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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2012 Honda Accord

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Overview

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2012 Honda Accord Review

By KBB.com Editors

KBB Expert Rating: 8.0

When it comes to family sedans, few cars have the type of owner loyalty and fierce trust as the 2012 Honda Accord Sedan. Generation after generation have come to love Honda's family sedan, a rarity in world where what's hot today is not tomorrow. The 2012 Honda Accord Sedan continues to thrive for a number of reasons. Its design is clean and simple, yet sophisticated enough to attract buyers young and old alike. The Honda Accord continually tops the charts for safety, reliability and strong resale, and its fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engine remains one of the best in the industry. Granted, newer competitors such as the Hyundai Sonata, Chevy Malibu and Buick LaCrosse sedans offer some stiff competition, at least on paper. But, these makes have yet to prove themselves in the long run, something the Accord Sedan has successfully been doing for the last four decades. The Accord Sedan is not without its detractors, however, and they will rightly point out that Honda has failed to offer a hybrid Accord Sedan, or one with all-wheel drive (AWD). But, sales lost to customers seeking these options pale in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of Accord Sedan buyers who snap up every domestically produced Honda Accord they can get their hands on.

You'll Like This Car If...

The 2012 Accord Sedan combines outstanding value, excellent driving dynamics, a roomy and comfortable passenger cabin, and sporty styling vaguely similar to some BMW sedans. If your budget says "simple family sedan," but your brain says "I deserve better," you'll probably find the Accord sedan can satisfy both needs.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If you seek to drive something a bit less common (Honda sells about 400,000 Accord Sedans a year) or with a powerful turbocharged engine, all-wheel-drive (AWD) ability or a hybrid-electric powertrain, you might be happier shopping for a Kia Optima, Ford Taurus or Toyota Camry Hybrid. Those looking to get the most car for the least money will find a loaded Hyundai Sonata Limited offers more feature (such as heated rear seats unavailable on the Accord) for less money.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

8.0
Driving Dynamics

7.8
Comfort & Convenience

7.6
Design: Interior & Exterior

7.0
Value

8.4
Safety

10.0

How It Ranks

#17

out of 39

MPG

#15

out of 39

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.0 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

What's New for 2012

For 2012, every Honda Accord Sedan now includes a USB audio interface as part of its standard equipment.

Driving the Accord

2012 Honda Accord Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions The near perfect way in which the 2012 Honda Accord Sedan serves up its unique brand of subtle enthusiasm is both predictable and reassuring. Throttle response is instantaneous, delivering impressive...

gifts of power for passing, merging or just pulling away from a stoplight. The Accord Sedan's steering is perfectly weighted in most driving situations, although it feels a bit heavy when performing slow-moving maneuvers such as parallel parking. On the open road, the Accord Sedan tracks straight and true, and the variable-ratio power steering works much better here requiring only the slightest inputs when correcting course. Ironically, we are not taking about the V6 Accord here, but the humble 4-cylinder model found on the EX trim. Climb behind the wheel of the V6 model and you'll find the above accolades are all present, just multiplied for even more driving enjoyment.

Favorite Features

Excellent Throttle Response
Even though throttle response isn't exactly a feature, the Accord responds so naturally to the driver's gas pedal inputs that we're compelled to note it here.

Voice-Controlled Navigation System
The Accord's intuitive DVD-based navigation system – featuring an 8-inch screen and Zagat restaurant ratings – is further enhanced by an accurate and easy-to-use voice-recognition system.

