2023 Honda Accord Reviews, Pricing & Specs

As a part of the 2023 Accord redesign, Honda reconfigures how it equips the car. Previously, the hybrid powertrain was an alternative to the standard engine. Now, the hybrid system is standard on most Accord trim levels. The only 2023 Accord model that has a gas-only engine in Canada is the base EX variant. On the Accord Sport Hybrid and Touring Hybrid models, hybrid power is standard.

If you’re looking for a review of the 2023 Honda Accord hybrid, be sure to check out our full evaluation of the Touring trim level. This review pertains to the standard Accord.

The 2023 Accord EX costs $37,000 in Canada. The destination charge and other fees add another $1,964 to the out-the-door price. In Canada, trims are packaged as-is with no add-ons available apart from accessories and extra-cost exterior colour.

Honda has given the 2023 Accord a more technical look, ditching most of the shiny chrome and exuberant character of the previous model for a more modern but ultimately conservative appearance. We liked the 2018-2022 Accord more. However, the test car has a dark grille, LED headlights, and a Canyon River Blue paint that looks terrific and received several compliments. In addition, the EX gets a pewter wheel finish, which is an agreeable compromise over black wheels that are popular but otherwise lacking in character.

Inside, the Accord EX has appealing and durable cloth seats with contrast stitching and stylish metal mesh dashboard trim that deftly integrates the air conditioning vents into the design. Digital instrumentation pairs with a touchscreen infotainment system, and the Accord’s switchgear reflects attention to detail and refinement.

Overall, for the price and class, the Accord EX is nicely outfitted.

Honda equips the 2023 Accord EX with a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine making power specs of 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 pound-feet of torque between 1,700 rpm and 5,000 rpm. This is the same engine Honda used in the previous-generation Accord but with refinements. Remote engine starting and an automatic engine start/stop system are standard.

Since the company discontinued the Accord 2.0T and its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder, which gave the car thrilling acceleration, the smaller turbo four no longer seems like something for which you settle. Ultimately, though, the power is merely adequate for the 1,493-kilogram (3,280-pound) EX.

The continuously variable transmission (CVT) is similarly adequate. Around town, you won’t notice it, and under hard acceleration, it features programmed ratio changes to mimic the sound and feel of a traditional automatic. It is somewhat successful in this endeavour.

The CVT powers the Accord’s front wheels, and our test car had 17-inch alloy wheels with a set of modest P225/50R17 Michelin Energy tires. Unlike some rivals in the family sedan segment, this Honda is unavailable with an all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrain, meaning front-wheel drive (FWD) is the default.

A MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension deftly manage the Accord EX’s nose-heavy 59:41 front-to-rear weight distribution. In addition, a dual-pinion, variable-ratio steering system offers good response and detectable road feel. The Accord EX also features ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the Accord EX should return 7.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Our test car returned 8.2 L/100 km on the evaluation route, reflecting the high-30s heat on testing day and the continuous flow of air conditioning, which prevented the car’s automatic engine stop/start system from activating during most of the city driving. Under different weather circumstances, we would expect a better result.

In urban and suburban environments, the Accord is easy to drive. Outward visibility is excellent, thanks to the thin windshield pillars, large side mirrors, small rear quarter windows, and view to the back. Parking this car is no problem at all.

Structurally, the new Accord feels robust, and the suspension successfully filters shimmy, shudder, and harshness from the cabin. However, during our speed hump test, the nose did scrape a little when coming off of one of the more severe ones on the evaluation route.

Around town, the Accord’s ride quality is tactilely communicative but aurally quiet, brake pedal modulation is excellent, and the car feels nimble and responsive. The powertrain is perfectly adequate, but when using on-ramps to get up to highway speed, there is a little bit of the dreaded CVT drone before it finally “shifts.” Other automakers do a better job of masking this trait. Honda appears to have also reduced interior noise on the highway, though some surfaces still produce plenty of it.

One thing people don’t know about Hondas is that, in nearly every case, they’re genuinely capable and enjoyable to drive on a winding coastal or twisty canyon road. That’s true of the 2023 Accord EX, too. The car’s sublime dynamic tuning inspired confidence.

While the CVT’s Sport drive mode ultimately proved less than satisfying—an Econ mode is also offered to improve fuel economy—the Accord’s ride and handling deserve laurels. The steering is precise and reasonably quick, allowing you to put the car right where you want it to go. There’s even some surface-associated thrum making its way through the perfectly shaped steering wheel rim into the palms of your hands. In addition, the suspension successfully suppresses unwanted body motions without filtering information from the road.

More impressive, the Accord EX’s brakes proved up to the task of canyon running in the extreme heat. This was unexpected because, too often, Honda braking systems will start to grumble, vibrate, shudder, and fade when subjected to the duress of the mountains. That was not the case with this Accord, which features 11.1-inch ventilated front discs.

If there is a weak link regarding the driving dynamics, it is the tires. They squealed plenty and felt squishy when rounding curves, especially in front. At one point during testing, when encountering an oncoming vehicle rounding a blind curve with both left wheels well over the double yellow line on our side of the road, we needed to brake while simultaneously tightening our cornering line. The Michelin Energy tires weren’t happy about it.

So, while the Accord EX is genuinely enjoyable to drive if you’re going to tackle fun roads with enthusiasm, we recommend upgrading to the Sport or Touring trim levels for larger wheels and wider tires with more grip.

