Suppose you are looking for a highly-rated, luxury car that fits the economy lifestyle at just the right price. In that case, it’s definitely worth your time checking out the 2020 Honda Accord, a sleek beauty with plenty of high-tech and highly-rated safety options. With a brilliant fuel economy, several highly accessible Hybrid engine options, a key safety package, and a competitive starting MSRP, the Accord just can’t be beat. This is why we will compare the 2020 Honda Accord vs the 2020 Kia Optima and a few other midsize cars to bring a whole new level of accessibility and ease to the average car buyer.
Why Honda?
Honda is a popular name in the U.S. for the fuel-efficient car that sports max convenience and a good cargo to passenger space ratio. Honda engines are durable and long-lasting, and you never have to worry much about the used price depreciation with a Honda, but you don’t have to spend an arm and leg for them upfront, to begin with. Honda has been an ever-evolving company continually adding to its lineup and improving engine prowess. However, one thing is for certain, quality and efficiency have always gone hand-in-hand with Honda’s work, and that continues through this day.
Why the Accord?
The Accord has a rich history. Debuting in 1976, the Accord was first seen as a tiny, import hatchback but quickly grew in variety as Honda met the American consumer demand for larger vehicles and more sedan style bodies. Now Accords are on the larger end of mid-sized cars, which gives an almost luxurious roomy feel to passengers with plenty of cargo space for owners.
In 1982, the Accord became the first Japanese import vehicle to no longer be an import in the States! Accords began being assembled and ready to go straight off the production line in Ohio, which gave Honda the edge over many other importers. But this wasn’t entirely for Honda to just have a leg-up on the competition. The Accord was popular; there was high demand. And in 1989, the Accord became the first vehicle built by a foreign manufacturer to be a top-selling vehicle in the U.S.
The Accord Versus the Competition
The starting MSRP for the 2020 Honda Accord may pop some questions into the mind of consumers. Like, what it means in terms of performance. For one thing, the fuel economy is hard to beat. Ford could come close with the Fusion, but you won’t have the space, we’re talking hatchback sized vehicle here. The Kia Optima and the Toyota Camry have nothing on the Honda Accord when it comes to starting price point to fuel economy ratio.
Another reason the Accord comes out way ahead is its hybrid features. Opting for the Accord Hybrid will get you a fuel economy rating of up to 48 MPG in the city and 47 MPG on the highway. At the most, the 2020 Honda Accord (non-hybrid) will get you up to 30 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highway.
To put some things in perspective, here is a list of the starting MSRPs for the Accord and it’s competitor the Kia Optima, as well as their top fuel economy:
- 2020 Honda Accord $24,020 – 30 / 38 MPG
- 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid 25,870 – 48 / 47 MPG
- 2020 Kia Optima $23,390 – 27 / 37 MPG
- 2020 Kia Optima Hybrid $29,310 -40 / 45 MPG
The 2020 Honda Accord
The Accord trims do not change drastically between the models. The biggest differences are the cloth vs leather interior: leather comes standard with the EX-L and Touring models whereas only cloth is available for the others. But another difference is the wireless phone chargers available in the EX, and the more expansive navigational system available with the touring model.
With both cloth and leather options available, it’s not hard to choose luxury when the luxury price point is so easily accessible. Consider your locale (temperature and sun exposure) and car use carefully when picking your trim, because leather is standard as you move up the line from the EX. Cloth vs leather is still one of the biggest hot-button topics among car enthusiasts today, but what it really comes down to is if you want that luxury feel and don’t mind paying a little extra, that leather is hard to pass up. There is very little that can compare to the scent and feel of a leather interior. The luxury it exudes, and the new car smell that seems to linger for months or even years longer than cloth is difficult to turn down.
Entertainment and Convenience Features
With the Accord, you’ll have plenty of features available at your disposal, starting with wireless charging. The potential of wireless charging is mind-blowing! Of course, we have gotten used to seeing the contact chargers and portable contact charging stations, but the idea of them coming equipped in our vehicles and not having to bring another device along is absolutely awesome. Think of what it would be like not to have to worry about anymore chords, having the right cord for the right device, or making sure you brought the car charger and not the USB converter from the outlet in the kitchen by mistake. Once having the EX model with the Accord, you don’t have to dream about the possibility because you will have them.
The navigational system and wider screen available in the Touring also will be an excellent treat. Honda navigational connections are available, which allows for Honda on-call customer support and a system tested across Honda users rather than the standard GPS.
Tech and Safety
The Honda Sensing suite of safety features comes standard on all Accord models, which gives the Accord an edge over almost all vehicles competing in its genre. Honda Sensing includes:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
The CMBS is a great tool, especially during high-traffic times and in-city driving. The Accord will sense the brake-lights and decreasing speed of a vehicle ahead and will automatically apply the brake to help you adjust your speed to traffic. It can also apply the break to help maintain distance if the driver is not stopping quickly enough, but not come to a complete stop as long as an appropriate distance is maintained. All of the other safety features are also top in tech! Honda has you covered when it comes to safety.
The Performance of the Honda Accord
The 2020 Accord has two main engine options: a 1.5L turbocharged engine and a 2.0L turbocharged engine. The Accord also has a hybrid engine option. Both engines come with a standard manual 6-speed transmission, an optional 10-speed automatic transmission, or a CVT.
The smaller engine produces up to 192 hp, the 2.0L engine produces 252 hp, and the hybrid engine falls in-between with up to 212 hp. The fuel economy for the base LX with the 1.5L and 6-speed manual trans is pretty outstanding considering what it is. Drivers will get up to 30 MPG combined with that setup, but if better fuel economy is your prerogative, the 1.5L engine paired with the CVT is the way to go. With that powertrain, the Accord will produce up to 33 MPG combined. Of course, the hybrid engine will save you the most at the pump with up to 48 MPG combined.
Choose Honda
Honda is an all-around, well-balanced brand, and the Accord has been a top purchase in America every year for some inarguable reasons. The stats show it, the owners say it, and the numbers keep proving it: the Accord is a great car to own from a reliable and dependable brand.
