premium. These customs packs include Modulo package, protection package and utility package (please note prices for all packages vary). As with the exterior, it changes copiously over the previous model with coupe-like styling; the cabin offers more space inside, and the equipment list sees new addition. With these changes, the new Accord is a much better version of itself compared to the previous generation.

Also Read: #10YearChallenge: Honda Accord - 2010 vs 2020