Her and His Reviews
April 2013
2013 Honda Accord 4DR EX
There are always two sides to everything, right? Well, the truth is there are many more than that!
To keep our car reviews innovative and well-rounded, we are providing you with not just one, but two points of view on the same exact vehicle –
Her and His perspectives.
Her: Anne Fleming, Car Buying Advocate,women-drivers.com
His: Don Hammonds, Writer, AutomobileJournal.com
| HER | HIS |
|---|---|
| Price | |
| Price: $30, 785 | Price: $30, 785 |
| Performance | |
| This 2.4 – Liter 185 horsepower, 4 cylinder direct injection engine with continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an impressive contender. Reliable driving and performance are expected in the Honda Accord. The responsiveness of the steering is not top of market. | Power comes from a 185 horsepower, 2.4 liter direct injection four cylinder engine with the continuously variable transmission. A strong performer and an even stronger handling and cornering pedigree. Accord is one of the best choices for family car owners who also like to drive and enjoy themselves behind the wheel. |
| Fuel Economy | |
| 27 city and 36 highway. Econ Assist saves on gas consumption. | The four cylinder engine is rated at 27/36 miles per gallon and annual fuel costs are estimated at $1,750, and the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Dept. of Transportation say that you can save over $2,850 in gasoline costs over five years by buying the Accord over the average new car vehicle. The Accord with a four cylinder engine uses 3.3 gallons per 100 miles driven. |
| The Car | |
| The 2013 is an Accord through and through. The exterior is a tad bit more aggressive and style-centric (excellent 17” alloy wheels) – and the interior sure is a winner. It ranks very high for those looking for a top notch performing and reliable family vehicle. There is no singular “demographic” to market to. The Accord continues to have universal and broad appeal.
Easy to drive; Lovely car to be behind the wheel of with the heated seats and lumbar assist. Comfort creatures will agree. Drivers of all sizes fit in the Honda Accord �?? the adjustability of seats and steering wheel make it a top choice for all. |
It must be hard to be practically perfect. That must have been the challenge that Honda faced when the time arrived to bring out a new Accord. What on earth do you change on a car that is arguably THE perfect automobile–reasonably economical, good looking enough not to cause you embarrassment at the company parking lot, perfect for the family, a treat to drive, built like a tank and�?�well, you get the message. So did we. When we finished with the 2013 Accord, we tried to figure out what we could quibble about. After all, there must be SOMETHING we could complain about, right? The answer: Not a darn thing. |
| Safety | |
| The NHTSA gave the Accord EX a “five star” rankings in 3 out of 4 categories. All these safety amenities are included: Driver Air Bag, Side Head Air Bag, Passenger Air Bag, and Side Air Bag, 4-Wheel ABS, Brake Assist, 4 Wheel Disc Brakes, Electronic Stability Control, Daytime Running Lights, Child Safety Locks and Traction Control.
�?� Power back up camera, Anti-theft system, Keyless entry and Push-button start. Side impact door beams. Forward Collision Warning and Lane Watch Display described below in “Technology”. |
All the bells and whistles here. Nothing in particular stands out because just about everybody these days puts the same things on their cars. The Accord is no exception. |
| Technology | |
| The Lane Watch Display is brilliant. Worth buying for this very feature. Innovation awards and kudos to Honda. What is it and how does it work? When you turn your right hand turn signal on, a camera positioned on the right side of vehicle shows drive what is coming via the video appears on the display screen – so it can easily be viewed by drivers.
See Lane Watch Display video here. This feature is fabulous for parking lots, driving on the highway, city driving – really, any situation. It mitigates, almost entirely eliminates, blind sides to the right of the vehicle.
The Forward Collision warning system alerts you drivers if they are too close/going to hit into another vehicle or object – a huge assistance to drivers. The NAV system with voice recognition system and multi-view camera are all excellent tech features. Jam it out with the 360 watt AM.FM. CD. MP3, and touch screen with seven (7) speakers. |
Those of us who are concerned about gas mileage will be happy to see that the new Accords all have a standard Econ button with Eco Assist, too. But hands down, our favorite new feature is the LaneWatch Blind Spot Display. There�??s a camera on the passenger side mirror which captures a huge, clear picture of what�??s coming in the lane on the passenger side of the car, and it shows up on the �?�Intelligent Multi-Information Display�?� in the center of the dashboard, making it incredibly easy to see without taking your eyes off the road. It also shows you more than you�??ll ever be able to see in a conventional mirror on the passenger side. You combine this with the Lane Departure Warning system that has a camera behind the rear view mirror, and the forward Collision warning system that alerts you if you are about to crash into the car ahead of you, and you have a tremendously safe car that gives you all kinds of added confidence and security on the road. Those who read Automobile Journal know that we've always given high praise to the system that Lexus uses for remote control of a touch screen. Other new features include Honda�??s first light emitting diode (LED) projector headlights for improved visibility, LED daytime running lights for V-6 powered models, and LED brake lights on all EX-L and Touring models. And on the Touring Sedan, you now can order Adaptive Cruise Control that lets you choose a speed as well as a distance interval behind the car ahead of you. |
| Aesthetics & Styling | |
| Another winner for Honda. Improved, but not overstated and still maintains that universal, clean appeal to so many | A very good looking intermediate. Resembles BMWs 5 series. Not a bad deal! Honda didn't make big changes for this generation, but enough to clean up problems and enhance strong points. |
| Warranty | |
| 3 year, 36,000-mile limited warranty. 5 year, 60,000-mile power train warranty. Also a 5 year, unlimited-mile corrosion warranty. | 3 year, 36,000-mile limited warranty. 5 year, 60,000 mile powertrain. |
