8 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2018 HONDA ACCORD

The 10th-generation Honda Accord is almost here and we can expect new looks, plenty of fresh tech and a revamped powertrain lineup. The 2018 model will sport some aggressive new styling and a fastback body style – one aimed at maximizing interior space offering a more modern look.

The Accord has a lot to live up to – and competitors are already trying to steal its launch!

So, how will the latest iteration of one of the best-selling cars in America set itself apart from its predecessor? Here are 8 things you need to know to answer that question:

1. New Engines: the V6 is out and the I4 is in! A new turbocharged 1.5-liter will be the base engine, churning out 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. A heavier choice will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 252 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque – this replaces the V6. That is fewer horses than the 3.5-liter V6. However, it's still similar when it comes to power and actually makes more torque! The demise of the V6 was something that was bound to happen – inline-fours are now cranking out comparable figures with the help of turbochargers, so a drop in displacement for the engine wasn't exactly a surprise. 

2. Transmissions: both engines will be offering the option of a six-speed manual transmission. However, we have a feeling that the continuously variable automatic transmission will be popular on the base 1.5-liter model. The 2.0 engine, meanwhile, will have the option of a new 10-speed conventional automatic. Yup – 10-speed is the new nine-speed! 

3. Size: We can expect a wider stance and longer wheelbase (stretched by 2.1 inches) from the 2018 Accord, but the car's overall length and height will shrink slightly. Honda also shaved off the front and rear overhangs which will improve driving dynamics, and an extra 2.5 inches of rear legroom for backseat passengers – another benefit of a longer wheelbase. This should help the Accord feel better planted on the pavement, reducing nosedive during braking and smoothing out the highway ride quality. 

4. Hybrid: Don't worry, Honda didn't forget about the hybrid. The new generation will pair the 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle engine with two electric motors. Honda is keeping these hybrid details on the down-low for now, but the outgoing version also used a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle engine paired with electric motors producing a combined 212 hp. The new hybrid will have mpg figures of 49/47/48 city/highway/combined to beat, and Honda says it has been able to hide the battery underneath the rear seats this time so it won't take up trunk space!

5. Driver Assist Systems Galore: in the 2018 Accord, there will be no shortage of electronic driving aids – it will offer road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking system, lane-departure warning, a driver-awareness monitor and blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert. These systems have been getting smarter and Honda's current version is one of the better ones. 

6. A New Look: Honda has gone in a new direction for the 2018 model with something close to a fastback body style. This will buy some extra room for backseat passengers – the greenhouse is more generous, but the trunk opening will be on the modest side, avoiding the three-box formula of its predecessors. It is a missed opportunity that the new Accord won't be a hatchback sedan, as this layout would have given it some impressive cargo space. However, there are other Hondas for hauling cargo. As for the front fascia, the 2018 model will have a large blacked-out centre grille section – similar to the current Dodge Charger – flanked by swept headlights. 

7. Coupe: There will actually be no coupe for the 2018 Accord. Like it or not, compact and mid-size two-doors have been on their way out since the nineties, and the current Civic coupe readily fills the demand for a spacious hatch/coupe. 

8. The Interior: Honda is finally moving away from the dull combinations of moody, grey-and-black plastics, and is almost starting to have fun with the interior design! The 2018 model features a dash with some visual entertainment with some flowing shapes and plenty of buttons for fans of simple controls. Speaking of buttons, the volume and tune rotary knobs are back as actual rotary knobs, after an unfortunate and prolonged sabbatical.

Possible the most noticeable change to the centre stack and controls is that the dash now has just one screen instead of two. It is a stick-on touchscreen variety, not embedded deep in the dash, and it integrates the aforementioned knobs and static control buttons – it should have been this way all along! 

We can look forward to the new Accord at the end of September, as well as a few more concrete specs about the hybrid model and the entire lineup!