2022 Honda Accord

It may be nearing the end of its current generation, but among midsize family sedans, the Honda Accord is still king of the hill. It continues impressing as a driver-oriented machine with poised handling that also happens to house a comfortably sensible interior and come with a long list of standard equipment. It’s all wrapped up in a practical and aesthetically pleasing package, especially for those who don’t want a big, clumsy and chunky crossover.

A new Accord is due next year, but for 2022 Honda builds upon last year’s mid-cycle refresh, which updated the front end with a wider chrome grille and tech upgrades. A total of 10 trims divided up by three powertrain options continue to make up the Accord’s roster in total. A 192-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder and continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) continue serving as the base setup, along with the midrange 212-hp hybrid and the top-spec 252-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 10-speed automatic.

Battling segment stalwarts like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Volkswagen Passat, Chevrolet Malibu and Subaru Legacy, the Accord is often placed at the top of the pack by critics and fans alike, for its class-leading value and driving dynamics. This despite facing stiffer competition than ever, specifically from the Korean entries, which boast German-influenced engineering and performance and Japanese-beating quality and reliability.

While the K5, Camry, Legacy and Altima offer all-wheel drive options, the Accord also loses out to those looking for extra traction as it’s front-wheel drive only. It’s also outpaced by the Camry’s six-cylinder option and the new Kia K5 GT and Hyundai Sonata N-Line, both of which are serious near-luxury sports sedans. That said, even the 1.5-liter Accords are fun to drive and the 2.0 is positively fast. All are engaging in the way the departed Mazda6 used to be.

All the Accord’s trims see considerable price hikes this year—a sign of the times. The base LX starts at $26,485 including destination fees, followed by the Sport ($28,945), Sport SE ($30,435) and EX-L ($32,805), all with the 1.5T and CVT. The Accord Hybrid begins at $27,685, followed by the new Hybrid Sport ($31,035), the EX-L ($34,005), and Touring ($37,555). The Sport ($33,625) and Touring ($38,415) trims make up range-topping 2.0T variants. 

Despite being older than some rivals, the Accord is still among the best midsize family sedans money can buy. It class-leading interior space and cargo room remain dominant and it still features styling, equipment, and driving dynamics that delight. There’s also no shortage of standard safety gear and today’s technology. Its plethora of trims and three powertrain choices means there’s an Accord for nearly every buyer and budget in all its forms, though we find the 2.0T Sport and EX-L Hybrid to be the sweet spots.

Performance: 12/15

All versions of the Accord are fun to drive with plenty of go-power and sports sedan-like handling. Though some will find the noise emitted from any of the powertrains unappealing compared to the smooth, silent V6 Accords of yore.

The base turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder with 192 hp and 192 pound-feet of torque and CVT transmission gets the job done, providing more than adequate motivation and a zero-to-60 time of around eight seconds. The larger turbocharged 2.0-liter with 252 hp and 273 lb-ft and its 10-speed automatic truly shine, in power output, responsiveness and refinement. Prod the throttle and it can chirp the front tires for a 0-60 time of around seven seconds. 

The Accord Hybrid’s powertrain with 212 total system horsepower offers admirable midrange performance as well, but with a focus on frugality rather than driver engagement.

In any guise, the Accord lives up to its reputation excelling in the chassis and suspension departments. The powertrain and handling dynamics are so expertly in tune with each other that it’s happy to be hustled with predictable mid-corner composure and body control, along with confidence-inspiring braking and steering to match. The ride never feels jittery or unsettled over rough pavement, and it’s equally at home on the highway or twisty roads. Very few other mainstream sedans are as engaging.

Fuel Economy: 13/15

There also isn’t much of a tradeoff in fuel mileage for the Accord’s sporty moves. The base 1.5 turbo boasts an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 33 mpg combined average, which is about as good as gas-only midsize family sedans get. The 2.0-liter is rated to 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined, about even with its competitors and their more powerful engine options—even the six-cylinder Camry. 

The hybrid powertrain is rated at up to 48 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 47 mpg combined. Though the Sport and Touring hybrid trims return only 44 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 43 on average, presumably from more equipment, larger wheels and grippier tires. If fuel efficiency is the priority, the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid both outperform the Accord Hybrid, but at the expense of driving fun.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 15/15

The 2022 Accord maintains its Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Its long list of standard safety features also contributes to its crash test performance. Such includes automatic emergency braking with collision mitigation, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition and even adaptive cruise control.

Blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts and parking assistance are all optional on lower trims, but are standard on the 2.0T, EX-L, and Touring models.

