2021 Honda Accord Sport SE 2.0T: The Brand's Refreshed Midsize Sedan

 

Highlight: In the Honda family, the Accord consistently ranks as one of the top two cars in terms of sales with those 35 years old and younger.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $32,865 (Base SE Model: $25,725)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; vehicle stability control system; a hillstart assist system; a lane keep assist system; an automatic high beam system; a road departure mitigation system; a forward collision warning system; a radar activated cruise control system; a traffic sign recognition system; a rear seat reminder; a rear seatbelt reminder; a tire pressure indicator; an automatic brake hold system; rearview camera; and a compact spare tire

Standard Equipment (LX): 17-inch wheels; CVT transmission with a sport mode; a start-stop idle fuel saving system; an 8-inch infotainment system; electric power steering; a MacPherson strut front suspension; a multi-link rear suspension; a dual zone automatic climate control system; a push button ignition starter system; cloth seats; manually adjusted front seats; a fold down rear seat with seatbacks; and a manually operated tilt/telescopic steering wheel

Standard Equipment (Sport): 19-inch wheels;  2.0-liter turbocharged engine; a 10-speed automatic transmission; paddle shifters; sports mode; a road departure mitigation system; a forward collision warning system; an electronic blind spot information system with a cross traffic monitor; a power moonroof; gloss black power side mirrors; chrome exhaust finishers; a decklid spoiler; smart entry with walk away auto lock; a center console with storage compartment; a leather wrapped steering wheel; sport pedals; a power driver’s seat; heated front seats; cloth and leather-like combo seating pattern; SiriusXM; an 8-speaker, 180-watt audio system; HD radio; a wireless phone charger; a remote engine start; LED foglights; wireless smartphone integration; and a keyless entry system

Optional Features On Test Vehicle: none

Other Trims:

EX-L

Touring

Sport SE

Hybrid

Standard Audio On Test Vehicle: a 4-speaker, 160-watt audio system AM/FM

Apple CarPlay/Android Auto: Yes

Bluetooth Connectivity: Yes

USB Connectivity: Depending On Trim

Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles

Powertrain Warranty: 5 years or 60,000 miles

Standard Engine/Horsepower: 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder/198-hp (LX trim)

Recommended Fuel: Regular

Standard Fuel Mileage: 30-city/38-hwy

What’s New: After going through a major redesign during the 2018 model year, the 2021 model year brings a mild refresh. The grille is slightly wider. The Sport, Sport SE, EX, Touring and Hybrid models wear new LED headlights, which projects more illumination.

Moreover, a new Sport SE trim joins the Accord family.

Why: The stylish fastback design of the four door Accord is available in five trims: LX, Sport, Sport Special Edition and EX-L and Touring.

The five seater midsize sedan is available with either a 1.5-liter turbo or a 2.0-liter turbo engine. The smaller 1.5-liter turbo engine, which produces 192-horsepower, is only available in the LX, Sport, Sport Special Edition and the EX-L trims. 

However, for those seeking the peppier 252-horsepower engine, they’ll have to step up to the Sport and Touring trims. In a segment that has virtually eliminated 6-cylinder engines, we found the Sport model we reviewed with the larger powertrain to be more than adequate. 

A hybrid model, which produces 212-horsepower, is available too.

And with such newcomers as the Kia K5, which was formerly known as the Optima, the Honda Accord still manages to add a level of sophistication to its exterior styling that is lacked by its competitors. The Accord, which is available with a number of driver assist features, also seems more solid in terms of build quality when compared to those in its competitive set.

Also new for this year a Sport SE trim joins the line up, replacing the EX mode. The SE adds leather seating, heated front seats, a front power passenger seat, heated mirrors, a keyless entry system, heated mirrors and a remote start system.

Furthermore, the Accord offers a variation of sound systems. We found the midgrade 8-speaker audio system in our vehicle to be more than adequate, while producing a premium sound. We can only imagine what the 10-speaker, 450-watt audio system produces in terms of sound quality.

Lastly, the roomy Accord, with its engaging driving experience, enhances the vehicle this model year, adding wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto integration.

But: We did have some gripes about the slightly refreshed Accord. The package needs to be tweaked to make the HUD (heads up display) and the navigation system available to more trims. We could have benefitted from both in the Sport model.

Moreover, while Honda Accord headlights have been improved on certain trims, we found that the Sport we reviewed headlights still weren't as bright as in over vehicles, when driving down dark roads.

Added to that, both Korean makes from Hyundai and Kia offers a handsfree trunk and an oversized power moonroof. Honda should consider infusing both features into the popular Accord.

Also vehicles in the segment like the Kia K5 offer more punch under the hood too, with its 2.5-liter, 290-horsepower engine.

Lastly, we did find the Accord to be somewhat noisy on the road. 

Furthermore, even with the revised headlighting system on some trims, we found it didn’t provide enough illumination for our vision on dark roads.

Verdict: Its no wonder why the Accord accounts for a large share of the midsize market in terms of new vehicle registration. Its roomy, engaging, stylish and outfitted with a host of user-friendly features. The vehicle is available in a gasoline or a hybrid powertrain. And while a number of vehicles have opted to freshen up this segment by adding an all-wheel drive configuration, Honda has decided to stay its lane with its front wheel drive configuration. 

Pricing for the sedan starts near $25,000 and can be topped near $37,000.

Competition: Chevy Malibu; Hyundai Sonata; Kia K5; Nissan Altima; Subaru Legacy; and Toyota Camry