Growth spurt

2018 Honda Accord gets larger while being smaller

But the techno-oriented, smartphone-like features and functionality including customizable app tiles and home-screen shortcuts. The system as you would expect can be equipped with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system also has Wi-Fi-enabled over-the-air system updates, which is as it should be if you are going to claim to have a technologically up-to-date vehicle.

You can also opt for the next-generation of HondaLink telematics including emergency roadside assistance, remote locking/unlocking and engine start, stolen vehicle tracking, remote diagnostics, geofencing, speed tracking and more.

This is a quiet and calm environment, although that physical quietness may make some wind noise more evident. In any case, this is a cabin which allows you to take your comfort with you. The seats are at least as comfortable as your trusty recliner at home and even more adjustable.

The steering wheel’s shape is sporty, and with buttons sensibly arranged to be useful without looking. The wheel itself has a molded shape that fits your hands, and makes you want to keep them where they should be: on the steering wheel.

Some of my colleagues found the steering to be a bit heavy, but I didn’t. I liked its directness and feedback and didn’t really notice any heaviness. Perhaps it’s a difference in degree, but did lead to a discussion about why steering feel couldn’t be a driver selection. While Hyundai did in a couple of years back on one of their crossovers, it wasn’t well-received. But as I recall, there wasn’t that much variation between their three selections.

With this generation of the Accord the engines of all three powertrain options will be four-cylinder turbos. These include a 1.5-liter turbo engine producing 192 hp. and 195 lb.ft. of peak torque. This powertrain is rated at 30 mpg city and 38mpg on the highway.

The bigger 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine generates 252 hp. and 273 lb.-ft. of peak torque. Even with this amount of power the EPA fuel rating is 23 mpg city and 34 mpg on the highway. Finally, another four-cylinder will be used as a part of the hybrid version when it is introduced early next year.

The more powerful engine is attached to a 10-speed automatic transmission and the smaller uses a continuously variable transmission. You can get the six-speed manual with either engine/ Weigh is less compared to the current generation. Depending on the trim level that difference is between 114-lb. and 187-lb.

Both engines to a good job of providing power. I can safely say, perhaps for the first time, that there is no reason to go for the larger engine. The 1.5-liter turbo provides enough power for the car to feel spritely. There is enough power that it would be false to refer to its performance as being “economical”.

With the bigger engine there enough power, to make the difference between the two clear. But that power level isn’t such to make the car drive like a handful. Thanks particularly to the 10-speed transmission the shifts are smooth and barely noticeable.

But put your foot into it and it tends to leap forward in a delightful way. Having said that, this is a mid-sized sedan and continues to drive like one. It drives well, but nobody will consider this to be a hot-rod. It is however quite competent and it communicates that in a very confident manner.

This is helped by a completely new aluminum-intensive front suspension with a new ultra-rigid aluminum and steel subframe and in the back the multi-link rear suspension with floating subframe is newly redesigned as well.

Model lineup includes a new top-of-theline Touring model, keeping the nomenclature across Honda in line. Hitting the showrooms on October 18 is the 1.5-liter models, running from the LX, starting at $23,570 through the Sport ($25,780), EX ($27,470), EX-L ($29,970) to the Touring, which begins life at $33,800.

In late November the 2.0-liter powered models will be available, and this includes three models, the Sport ($30,310), EX-L ($31,970) and Touring ($35,800). When the Hybrid comes along there will be a new, low-end model called simply the Hybrid, then followed by the EX, EX-V-8 and Touring.

If you believe the tea-leaf readers, there won’t be any cars in another 10 years, because everybody wants a crossover. Perhaps that’s true, but nobody, and I mean nobody has accurately predicted what the automotive marketplace in the U.S. will look a decade further down the road.

My believe is that thanks to products as well done as this Accord there will always be people who like what makes cars both comfortable and comforting. If you have any questions, comments or ideas, please send them to comment@ AutoWritersInk.com.

This Accord is longer, wider, and slightly less tall, but with a two-inch longer wheelbase the result is a car slightly smaller overall but with a larger and more usable cabin.