2020 Honda Accord

Is the Honda Accord a Good Car?

The Honda Accord is an excellent midsize car. It represents a great value, thanks to its two potent engine options, sporty handling, above-average fuel economy and cargo capacity, upscale cabin, and long list of standard and available features. On the downside, it has a narrow trunk opening, and rear-seat headroom feels a bit pinched. Even so, the Accord is a great choice.

Should I Buy the Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord is worth buying if you’re interested in a midsize sedan that excels across the board. However, the same can be said for many of its competitors. For instance, the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, and Mazda6 are all worthy choices in a competitive class.

Compare the Accord, Camry, and Sonata »

Should I Buy a New or Used Honda Accord?

The 2020 Accord belongs to a generation that began with a redesign for the 2018 model year. You should buy a 2020 model if you really want to buy new, but you could save money on a nearly identical 2018 or 2019 Accord, as there have been no major changes since the redesign.

You might be able to save even more money with a previous-generation Accord, but you’d miss out on the major updates from the redesign, including a larger trunk, more standard safety features, and improved fuel economy (30/38 mpg city/highway versus 27/36 mpg).

Be sure to read our 2017 Accord, 2018 Accord, and 2019 Accord reviews to help make your decision. Also, check out our Used Car Deals page to learn about savings and discounts on used vehicles.

Compare the 2018, 2019, and 2020 Accord »

We Did the Research for You: 28 Reviews Analyzed

To make our car rankings and reviews as consumer-oriented as possible, we do not rely on our personal opinions. Instead, we analyze hard data such as cargo space dimensions, horsepower specs, and predicted reliability, as well as the opinions of the automotive press.

This Honda Accord review draws on 28 reviews and incorporates applicable research for all models in this generation, which launched for 2018.

Why You Can Trust Us

U.S. News & World Report has been reviewing cars, trucks, and SUVs since 2007, and our Best Cars team has more than 75 years of combined automotive industry experience. We care about cars, but we care more about providing useful consumer advice. To ensure our impartiality, an independent party handles our advertising, and our editorial team doesn’t accept expensive gifts from automakers.

How Much Does the Honda Accord Cost?

The base Accord LX has a starting MSRP of $23,870, which is in line with the retail prices of many midsize sedans. The top-of-the-line Touring trim starts at $36,100.

We review the Honda Accord Hybrid separately.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

Honda Accord Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Honda Accord or Toyota Camry?

The Toyota Camry and the Accord are both great midsize cars, and choosing one boils down to preference. The Camry rivals the Accord with its fuel economy, list of active safety features, and handsome interior. The Toyota has more standard tech features and an available V6 engine, but the Honda boasts two turbocharged four-cylinder options and a larger trunk. Both sedans have sporty yet comfortable rides.

Which Is Better: Honda Accord or Acura TLX?

In a side-by-side comparison with the Acura TLX, a luxury midsize car, the Accord is better in nearly every way. Though the Acura’s starting MSRP is roughly $9,100 more than the Honda’s, you may feel like you’re getting less for your money. It has tighter rear seats, a smaller trunk, lower fuel economy estimates, and duller handling than the Honda, and it has some low-rent cabin materials. The TLX does have more standard features, but you can get many of them in upper Accord trims and still save money.

Compare the Accord, Camry, and TLX »

Accord Interior

How Many People Does the Accord Seat?

This sedan seats up to five people on standard cloth upholstery. Leather-trimmed upholstery is available, as are heated and ventilated front seats, power-adjustable front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The seats are supportive, and legroom is generous in both rows, but headroom gets a bit tight in the back for taller occupants.

Accord and Child Car Seats

The Accord has two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats. The rear middle seat has a single tether anchor and can borrow a lower anchor from either side. This LATCH system earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's best rating of Good+ for its ease of use. The anchors are easy to find and can’t be confused with other hardware.

Accord Interior Quality

This vehicle has a handsome cabin with high-quality materials and excellent fit and finish.

Accord Cargo Space

The Accord has a 16.7-cubic-foot trunk, which is above average for a midsize car. However, the narrow trunk opening can make it tricky to load cargo.

Accord Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The base Accord features a 7-inch infotainment display, Bluetooth, a USB port, and a four-speaker stereo. Several tech upgrades are available, including an 8-inch touch screen, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, navigation, more USB ports, satellite radio, HD Radio, an eight- or 10-speaker sound system, and a moonroof.

The Accord’s user-friendly infotainment system has logically displayed menus with an abundance of physical controls, and it responds rapidly to inputs.

Read more about interior »

Accord Performance

Accord Engine: 2 Potent Choices

There are two engine choices in this Honda. Standard in all but the top Touring trim is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), though the Sport trim can swap that for a six-speed manual.

Standard in the Touring is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that puts out 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine is also available in the EX-L and Sport trims. Sport models can be had with the automatic or manual transmission.

The base engine feels capable and energetic, providing ample power for daily driving, and the CVT draws praise for its smoothness and responsiveness. For swifter acceleration and more power, look to models with the stronger turbo-four engine.

