2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test I'm reaching my mid-20s, the age at which quite a few of my friends feel the need to start acting responsible and "grow up." For the lucky few with well-paying jobs, this means selling out and buying a "sensible" midsize sedan. For those who want the practicality of a midsize sedan but aren't ready to say goodbye their youth just yet, Honda's got the car: the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe EX, and truth be told, being grown-up isn't half-bad.
2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test
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| 2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test |
2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test
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| 2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test |
2013 Honda Accord EX Coupe First Test
The Accord Coupe EX is the highest trim level you can get on the Accord Coupe with both a four-cylinder engine and a manual transmission -- perfect for the young man or woman who wants to perpetuate the illusion of sportiness without actually getting something sporty, like a Scion FR-S. The six-speed manual-equipped Accord Coupe EX comes in any color you like, as long as it's black. Standard equipment includes foglights, a power moonroof, hands-free keyless access, a multi-view rearview camera, and an engine start/stop button. With no optional extras available save for add-on accessories such as cargo nets, our Accord Coupe tester cost a reasonable $25,815. We tested most of the new-for-2013 Accord lineup, including a V-6-powered Accord Coupe, during our Car of the Year testing, but we couldn't get our hands on a higher-volume four-cylinder Coupe at the time -- let alone one with a manual transmission. Equipped with the new "Earth Dreams" 2.4-liter I-4 (that name is incredibly lame), the Accord Coupe makes 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. Though Honda's new CVT is quite good -- well, for a CVT -- our tester thankfully came equipped with the slick six-speed manual gearbox. The new Accord Coupe gets out of the hole pretty quickly, accelerating from 0-60 mph in a respectable 6.6 seconds, exactly 1 second slower than a V-6 manual Accord Coupe and a tenth of a second faster than an Accord sedan with the I-4 and six-speed transmission. The two-door Accord completes the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds at 92.6 mph - not exactly fast, but it's only 0.1 second behind the slowest 2012 Civic Si we tested last year. The Accord Coupe needed just 121 feet to come to a standstill from 60 mph.
With less weight on the nose, it isn't surprising that the Accord Coupe EX outperformed its V-6-powered sibling during handling tests. The V-6 Accord weighs 3367 pounds versus the I-4's 3201 pounds, giving the four-banger a superior front/rear weight distribution in addition to the reduced weight. The two-door averaged 0.88 g on the skidpad, and managed to complete the figure eight in 26.7 seconds at 0.65 g (avg), beating the V-6 Accord Coupe's 27.0-second time, but not its 0.68 avg g. On the road, the Accord Coupe is pleasant and easy to drive -- perfect for sensible young drivers. It gets off the line quickly and without drama, and the only trace of torque steer comes at wide open throttle. The six-speed manual is one of the best in the business, with crisp, light throws and easy clutch pick-up that makes being stuck in traffic less of a chore. Associate online editor Alex Nishimoto echoed my sentiments: "The first thing I noticed when I pulled out of the MT garage was how smooth the six-speed manual was. Changing gears felt intuitive and precise, almost as if the shifter was guided by magnets." The Accord was comfortable and quiet on just about every road surface we threw at it, and Honda's typical road noise is severely dampened. The Coupe was efficient, too, netting a trip-computer-indicated 29.5 mpg during its stay with us, just a hair above its 28 mpg combined rating. Unfortunately, unlike Hondas of yesteryear, this Accord won't win any praise for steering feel. Feedback is best described as limp and lifeless, and it gets sketchy-numb on winding back roads. The Coupe handles well enough once you learn to trust that the wheels are doing what you tell them to do, but overall we were left wanting firmer feel, or at least a sport button. The Accord's steering feel will disappoint enthusiasts, but the average buyer probably won't be any wiser. Inside, the Accord Coupe is a generally nice place to be. The cabin is well-finished, the cloth seats are comfortable on long journeys, and the rear seats are usable for most individuals under six feet in height. Our only real complaints with the Accord's interior are its hard door-mounted armrests and its two-screen infotainment system. We've complained about the twin screens before, but without a navigation system (there isn't one available on the EX trim level) it seems doubly pointless. "It's silly that you have to acknowledge warnings when this car doesn't have a nav," said associate editor Allyson Harwood, "A warning about distraction when you have no nav screen to distract you?" Furthermore, the Bluetooth function was a bit less than intuitive, at times refusing to resume playing the radio after phone calls. The 2013 Accord Coupe is an easy recommendation for me to make to friends who feel the need to grow up fast. It's comfortable, nice to drive, and sensible. That also makes it a bit boring, especially when you consider the FR-S goes for about the same price with a similar level of equipment. Ultimately, people who consider an Accord Coupe are going to imagine themselves too grown-up for the Scion's boy-racer antics, making the Accord a solid buy. "It's not as bland as a family sedan," Harwood said, "but for someone who wants something a little more grow up than that, but doesn't want something that's too grown up, this might be a good option."
