AUTO REVIEW:
A Trunk-full of Awards: 2014 Honda Accord EX
Honda Accords received a total redesign for the 2013 model year, which was actually their ninth generation. For 2014, just a few tweaks here and there can be found, writes our automotive editor Sally Miller Wyatt.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2014 Honda Accord.
We’re test-driving the 2014 Honda Accord EX, and I’m not sure there is a car out there with more awards. The trophy case for 2014 alone includes accolades from a number of impressive sources: the “Best Green Cars of 2014” and “Best Family Car of 2014” awards from KKK.com; Automobile magazine’s “All Star” award; About.com’s “Best New Cars of 2014” award; and the 2014 Motor Week Driver’s Choice award. These are just the newest ones, as the Accord was touted in 2013 by Parenting magazine, Edmunds.com, and even the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
After a total redesign in 2013, for 2014, just a few tweaks here and there can be found on the Honda Accord.
By far the most impressive of all the new features is Honda’s LaneWatch Blind Spot Display. LaneWatch uses a camera mounted inside the passenger-side mirror to display what lies in your right-side blind spot, on a dashboard-mounted screen. The image appears when you turn on your right blinker, or if you push in a button on the turn signal stalk. This is a fantastic feature for several reasons. On the freeway, if you turn on your right blinker, you can see if a lane-splitting motorcycle is approaching, or if there are cars in your blind spot. On surface streets, it’s a safety feature that lets you see pedestrians or bicyclists. And, it is such a neat thing to see, you may even find yourself using your blinkers more, which is a great habit to get into.
(Above): Exterior view of the 2014 Honda Accord.
Others have also found this feature to be impressive, among them the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, who acknowledged its advanced technology, and Good Housekeeping magazine, which gave it an award for being a “Very Innovative Product.”
The Honda Accord line-up includes the LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, EX-L V-6, and the Touring models, as well as two-door coupes.
All Accords are slightly more compact than the previous generation, but just by an inch. Despite this, they still have a good amount of room for all five passengers, especially when it comes to rear legroom.
(Above): Interior view of the 2014 Honda Accord.
Fuel efficiency is also improved, as the new generation models get 36 mpg for the four-cylinder versions and 34 mpg for the V-6.
There are many standard features on board, including Bluetooth HandsFreeLink with audio streaming, rearview camera and an audio/information screen, dual-zone climate control, Pandora Internet radio integration and SMS text messaging function. Optional features may include leather seating, a navigation system, and Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows you to set a speed and distance interval between you and the car ahead of you.
A number of technology features made their debut in the 2013 models and continue for 2014. They include direct injection in a four-cylinder engine and a Continuously Variable Transmission to enhance fuel efficiency; a lighter MacPherson strut front suspension; LED lighting on headlights, and daytime running lights.
(Above): Honda’s LaneWatch Blind Spot Display. LaneWatch uses a camera mounted inside the passenger-side mirror to display what lies in your right-side blind spot, on a dashboard-mounted screen. The image appears when you turn on your right blinker, or if you push in a button on the turn signal stalk.
Safety features on our test car included the full complement of air bags, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning, and Electronic Brake Distribution.
On the road, we found the 2014 Honda Accord EX offered a very solid driving experience. Visibility was excellent and the LaneWatch feature is fantastic. For driver and passengers, seats are comfortable and there is a good amount of head and legroom, for all five positions. Road noise, even at freeway speed, is non-existent.
The trunk is good-sized and the opening is wide.
Overall, there is a lot to like about the 2014 Honda Accord. It has claimed a trunk-full of awards, and all are well-earned. This family car will be a favorite for many years to come.
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