Accord Gas Mileage: Great All Around

The base Accord with the CVT gets an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Those are great figures for a midsize sedan. Fuel economy dips to as low as 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for models with the stronger engine and the manual transmission.

Honda also offers the Accord Hybrid, which we review separately.

Accord Ride and Handling: Nimble and Fun

The Accord is one of the more athletic sedans in the midsize car class, offering responsive steering and minimal body lean around corners. It also maintains a gentle ride over most roads. Front-wheel drive is standard.

Read more about performance »

Accord Reliability

Is the Honda Accord Reliable?

J.D. Power gives the 2020 Accord a predicted reliability rating of three out of five, which is about average.

Honda Accord Warranty

Honda covers the 2020 Accord with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/50,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Accord Safety

Accord Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2020 Honda Accord an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with the sedan earning five stars in all three crash tests.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the 2020 Accord a Top Safety Pick, giving it the highest rating of Good in all six crash tests and a top rating of Superior for front crash prevention. The Touring trim earned the second-lowest rating of Marginal for how well its headlights illuminate the road ahead. All other trims’ headlights received the second-highest rating of Acceptable.

Accord Safety Features

Standard safety features in this Honda include a rearview camera and automatic high-beam headlights. Also standard is the Honda Sensing suite, which comes with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, and a road departure mitigation system.

Blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert are available, as are front and rear parking sensors and a head-up display.

Read more about safety »

Accord Dimensions and Weight

The Accord is about 16 feet long. Its curb weight ranges from 3,131 to 3,428 pounds.

Where Is the 2020 Honda Accord Built?

Honda builds the 2020 Accord in Ohio.

Which Honda Accord Model Is Right for Me?

Honda offers the Accord in five trims: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The first four trims come standard with a 192-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Touring trim gains a 252-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. All Accords come standard with a continuously variable automatic transmission, and a six-speed manual is available in the Sport trim.

Most shoppers should jump to the Sport trim because of its added tech features. It’s the first trim available with the stronger engine.

With the first four trims, you can get a heated steering wheel for about $400, wireless device charging for $300, and front and rear parking sensors for $514. A pair of rear-seat charge-only USB ports are available throughout the lineup for $120.

Honda also sells a hybrid version of the Accord, which we review separately.

Honda Accord LX

The Accord LX has a starting MSRP of $23,870. It comes with a 7-inch display, a four-speaker stereo, a USB port, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, cloth upholstery, alloy wheels, a rearview camera, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The LX also gets the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, which has a collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition.

Honda Accord Sport

With a starting MSRP of $26,530, the Accord Sport adds Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, an 8-inch touch screen, an eight-speaker stereo, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, larger alloy wheels, and a rear spoiler.

You can get the stronger engine for $4,530. Sport models with this engine also get a moonroof, blind spot monitoring, and satellite radio.

With either engine, the Sport is the only trim to offer a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost upgrade.

Honda Accord EX

The Accord EX retails for $27,770 and builds off the Sport trim with remote start, proximity keyless entry, satellite radio, HD Radio, a second USB port, heated front seats, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert.

Except for the stronger turbo-four engine, the same options found in the Sport trim are available in the EX.

Honda Accord EX-L

The Accord EX-L has a starting MSRP of $30,270. It gains leather-trimmed seats, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and a premium 10-speaker stereo.

The stronger turbocharged engine is available for $2,000.

Honda Accord Touring

With a starting MSRP of $36,100, the Accord Touring is the most well-equipped model in the lineup. It features the standard turbo-four engine, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless device charging, navigation, ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a head-up display.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

See 2020 Honda Accord specs and trims »

The Final Call

The 2020 Honda Accord is an excellent all-around vehicle. With upscale cabin materials, a good number of standard safety features, lively handling, energetic engines, and decent fuel economy, it stands out among midsize cars as a great family or commuter vehicle.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "Let's not delay the verdict here: the 2020 Honda Accord needs to be on the must-drive list for anyone considering a midsize sedan. Heck, it's also worthy of reconsideration for those who have abandoned the segment in favor of a CR-V or some other compact crossover. With the Accord, you'll be getting a thoroughly well-rounded vehicle with a back seat that's more comfortable and spacious than a compact SUV's, fuel economy that's superior, and a huge trunk that doesn't sacrifice much in the way of utility. It also tends to be cheaper, and if you're like us and appreciate some fun behind the wheel, well, a sedan is just generally a better way to go." -- Autoblog
• "Might it be possible to design a midsize sedan so attractive, so dynamic, and so generally compelling that it at least slows the sales exodus from sedans to crossovers? Probably not, but wow, Honda sure is giving it the old college try with its 10th-gen Accord." -- Motor Trend (2018)
• "We applaud Honda's decision to bring its A-game to a segment that desperately needs an injection of energy. The 2018 Accord is an excellent ambassador for what many view as a design whose heyday is behind it. If all sedans were this good, maybe fewer people would be looking elsewhere." -- Left Lane News (2018)