2013 Honda Accord
BASE PRICE $24,140
PRICE AS TESTED $25,815
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE 2.4L/185-hp/181-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3201 lb (60/40%)
WHEELBASE 109.3 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 191.4 x 72.8 x 57.7 in
0-60 MPH 6.6 sec
QUARTER MILE 15.1 sec @ 92.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 121 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.88 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.7 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 24/34 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 140/99 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 0.70 lb/mile
With less weight on the nose, it isn't surprising that the Accord Coupe EX outperformed its V-6-powered sibling during handling tests. The V-6 Accord weighs 3367 pounds versus the I-4's 3201 pounds, giving the four-banger a superior front/rear weight distribution in addition to the reduced weight. The two-door averaged 0.88 g on the skidpad, and managed to complete the figure eight in 26.7 seconds at 0.65 g (avg), beating the V-6 Accord Coupe's 27.0-second time, but not its 0.68 avg g. On the road, the Accord Coupe is pleasant and easy to drive -- perfect for sensible young drivers. It gets off the line quickly and without drama, and the only trace of torque steer comes at wide open throttle. The six-speed manual is one of the best in the business, with crisp, light throws and easy clutch pick-up that makes being stuck in traffic less of a chore. Associate online editor Alex Nishimoto echoed my sentiments: "The first thing I noticed when I pulled out of the MT garage was how smooth the six-speed manual was. Changing gears felt intuitive and precise, almost as if the shifter was guided by magnets." The Accord was comfortable and quiet on just about every road surface we threw at it, and Honda's typical road noise is severely dampened. The Coupe was efficient, too, netting a trip-computer-indicated 29.5 mpg during its stay with us, just a hair above its 28 mpg combined rating. Unfortunately, unlike Hondas of yesteryear, this Accord won't win any praise for steering feel. Feedback is best described as limp and lifeless, and it gets sketchy-numb on winding back roads. The Coupe handles well enough once you learn to trust that the wheels are doing what you tell them to do, but overall we were left wanting firmer feel, or at least a sport button. The Accord's steering feel will disappoint enthusiasts, but the average buyer probably won't be any wiser. Inside, the Accord Coupe is a generally nice place to be. The cabin is well-finished, the cloth seats are comfortable on long journeys, and the rear seats are usable for most individuals under six feet in height. Our only real complaints with the Accord's interior are its hard door-mounted armrests and its two-screen infotainment system. We've complained about the twin screens before, but without a navigation system (there isn't one available on the EX trim level) it seems doubly pointless. "It's silly that you have to acknowledge warnings when this car doesn't have a nav," said associate editor Allyson Harwood, "A warning about distraction when you have no nav screen to distract you?" Furthermore, the Bluetooth function was a bit less than intuitive, at times refusing to resume playing the radio after phone calls. The 2013 Accord Coupe is an easy recommendation for me to make to friends who feel the need to grow up fast. It's comfortable, nice to drive, and sensible. That also makes it a bit boring, especially when you consider the FR-S goes for about the same price with a similar level of equipment. Ultimately, people who consider an Accord Coupe are going to imagine themselves too grown-up for the Scion's boy-racer antics, making the Accord a solid buy. "It's not as bland as a family sedan," Harwood said, "but for someone who wants something a little more grow up than that, but doesn't want something that's too grown up, this might be a good option."
2013 Honda Accord
BASE PRICE $24,140
PRICE AS TESTED $25,815
VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, FWD, 5-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE 2.4L/185-hp/181-lb-ft DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual
CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3201 lb (60/40%)
WHEELBASE 109.3 in
LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 191.4 x 72.8 x 57.7 in
0-60 MPH 6.6 sec
QUARTER MILE 15.1 sec @ 92.6 mph
BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 121 ft
LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.88 g (avg)
MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.7 sec @ 0.65 g (avg)
EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 24/34 mpg
ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY 140/99 kW-hrs/100 miles
CO2 EMISSIONS 0.70 lb/mile