Grabbing headlines is the Accord’s newly available 12.3-inch touchscreen display and the inclusion of Google Built-In technology for the Touring. Excluding Google Built-In, the new system performs well with quick responses and crisp, clear graphics. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included with this display, and my use of wireless CarPlay worked flawlessly once connected. A bunch of automotive journalists using Bluetooth to connect to one of a line of cars can be a nightmare, it turns out, but connectivity worked fine apart from this rare scenario. Strangely, despite multiple trims having wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, only the range-topping Touring comes with wireless device charging. It’s a confusing choice.
A more understandable decision — though also more frustrating — is the inclusion of Google Built-In for the Touring’s touchscreen. Many of the functions require a data connection to properly operate, meaning you may be out of luck if you’re somewhere without reliable cellular service. We’ve also had frequent issues getting the Google system to perform simple tasks, though I didn’t encounter them during this testing. Using voice commands for basic tasks like adjusting the in-car temperature worked fine, but in the time it took to say “Hey Google, change the temperature to 69 degrees,” have the command acknowledged and then executed, I could’ve easily done it myself; it feels like a solution for a problem that doesn’t really exist. With my phone connected to CarPlay, voice commands to place calls via Google Assistant were denied because of the CarPlay connection; I had the choice of disconnecting the phone from CarPlay or using Siri to place a call via voice command.
There’s a physical volume knob in front of the dashboard touchscreen, but unlike other, older Honda touchscreens, track and tuning adjustments are touchscreen-exclusive; older systems at least have buttons for those functions. Climate controls are, blessedly, physical buttons and knobs, and they feel high-quality to the touch. One more welcome physical control is the traditional gear selector lever instead of the push-button gear selector in prior models; the latter was fairly intuitive but also annoying, and it occupied roughly the same amount of space on the center console.
All 2023 Accords have a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, which I’ve experienced and enjoyed in the 2023 Pilot SUV. My personal favorite feature is that the digital representation of the Accord in the center of the display shows when the taillights and turn signals are activated — helpful if you’re worried about the regenerative brakes illuminating the brakelights.
LX and EX trims get a 7-inch touchscreen along with volume and tuning knobs, but its small size relative to the larger screen left me a bit disappointed. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard with this display, too, but require a wired connection. Those wired connections — at every trim level — are exclusively USB-C ports, with one for data connections and one for charging. (Higher trims add two more USB-C charging ports for rear passengers.) The Accord EX’s interior is also lacking in terms of materials quality when compared with higher trims, but it still felt well built.
As with other newer Hondas, the Accord’s forward visibility is improved because its front roof pillars have been moved rearward as part of its exterior update. Front-seat comfort is acceptable and improved, but I found my right knee bumping into the center console often, which wore on me during a day of driving. The taller dashboard, however, gave me more vertical knee room than the previous model.
Honda says the new Accord has gained less than a half inch of rear legroom. I’ve never found the backseat in previous Accords lacking in that respect, but more is welcome. My biggest issue is that the sloping roof of the fastback-adjacent styling cuts into rear headroom. I’m 6-foot-1, and while I can sit upright in the backseat, my head will touch the ceiling. Trunk space appears adequate, but there aren’t any useful tricks beyond the common 60/40-split, folding backseat; underfloor storage is taken up by tools and the tire repair kit.
More From Cars.com:
Safety
The 2023 Accord comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of active-safety features. As of this writing, the car had not yet been tested by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. New for 2023 is Traffic Jam Assist, which can operate at speeds up to 45 mph and keep the Accord centered in its lane at a prescribed following distance from a preceding vehicle.
Should You Buy an Accord?
Selfishly, my answer is yes, if only to ensure that larger sedans remain on sale for years. Forgetting my nefarious goals, if you’re in the market for a mid-size sedan there are few better choices than the Accord. It’s very businesslike and no-nonsense in its approach, and hybrid versions are impressively efficient. For a more aggressive (and possibly more fun-to-drive) sedan in this class, you might want to consider a Toyota Camry instead. While the Accord isn’t necessarily the cheapest of the bunch, it’s very well rounded and felt worth its sticker price — whether it was the just-over-$30,000 EX, the almost-$34,000 Sport or the almost-$39,000 Touring. The sedan isn’t dead just yet, and the Accord is a solid choice in a dwindling field.
Related Video:
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
