Ninth Generation Honda Accord Facelift

The 2016 model year brought about a fresh face and several upgrades for the Honda Accord 9th gen. On the exterior, a new face debuted with sharper lines and more refined design elements that made the Accord look less bulbous.

At the front, thinner, strip-like LED fog lights were introduced in a more aggressively styled lower valance from the Sport trim upwards1, while an aluminum hood was also new and lighter than the previous steel one2. The grille is completely revised3, with the old U-shaped chrome frame replaced with a more fussy grille with a thick horizontal chrome bar in the middle, two thin ones below it, and a chrome strip above it that reaches halfway into the slightly slimmer new headlights on either side4.

At the rear, a newly designed rear bumper1 and taillights - still LED - differentiated the Accord. The new taillights are significantly slimmer and, mirroring the front changes2, the upper chrome strip on the trunk lid now reaches into the rear light clusters, curving upwards at either end like frowning eyebrows3. The new rear bumper now has a full-width chrome finisher strip in its lower section just above the tailpipes4. Wheel sizes increased across almost all trims, and on trims like the Touring, a new rear spoiler added some excitement5.

Under the surface, the chassis was made more rigid and received new suspension braces, a retuned power steering system, high-performance dampers, hydraulic rear subframe bushes, and larger front brakes on the Sport and Touring trims.

The side view remains much the same, but there are new wheel designs1 and the changes to the rear lights can clearly be seen in profile too2. This is also the angle from which the front headlight clusters' new side marker lights can be best seen - they move to the rearmost upper corner of the wraparound front lights, pointing like orange arrows towards the side mirrors3.

Inside, a new seven-inch touchscreen was added to models from the EX trim up, introducing support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay1, while the EX also gained access to SiriusXM Radio for the first time. Models above the EX gained HD Radio functionality. Convenience was further bolstered by 60/40-split rear seats on all Sport-level sedans and higher, while from the CVT-equipped EX and up, all models gained remote start. Lastly, heated rear seats were added to the Touring, along with auto high beams and front and rear parking sensors.

Engine, Transmission and Drivetrain

The 9th-generation Honda Accord is available with three engines, all of which do an adequate job of powering the car. All models are front-wheel-drive. The sedan is available with a 2.4-liter inline-four or 3.5-liter V6 and there are two hybrids as well, each equipped with an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter inline-four and either a 1.3-kWh battery on the normal hybrid or a 6.7-kWh battery on the plug-in (PHEV) with an all-electric range of 13 miles.

The 2.4-liter and 3.5-liter engines can be coupled to a six-speed manual transmission. Automatic transmissions vary, being a CVT on all four-cylinder engines (including the hybrids, which are CVT-only models) and a conventional six-speed automatic transmission on the V6s. All the same ICE drivetrain options for the Honda Accord CR2 and CR3 sedans are available on the Honda Accord CT1 and CT2 coupes. The Honda Accord CR6 Hybrid is a sedan only.

2013-2017 Accord Sedan Real MPG

If we added every model's claimed fuel consumption figures, you'd be here all day reading them. Instead, we chose a shortlist of models, based on the three models you'll likely encounter on the used market.

According to the EPA, the 2.4-liter NA engine only consumes 27/36/30 mpg city/highway/combined. The V6 is surprisingly frugal, with claimed figures of 21/33/25 mpg. As you'd expect, the most frugal model in the range is the hybrid, managing 49/47/48 mpg. All models can easily do more than 400 miles on a single tank, while the hybrid can go more than 700 miles.

According to owners, you can expect real-world figures of 30.7 mpg from the 2.4, 27.2 mpg from the V6, and 44.1 MPGe from the hybrid.

EPA MPGREAL WORLD MPG *
2.4-liter i4 + CVT27/36/3029.1-32.4
2.4-liter + Manual23/32/2629.9-31.6
3.5 V6 + Automatic21/33/2527-29.6
3.5 V6 + Manual18/28/2126.7
Hybrid49/47/48 MPGe42.6-43.6 MPGe
Plug-In Hybrid115 MPGe / 46 MPG79.2 MPGe


* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

Safety

These days Honda includes its Sensing suite of driver-assistance features as standard, but the 9th generation is obviously a previous-generation car. The only standard driver-assistance feature is a backup camera but several more were optionally available on upper trims from the start, namely forward-collision warning, blind-spot warning, and lane-departure warning. An innovative new (optional) LaneWatch system activates a camera in the right-hand-side exterior mirror to give the driver a low and wide view of the car's passenger side when switching on the right-side indicator, so this might be fitted to a used vehicle. It is a standard fitment on 2015+ Accord EX and EX-L coupes only, while the 2015+ EX and EX-L sedans get auto-dimming interior rear-view mirrors.

The Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features became standard on the Touring and optionally available on all the other trims from the 2016 facelift, incorporating adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and road- and lane-departure warning. The 9th generation does come with a host of active and passive safety systems. In addition to a full suite of six airbags, it features stability and traction control, tire-pressure monitoring, and daytime running lights.

At the beginning of its lifecycle, the IIHS gave the Accord a Top Safety Pick+ award, setting the standard until it was eventually axed in 2017. There were no restrictions on this award, so whatever Accord you end up buying, this rating will be applicable.

US NHTSA Crash Test Result (2017 Sedan & Sedan Hybrid)

US NHTSA Crash Test Result (2017 Coupe)

9th Generation Accord Trims

The mainstay trims are LX, EX, Sport, EX-L, and Touring. For 2014, a hybrid is available in the EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, joined by a one-year-only plug-in hybrid trim with its own specific equipment. Each successive trim generally contains everything the preceding one does except where otherwise indicated. Both the EX and Sport trims are based on the entry-level LX trim with trim-specific features added - sporty ones for the Sport and more luxury- and comfort-oriented ones for the EX.

