The 2013 Honda Accord will launch in Australia in June with prices starting from $31,490 for the four-cylinder Accord VTi, a $3300 price increase over the outgoing model.
Honda Australia will continue with the twin-Accord strategy (with Australia remaining the only market in the world where the Accord and Accord Euro are sold side-by-side) as it introduces the more compact, ninth-generation Accord to compete with the likes of the Mazda 6.
The 2013 Honda Accord will be available with both a new 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and the 3.5-litre V6, which is largely carried over from the previous model.
The four-cylinder’s power output is 129kW (4kW less than the previous generation) while its torque sits at 225Nm (3Nm more than before). Honda’s focus on fuel efficiency has seen a seven per cent improvement, now at 7.9-8.1 litres per 100km depending on variant, and somewhat surprisingly the same five-speed automatic has been carried over.
The 3.5-litre V6 produces 206kW (up 4kW on the previous model) and an unchanged 339Nm. It’s coupled to a six-speed automatic and employs a new cylinder-deactivation system that now only juggles between three or six cylinders, as opposed to three, four or six cylinders like the previous model. It consumes 9.2L/100km on the combined cycle.
Honda expects 85 per cent of its estimated 300 Accord sales per month to be four-cylinder models, which is why it’s only offering a top-spec variant of the six-cylinder, the$51,990 Accord V6L – an increase of $4700 over the previous V6L.
The four-cylinder line-up comprises the $31,490 VTi, $33,990, VTi-L and $41,490 VTi-S. All prices are higher than the previous Accord and more in line with Mazda’s pricing strategy for its 6.
Whether the new, smaller Accord will remain in thelarge car category or be reclassified as a medium car in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ official data reporting is still to be decided.
From the outside the new Honda Accord is entirely refreshed, but Honda has played it safe in retaining the styling the Accord is known for. New additions include LED daytime running lights and the availability of LED headlights (a first for Honda in Australia) as well as cornering lights.
Interior and engineering highlights include the standard inclusion of an eight-inch colour screen with a reversing camera, as well as the move to a newly developed MacPherson strut front suspension (replacing the old car’s double wishbone system).
Honda will also use the new Accord to introduce a variety of new safety technologies it calls its Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS). ADAS will include some familiar systems such as lane keep assist, collision mitigation braking system and adaptive cruise control. Some are rather interesting, like the lane keep assist system, which uses cameras located in the side mirrors to show the driver a live video stream of the car’s blind spot on the LCD screen. These safety features are available for $3500 in the four cylinder VTi-L but standard in the V6L.
The $31,490 four-cylinder Honda Accord VTi has the following specifications
2.4 litre i-VTEC DOHC engine delivering 129kW of power @ 6200rpm and 225Nm of torque @4000rpm Fuel economy of 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 187 grams per kilometre (combined urban/extra urban) Five-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Traction Control System (TCS) Reversing camera with three modes (180 degree, normal and top-down) Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) Body Structure Tyre Deflation Warning System (DWS) Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) Six airbags (front, side and full-length curtain) Whiplash mitigating head restraints MacPherson strut front and Multi-Link rear suspension Electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering with tilt and telescopic function Multi-information Display (MID) and intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) Variable intermittent wipers Halogen headlights with leaving home/coming home feature LED daytime running lights (DRL) and LED tail lights Cruise control Active Noise Control (ANC) Dual-zone climate control Cloth trim Manual seat adjustment AM/FM audio system, single CD, six speakers, touch screen and Speedsensitive Volume Control (SVC) Bluetooth HFT with audio streaming AUX jack and USB connectivity Engine immobiliser and security alarm Steering wheel-mounted audio, cruise, Bluetooth and MID controls 461 litre boot capacity 16 inch alloy wheels with full size spare
The $33,990 four-cylinder Honda Accord VTi-S has the same specifications as the VTi with the addition of:
LaneWatch Blind Spot Monitoring Front and rear parking sensors Rain sensing auto front wipers LED headlights with leaving home/ coming home feature Front fog lights Premium audio system with seven speakers and touch screen Reverse tilt door mirror 457 litre boot capacity 17 inch alloy wheels with full size spare
The $41,490 four-cylinder Honda Accord VTi-L has the same specifications as the VTi-S with the addition of:
Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) featuring Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), E-Pretensioner seatbelt for the driver (as a factory fitted option) Fuel economy of 8.1 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 192 grams per kilometre (combined urban/ extra urban) Sunroof Active cornering headlights i-MID with satellite navigation Intelligent dual-zone climate control Leather trim with heated front seats Smart keyless entry and start 8-way power driver’s seat 4-way power passenger seat Driver’s lumbar support Driver’s seat memory Leather wrapped gear shift and steering wheel Auto-dimming rearview mirror 18 inch alloy wheels with full size spare