2012 Honda Accord Details

2012 Honda Accord Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2012 Honda Accord Sedan's larger exterior creates an equally large interior, so much so that the 2012 Accord Sedan nearly qualifies as a full-size vehicle by EPA standards. Honda has masterfully created a kind of interior DNA that transfers itself from generation to generation. Although the 2012 Accord Sedan is completely different from all the Accords preceding it, there is still something reassuringly familiar when sitting behind the steering wheel. One thing that is not familiar is the spacious rear seat, the largest in Accord history, and one offering ample head, hip and legroom to 6-footers. The front seats are the most accommodating we've found on an Accord, with wide seat bottoms and firm back support. To make life easier while driving, every 2012 midsize Honda Accord Sedan features steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a USB audio interface for iPod or Zune, and a large LCD center display. Moving up to the plush EX trims brings more ambient lighting to the Accord's cockpit as well Active Noise Control sound elimination technology.

Exterior

The 2012 Honda Accord Sedan distances itself from previous Accord designs, which were decidedly safe but somewhat boring. Angular side sculpting and prominent flared fenders are accentuated by bulging projector beam headlight housings and an aggressively geometric front grille and lower air intake. The Accord Sedan pushes the limits of midsize sedan, stretching nearly 5-inches longer than its longtime rival, the Toyota Camry. Base models are suitably finished with color-keyed accessories, while up-level trims see more use of chrome around the door handles, windows and exhaust finishers. And, thanks to its Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, the midsize Accord Sedan is more than just another stylish car; it's an amazingly safe one as well. The ACE system is designed to improve the way the Accord Sedan deals with other vehicles in the event of a collision, including with larger vehicles such as full-size pickups and SUVs.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The standard equipment list for a 2012 Honda Accord LX Sedan includes air conditioning, power windows, locks and mirrors, a 160-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA sound system, auxiliary audio input and steering wheel-mounted audio controls (illuminated). Standard safety equipment includes front, front-side and 2-row side-curtain airbags, as well as stability and traction controls and a sophisticated braking system. The value-packed SE trim includes all this plus leather seating, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver's power lumbar support, alloy wheels and heated front seats. A top-of-the-line EX-L V6 brings a 271-horsepower V6 engine, leather seating, a 270-watt 7-speaker audio system with 8-inch subwoofer, heated front seats, power moonroof, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, and a 10-way power driver's seat with power lumbar control.

Optional Equipment

Features are grouped by trim level and include a moonroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, navigation system with voice recognition and rearview camera, leather seats, heated front seats, 2-position memory for the driver's seat, Bluetooth hands-free cell phone compatibility, a 270-watt premium audio system, six-CD changer and XM Satellite Radio.

Under the Hood

The jewel of the 2012 Honda Accord Sedan's three-engine lineup is its 3.5-liter V6 featuring an updated version of Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology that saves fuel by allowing the engine to run on six, four or three cylinders, according to demand. A 5-speed automatic transmission is available on 4-cylinder models and is standard on V6 models. 4-cylinder models sold in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont have less horsepower but qualify as Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV).

2.4-liter in-line 4 (PZEV)
177 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
161 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/34 (manual), 23/34 (automatic)

2.4-liter in-line 4
190 horsepower @ 7,000 rpm
162 lb-ft of torque @ 4,400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 23/34 (manual), 23/34 (automatic)

3.5-liter V6
271 horsepower @ 6,000-6,200 rpm
254 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 20/30

Pricing Notes

The 2012 Honda Accord midsize family sedan starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of around $22,000 for the base Accord LX Sedan with the 5-speed manual transmission and tops out at around $33,000 for an EX-L V6 Sedan that includes navigation, leather and more. We expect our Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to reflect real-world transaction prices in line with sticker prices, so be sure to check it out before you begin negotiating price. While the base Accord's price range and equipment levels are slightly less than those of the new Toyota Camry L, the price differential between comparably-equipped models is nominal. But, newcomers like Hyundai's Sonata offer far more features for less money, better fuel economy and a longer warranty. A perennial resale value all-star, the Honda Accord should perform similarly to the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, slightly better than the Hyundai Sonata and measurably better than the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion.

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2012 Honda Accord Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.0

Out of 10

Based on 882 Ratings for the 2008 - 2012 models.

