2020 Honda Accord debuts with 1.5L turbo engine, Honda Sensing

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. launches the all-new 2020 Accord. The midsize executive sedan is the 10th generation of Accord to hit the market globally and the 5th generation to go on sale in the Philippine market. As of now, it only comes in one variant, the EL Turbo CVT with a standard retail price of P2,288,000.

With that mentioned price tag, the all-new Accord also comes with Honda Sensing suite of safety technologies.

The 10th-generation Honda Accord features an all-new front fascia now with LED daytime running lights and LED headlights as well. Not to be left out, the C-shaped taillights also get the LED treatment. It also gets a fastback silhouette, following what the smaller Civic compact sedan has started.

Back to the new headlights, it features auto-leveling, auto on and off, and auto high beam as well. For where the rubber meets the road, the Accord rides on 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/45/R18 tires.

Inside, the Accord features black leather seats all around with the driver seat getting 8-way powered adjustments with lumbar support. The front passenger, on the other hand, gets 4-way power seats.

For infotainment, gone are the dual-screen displays in the previous model and replacing it is a single floating 8-inch touchscreen display. The new display has Bluetooth and two USB ports and is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capable. These new features make navigation and phone mirroring much easier. Mated to the new head unit is an 8-speaker sound system that contains four tweeters. Even the instrument cluster has seen a revamp as it now features a pair of digital gauges instead of its older triple gauge analog setup. 

Climate controls have also been upgraded. The sedan now has intelligent dual-zone automatic climate control. The controls are a mix of rotary knobs and digital displays. The rear passengers also get some love with rear air vents with USB ports for added cooling and for charging.

Under the hood of the all-new Accord is a turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine – an uprated version of the Civic RS Turbo’s power plant. It replaces the older 2.4-liter of the previous generation. 

Despite the smaller engine, the power has increased. The older 2.4-liter engine produced 173 hp and 226 Nm of torque, while the newer engine makes 187 hp and 260 Nm of torque. The new engine represents a 14 hp and 34 Nm increase in power and torque.

In addition, gone is the 5-speed automatic transmission that came in the previous model and replacing it is a CVT. While the CVT might limit the vehicle in terms of putting the power down to the road, it can guarantee more fuel efficiency in return. There is no news, however, if Honda will bring in another engine option for the executive midsize sedan.

The all-new Accord features Honda's own brand of driver aids, the Honda Sensing system. The system has Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, Low-Speed Follow, and Lane Keep Assist. All these features help aid the driver during long road trips or during traffic scenarios letting the driver rest and focus more on the road, similar to what you can see on the Honda CR-V. While these features aid in near-autonomous driving, the driver still has to remain in control of the vehicle at all times.

Aside from Honda Sensing, the Accord comes with airbags for both the driver and passenger, along with curtain airbags. To make parking easier, the vehicle comes standard with parking sensors, two in the front, and four in the rear. The sensors are also paired with a  multi-view reverse camera that comes with dynamic guidelines. It also comes with an anti-lock braking system with Electronic Brake booster and Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Vehicle Stability Assist, and Hill Start Assist. For child safety, the Accord has ISOFIX child seat anchors and Child Lock. An additional feature of the midsize sedan is a remote start, for those who want to have their car ready and cooled before they set off.