TopSpeed’s Best Midsize Sedan Of 2024: Honda Accord

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Summary

  • The Honda Accord is the best midsize sedan of 2024 due to its recent revamp and preservation of its endearing qualities.
  • The Accord offers attractive styling, a roomy interior, and an efficient hybrid powertrain.
  • While the Accord lacks the most power and aggression in its segment, it makes up for it with personality and typical Honda reliability.


The midsize sedan segment may be heading towards its grave, but some models are still hanging on hard. While there are still great choices out there in the form of the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Altima and Kia K5, the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry have often been crowned as the queens of midsize sedans, partaking in a rivalry that’s been as aggressive as the Mustang vs Camaro.

Both the Camry and the Accord are the sales leaders in this segment, and both have proven their worth over time. They’re honestly both fantastic sedans. Yet, it’s the Accord that grabbed our Best Midsize Sedan prize this year. Here’s why.

2024 Honda Accord
2024 Honda Accord

Expert Opinion: The Honda Accord is not the most powerful or most aggressive of the bunch, but what it lacks in these departments it makes up for with personality. As one of the best midsize sedans you can buy today, you can expect typical Honda reliability while not breaking the bank. In recent years, the Accord has even taken a step closer to the premium segment, which puts it within striking distance of the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata, among others.

Model
Honda Accord

Engine:
1.5-liter Inline-Four | 2.0-Linter Hybrid

Torque
192-247 LB-FT

Transmission
CVT

Driveline
FWD Only

MSRP
$27,895 – $38,190

0-60 MPH
6.5-7.3 Seconds

Fuel Economy
32-48 MPG Combined

Horsepower
192-204 HP

Pros
  • Attractive Styling
  • Roomy interior
  • Efficient hybrid powertrain
Cons
  • Base technology could be better
  • No option for AWD
  • Starting price a bit higher than most rivals

In order to determine the best vehicle in this category for 2024, our in-house experts have voted on a number of factors, including but not limited to value for the money, performance, and expected reliability and safety. The aggregate review score you see in the display card below is indicative of the average score (rated 1-10) between these factors and is based on real-world experience. Further information regarding our methodology of rating vehicles can be found on the TopSpeed’s methodology page.


Why The 2024 Honda Accord Is The Best Midsize Sedan Of 2024

The reason the Honda Accord grabbed first place is simply because it’s the newer car of the duo. Yes, Toyota did announce a next-generation Camry, but it’s only set to arrive in production form for the 2025 model-year. The Accord, on the otherhand, was entirely revamped in 2023. In the world of midsize sedans, it’s typically the newer, more sophisticated model that comes out as the winner.

For its 11th generation, the Accord doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, Honda made sure to preserve the endearing qualities that have allowed it to become one of the most purchased automobiles in North America. People love the Accord for its general sense of refinement, reliable, fuel-efficient engine options, great resale value and usable everyday performance. Except this time, in an effort to offer even better fuel economy and to emit even less greenhouse gases, Honda has reduced the Accord’s drivetrain options to only two, with the hybrid now taking a much more prominent place in the lineup.

Performance Specifications

Red and Silver Accords
Honda

Granted, we’ve seen past Accords offer more enthusiast-friendly options, like a Civic Type-R derived turbocharged engine paired to a manual transmission. The reality, however, is that nobody bought those models. Honda therefore decided to realign the vehicle’s specifications to better match what it was actually getting off dealer lots.

For instance, the base engine is still Honda’s ubiquitous 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Except this time, it can only be paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It’s good for stout 192 horsepower and a dead even 192 lb-ft of torque. The Accord remains a front-wheel driven car compared to the Toyota Camry, Subaru Legacy, Kia K5 and Nissan Altima that can all be had with all-wheel drive. To that, Honda states that Accord owners have never complained about not having that option, which is why it sticks to front-wheel drive.

Next up is the hybrid, the second of two powertrain options. It’s essentially a carry over engine from the previous generation, but with a few tweaks such as direct injection, so it can be even more efficient. Thanks to 2.0 liters of displacement and the help of two electric motors – one that acts as a generator to power the car’s accessories, and the other, bolted directly to the CVT -, this drivetrain is good for a total combined output of 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to be almost as potent as the old 2.0-liter turbocharged engine.

Although the hybrid engine is the only “high performance” option in the Accord’s choice of engines, this is still a highly fun sedan to throw around on a twisty road all while being surprisingly quick off the line and adequately sporty. This Accord also feels considerably more grown up than its predecessor thanks to a beautifully put-together cabin and a general sense of refinement that could have you mistake it for an Acura.

Honda Acord LX And EX

Honda Accord Hybrid

Horsepower

192 HP @ 6,000 RPM

146 HP @ TBA

Torque

192 LB-FT @ 1.700 RPM

134 LB-FT @ TBA

Motor EVs/Hybrids only

N/A

181 HP | 247 LB-FT

Battery EVs/Hybrids only

N/A

1.1-kWh Lithium Ion

Total System Output

N/A

204 HP | 247 LB-FT

Transmission

CVT

Direct Drive

Fuel Economy (CMB)

Up To 37 MPG

Up to 51 MPG

0-60 MPH

7.3 Seconds

6.6 Seconds

Top Speed

118 MPH

125 MPH

Best Features of the 2024 Honda Accord

  • Spacious and comfortable
  • Well put together
  • Efficient and potent hybrid drivetrain
  • Tried and proven entry level engine
  • Surprisingly athletic and fun to drive

The 11th-generation Honda Accord doesn’t try to reinvent itself, but that’s also where lies its charm. It takes off where the last car stopped, while improving on the elements we loved so much from this nameplate. I personally had a chance to drive the Honda Accord twice this year, in hybrid form.

Each time I get behind the wheel, I’m impressed by its general level of quality and sophistication. That hybrid engine is also a gem to operate, never penalizing its driver for deciding to burn less fuel.

The Runners Up

The obvious main enemy here is the Toyota Camry, and although the 2025 model is still not available at dealers, the current-generation car remains a solid contender thanks to the full plethora of available trim levels and drivetrain options. Still, we do feel that the current Camry is nowhere near as sophisticated as the new Accord. As for the other midsize sedans currently on sale; the Chevrolet Malibu (yes, it still exists and a new model may even be on the way), the Hyundai Sonata, Kia K5, Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy, they’re all great cars that bring hope to the dying midsize sedan segment. Sadly, none of them seemed to offer the kind of exquisite balance we love from the Honda Accord, which is why it stands tall above the rest.

Value For Money

Overall Performance

Reliability And Safety

Average Score

2024 Honda Accord

9.4

9.4

9.6

9.46

2024 Toyota Camry

9.2

9.0

9.4

9.20

2024 Hyundai Sonata

9.0

8.9

9.2

9.03

2024 Kia K5

9.0

9.0

9.1

9.03

2024 Subaru Legacy

8.8

8.8

8.9

8.83

2024 Nissan Altima

8.7

8.5

9.0

8.73

Final Thoughts And Predictions For 2024

2024 Volkswagen ID.7 front shot
Volkswagen

The 2024 model year will challenge the Honda Accord due to a new Toyota Camry, but also because new electric midsize sedans are heading our way. I’m thinking about the upcoming Volkswagen ID.7, essentially an electric Passat that’s back with a vengeance. With EV sales constantly rising in North America and carmakers soon forced to sell only that, the Accord could end up losing its title to something electric. Here’s to hoping Honda finds a way to transfer the Accord’s adorable traits into the EV space.

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