Review this car

Value

8.4/10

Quality

8.2/10
Reliability

8.6/10

Performance

8.3/10
Comfort

8.1/10

Styling

8.6/10

Honda's are #1 in my book

By DeeDee (TX) on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 130,000

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 7/10
Styling: 5/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Maintains value, body style hasn't changed"

Cons: "Poor quality interior material"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"This is my third Honda vehicle. I have previously owned a Civic (which I loved) and a CRV (didn't like as much), but the Accord is by far my favorite. My only criticism is that the leather seat and door on the driver's side started peeling really bad and looks horrible. This car is reliable and the only major breakdown that I've had was the air conditioner stopped blowing cold air after the fifth year, but it was not a major cost for me. I plan to drive this car until it won't move anymore. I plan to get the seat and door repaired, as well as, a new paint job done this summer."

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I love this car!

By Mickey (TN) on Wednesday, May 15, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 50,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "This car was a great price."

Cons: "They are no cons."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"It handles very well. I love all the features and the ease of using them. There is not anything about this car I do not love."

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Fantastic car

By RichL (FL) on Tuesday, May 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 81,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Fun to drive, great pick up, looks great."

Cons: "Only thing missing blue tooth mp3"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I purchased this car used with 29,000 miles. My car now has 81,000! It drives like new! I have the V6 EXL coupe with Navi. The reliability is amazing. Blue tooth, audio excellent.. I have brought it in for routine Maintaince every 5,000 miles! I had to only put 2 back brake pads and tires! I would buy the car again!"

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Agile V6 0-60MPH in 5.9 sec. Buy in August & cut $

By William Shakespeare (FL) on Tuesday, May 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 37,500

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 8/10

Pros: "Overall ride, comfort, luxury for the buck, SPEED"

Cons: "some noise from glove box"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I believe if properly maintained this V6 Accord will do 200K or more. The ride is exceptionally smooth, and the acceleration is unparalled. Good sound from CD & radio. All the toys at a very reasonable price. Too bad American car companies can't answer. Slight decibels at high speeds. Otherwise, a best buy. If one complains about the Accord V6, "Methinks thou protest too much.""

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I love my Accord

By NikiG (CA) on Tuesday, May 07, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 10,600

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Reliable, fun to drive, good gas mileage"

Cons: "tan interior easy to get dirty"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I never thought I would love my car this much! After some bad luck with my old car, I decided I wanted something sporty, yet reliable. My 2012 Honda Accord EX-L V6 coupe is everything I wanted and more. Its speedy, handles great, rides smooth, and had all the creature comforts I was looking for (Bluetooth, Navigation, ipod USB hook up) My only issue with the Nav is that is seems to get confused when searching for a location by name, I look up CVS pharmacy and about 20 different options pop up and they are all 400 miles away...HELP! Sometimes it works, but it works best when you know the address or are searching for "gas stations nearby" I only wish I could have gotten black interior, my jeans have discolored the tan seats (needs to be cleaned regularly) The gas mileage is great, I can average about 24 mpg (city/highway). I get about 420 miles to a tank, and I don't always drive conservatively. I am more than pleased with my purchase and love that I have a sporty, beautiful, RELIABLE, car!"

1 person out of 1 found this review helpful

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Multiple Honda owner

By bossman (GA) on Thursday, May 02, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 32,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 9/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Excellent price, and comfortable to drive"

Cons: "I wish I had gotten the alloy wheels."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I've owned several Accords through the years, one Civic, and I bought my son a 2000 Passport in '06 with 100k miles. It has 190k now and still running well. I had a '99 Accord that without a doubt was the best car I ever owned. We bought it when it was 5 years old and drove it for 8 1/2 years until my teenager wrecked it. In 2010 I bought my wife a brand new Accord and after 3 years we are still in love with it. I fully expect it to be the first 10 year car and beyond for us. I reccomend the Accords to everyone when I get into car conversations."

3 people out of 4 found this review helpful

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