The Accord’s new competition may offer similar and possibly more up-to-date safety technology, but the Accord’s safety equipment has always been as good as its competitors, if not class-leading in many respects. The car’s adaptive cruise and lane centering work well, and aside from geofencing technology that’s rare on any car in this class in 2022, many similar systems work the exact same way. 

Comfort & Room: 15/15

Comfort and space have always been part of the Accord’s family-friendly feature set. The cabin feels airy and spacious, a sensation backed up by the car’s best-in-class interior volume and cargo space numbers. The only car that comes close to its 105.6 cubic feet of passenger cell volume is the Subaru Legacy.

The front seats are well-padded and deep enough to accommodate a wide range of backsides, while the leather upholstery on top trims gives the car a truly upscale feel. Even the standard cloth interior is well done, offering a premium level of comfort and feel. The EX-L and Touring benefit from leather, with the EX-L getting heated front seats and heated and ventilated ones on the Touring.

Aft passengers get best-in-class legroom at 40.4 inches, and despite that pretty sloping roof, there’s plenty of headroom for them too. It’s worth noting however that the roofline does make loading car seats more challenging and creates significant blind spots from the thicker C-pillars. The Sonata, Camry and Malibu come close to the Accord’s back seat capacity, but none can quite match it.

Infotainment: 13/15

The Accord’s infotainment system received an update in 2021 and carries over into the 2022 model-year car. That means a standard 8-inch screen across the board with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity. Jump up to the Sport and Sport SE and the audio system gets an upgrade to six speakers from the base four. The EX-L trim and Touring get the premium 450-watt 10-speaker, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, the latter also standard on the 2.0T Sport.

HondaLink app integration is standard on all models, enabling owners to monitor their vehicles right from their smartphones. The system keeps track of vehicle maintenance, allows for roadside assistance, anti-theft and convenience controls such as remote engine start and Amazon Alexa integration.

Cargo Space & Storage: 15/15

Carrying five adult bodies and their gear isn’t at all an issue, thanks to the Accord’s best-in-class cargo capacity at 16.7 cubic-feet with the 60/40-split rear seats up. With the rear seats folded down, it can accommodate even more.

Cabin storage space is less impressive, as the door pockets can be hard to reach and the center console storage is a bit shy in usable compartments and nooks. That shouldn’t be a deterrent, however, as there are still plenty of places elsewhere to carry small items and gear. While it’s the top dog among sedans, if cargo space is really at the top of the list, the Accord places itself in the same price range as many compact and even midsize SUVs.

Style & Design: 9/10

For years, the midsize sedan category hardly featured anything that was aesthetically pleasing, often putting onlookers to sleep as they drove by. Thankfully, automakers realized that everyday vanilla family sedans don’t have to be completely void of style and the Accord is a great example of this change.

Where the last few Accord generations had been somewhat frump, this car’s fastback shape gives a sleek, upscale and muscular appearance, while the interior is cleanly and smartly laid out. The Accord’s visual appearance certainly gets cranked up several notches as you climb up the trim ladder, especially to the Sport and Touring variants with their larger wheels and upgraded exterior and interior appointments.

It may not be the best looking in the segment—although a subjective choice, we’d give that award to the Kia K5—but the Honda certainly holds its own as one of the better-looking sedans in the segment.

Is the 2022 Honda Accord worth it? Which Accord is the Best Value? 

The simple answer is yes, the Accord is absolutely worth it. Over four decades and 10 generations, it’s been the go-to midsize sedan and a buy word for value and reliability. With over 18 million vehicles sold to date, the Accord is also America’s best-selling import automobile of all time. Even if that record weren’t already impressive, the Accord continues impressing with balanced handling, comfort, class-leading features and interior space, all wrapped up in sporty and attractive fastback styling. 

Its wide range of trims and engine options means there’s an Accord for every budget. Even the base models are a good value, but we’d recommend the Accord Sport 2.0T ($34,275, including a $1,015 destination fee) for the driving enthusiasts and the EX-L Hybrid ($34,275) for the average family sedan appreciator.

On top of the Accord’s bucket list of standard kit, the 2.0T gains a lot of additional options found on some of the upper trims like blind-spot detection, a moonroof, a wireless phone charger with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, automatic LED headlights and LED fog lights, smart-key accessibility and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

If you really don’t need that extra power, the EX-L Hybrid offers more power than the base engine, but significantly greater fuel economy. On top of the fuel efficiency, the EX-L essentially comes standard with nearly every conceivable option that matters on the Accord. The list includes the same features as the Sport 2.0T, plus leather seating, a two-memory power driver’s seat and the premium sound system. 

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord costs about the same to insure as its competitors. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,973, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,992 for the Chevrolet Malibu, $2,138 for the Hyundai Sonata SEL, $2,101 for the Nissan Altima and $1,924 for the Passat. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.