In Canada, the Accord comes standard with heated exterior mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat.

Inexplicably, the Accord EX also gets a power sunroof. Maybe this feature remains high on the Honda customer wish list. We’d gladly trade it for a power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, rear air conditioning vents, and rear USB charging ports. All three of these desirable comfort and convenience features are missing from the Accord EX but available on higher trims.

Honda also needs to provide more seat-track travel for the driver’s seat. When you’re sitting up high for the best view out, anyone with an inseam exceeding 34 inches will be unhappy. Also, the hard plastic lining the sides of the centre console proves a non-ending source of discomfort. At least the Accord provides numerous locations in which you can stash your stuff.

While your rear-seat passengers will grumble about the lack of air conditioning vents and charging ports, they’ll otherwise be happy riding back there. The back seat is mounted high off the floor to provide excellent leg support, and the car offers plenty of legroom. In addition, it is easy to enter and exit the back seat. Storage space is decent, too.

Honda also gives the 2023 Accord a giant 473-litre trunk. Pop the lid with a push of the release on the remote, and it swings up by itself without power actuation. Loading is easy, and you can put full-size suitcases on their sides. Honda also supplies a handle to use to swing the lid shut, preventing dirty fingertips when the car is less than sparkling clean.

Honda equips the Accord EX with a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Neither screen size is large by modern standards, but they work well enough that you might not mind.

The infotainment system includes Bluetooth connectivity, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, text-messaging support, and HondaLink connected services, including Wi-Fi access and an SOS emergency call button. Two 3.0-amp USB-C ports are available, and the EX trim level comes with a decent eight-speaker audio system.

You’ll notice Honda doesn’t include SiriusXM satellite radio with this system. So, we grabbed a USB cable, connected an iPhone via Apple CarPlay, and streamed Pandora without any trouble. Well, except in areas of the local mountains missing cell service. The voice recognition system provides access to Siri and works as expected with Apple’s digital assistant. Google Built-in with integrated Google Assistant and Google Maps is offered only with the Touring Hybrid trim.

Also, the throwback physical controls for the stereo and the main function buttons at the bottom of the screen are a delight, except for one problem. What appears to be a tuning knob to the lower right is actually a function control. To tune the radio or skip songs, you use the buttons under the volume knob. Doh!

Overall, the Accord EX includes basic tech, which is simultaneously refreshing yet unimpressive.

Every 2023 Accord has Honda Sensing, a collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that can help to prevent a collision. They include adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, traffic-jam assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. In addition, the Accord has a reversing camera with three different views, automatic high-beam headlights, traffic sign recognition, a driver monitoring system, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Generally speaking, this version of the Honda Sensing suite of safety features performs with accuracy, refinement, and sophistication. We prefer a steering wheel vibration to the Accord’s admittedly subtle lane-departure warning wobble, and while the lane-centring system can waver a bit when you’re passing by highway off-ramps, it behaves with more assurance than Hondas of the past.

Curves can also introduce some uncertainty in the driver assistance tech, but it’s not dramatic. On a long, sweeping highway transition, the adaptive cruise control gradually knocked speed down by 8 km/h, which is preferable to how some curve-speed reduction systems will brake a vehicle significantly based on navigation data showing a much lower speed limit than is practical given prevailing speeds.

In addition, the Accord’s ADAS graphics communicate system status with no more than a glance. Plus, the graphic shows the headlight, brake light, and turn signal status, which some drivers will undoubtedly appreciate.

If Honda Sensing is unable to prevent a collision, rest assured the Accord will do its best to protect you. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash tests, it earns a Top Safety Pick+ rating for the 2023 calendar year.

According to recent data, the average used car listing price in Canada during the summer of 2023 was nearly $40,000. That’s more than the retail price of our 2023 Honda Accord EX test car. Wouldn’t you rather have a new car than a used one?

Granted, the Accord EX isn’t upscale or loaded with features and technology. But, it provides you with almost everything you need and almost nothing you don’t (stupid sunroof).

Now, here’s the problem. Compared to its rivals, Honda charges more for the Accord.

Is the price premium justified? Maybe. But people seeking maximum bang for their buck, a greater sense of style, AWD, or a hybrid powertrain for the same price as the Accord EX may want to consider alternatives like the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Subaru Legacy, and Toyota Camry.

Honda offers a hybrid alternative to the Accord EX. If you step up to Sport Hybrid trim with its electric motors, which costs $4,000 more, you’ll get a far more efficient powertrain rated to return 5.3 L/100 km combined. Not only that, but the Sport provides quicker acceleration, upgraded fabric upholstery, a better infotainment system, and other upgrades.

Should you do that? Well, as of this writing, gas prices are relatively low at a national average of just over $1.50 per litre. At that price, based on Natural Resources Canada fuel economy ratings, and 20,000 kilometres driven annually, the Accord Sport Hybrid would take 10 years to recover this price difference. But if gas prices start to climb again, that gap could narrow on short notice. And the improved drive experience may make the Sport worth the premium regardless.

So, in light of the Accord EX’s high asking price compared to its rivals, we can’t say this version of Honda’s family sedan offers much in the way of cost-effectiveness.

Consider it a three-year lease special that you ditch at the end of the term.

Note: Images show a US model.