A 2016 facelifted range adds a revised exterior, improved interior trim, revised suspension to improve ride and handling, more standard equipment, and range-wide availability of the Honda Sensing driver-assistance suite (standard on the facelifted Touring). All facelifted models except for the base LX get their one-piece folding rear seat replaced by a 60/40-split item and all trims from EX and up receive a standard seven-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Ninth Generation Honda Accord Features

LXSportSport SEEXEX-L
Back-Up CameraSSSSS
Bluetooth ConnectionSSSSS
Leather SeatsN/AN/AN/AN/AS
Apple CarPlay, Android AutoS on faceliftS on faceliftS on faceliftS on faceliftS on facelift
Keyless EntryN/ASN/AN/AN/A
Keyless StartN/ASN/AN/AN/A
HD RadioN/AN/AN/ASN/A
Alloy WheelsSSSSS
Sunroof/MoonroofN/AN/AN/AN/AS


Interior, Trim And Practicality

The Accord Sedan has a spacious interior, offering seating for five. As with most traditional sedans, the trunk is nothing special. At most, it offers 15.8 cubic feet, which you can extend by folding the rear seats forward. The driver and passengers have more than enough storage room; everyone gets at least one cupholder and big door pockets. The trunk can't match what SUVs offer, but 15.8 cubes is ample space for the weekly grocery shop and will fit a family of four's luggage on a weekend getaway. This shrinks quite dramatically to only 8.6 cubes on the PHEV model, putting a serious dent in its practicality.

The Coupe offers a 13.7-cube trunk. It also has less interior space, but only in the back. Compared to the Sedan, front leg-/headroom are barely diminished, reducing from 42.5/39.1 inches to 42.2/38 inches. However, in the back, the Sedan offers a roomy 38.5 inches of legroom, whereas the Coupe has nearly five inches less with 33.7 inches; rear headroom, on the other hand, is quite competitive in the Coupe, measuring 37.2 inches - only 0.3 inches less than the Sedan.

Quality is not an issue, but there are a few observations we made browsing hundreds of Accords online. The base model's cloth upholstery does not stand the test of time very well, nor does the polyurethane steering wheel. The leather trim ages much better.

TrimLXSportSport SEEXEX-L
Black, Gray, Ivory Cloth seatsSN/AN/AN/AN/A
Black Leather SeatsN/ASSN/AN/A
Gray Leather SeatsN/AN/AN/ASN/A
Ivory Leather SeatsN/AN/AN/AN/AS


2013-2017 Honda Accord Maintenance and Cost

There are hundreds of claimed Honda specialists scattered across the country. Most are located near main or large cities. In addition to that, there are 1,068 official Honda dealerships and service stations in the USA. That's a huge footprint, which means you won't struggle to find someone to look after your car.

For an annual service, you're looking at around $400, while a basic oil change can be done for around $150.

The V6's timing belt should be replaced every seven years or every 60,000 miles, and the car should keep chugging along happily. This job should cost no less than $700 to perform, or over $1,100 with the water pump included, which is recommended as the water pump runs off the cambelt and a water-pump failure could snap the belt, leading to terminal engine damage.

9th Generation Honda Accord CR1-CR3 Tires

Honda recommends all-season tires for all model years. Honda also recommends Goodyear tires.

Check Before You Buy

Technical Service Bulletins according to the NHTSA. Check service book for:

  • TSB 15-055: Steering software update.
  • TSB 17-057: Replacement of battery sensor module.
  • TSB 15-017: Loosening connecting rod.
  • TSB 15-077: Delay while the CVT gearbox engages, and software upgrade.
  • TSB 14-030: Slapping or clicking sound at idle.
  • TSB 14-039: High-pressure fuel pump.
  • TSB 13-053: Surge, hesitation, judder, and light acceleration from a stop.

Compared to some rivals, there aren't many 2013-2017 Honda Accord sedan, hybrid, and coupe safety recall notices. In the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Honda Accord driveshaft recall, affected cars were recalled for driveshafts that may corrode and fail, while the 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 battery sensor recall addresses one of the Honda Accord's common problems by replacing sensors that may have suffered water damage. In the 2013 fuel-tank recall, the fuel tank is replaced if the tank neck does not properly seal at the fuel pump. There was a 2014 and 2015 Honda Accord engine recall for incorrectly torqued connecting-rod bolts that may cause an engine stall and hybrids from the same year were recalled to fix a hybrid system that may go into fail-safe mode. The 2015, 2016, and 2017 Honda Accord fuel-pump recall aimed to fix a reduced-performance fuel pump that may cause a stall. Despite suffering the odd problem in other vehicle systems, there were no 2013-2017 Honda Accord VSA modulator, VTC actuator, wheel bearing, alternator, catalytic-converter, electric power steering - EPS, paint, sun-visor, ABS-module, airbag, backup-camera, starter, ignition-switch, headlight, DRL LED strip, or starter recalls.

By and large, the 9th-gen Accord lives up to Honda's quality reputation and issues are not too numerous, although there are several 2013-2017 Honda Accord LX, EX, EX-L or Touring 2.4 or V6 sedan/coupe Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, XM radio, stereo, navigation, and infotainment-display problems to watch out for. As for the rest, there were few issues and certainly not enough to form a concerning pattern and prospective buyers will be pleased to learn that this model's other systems are generally reliable, with few 2013-2017 Honda Accord LX, EX, or EX-L 2.4L four-cylinder - I4 - or V6 fuel-gauge or fuel-pump, ECM, HDD, VCM, RPM, TPMS, thermostat, factory catalytic converter, engine-cradle, door-lock, flywheel, front-alignment or camber, brake, warm-up, instrument-panel brightness, keyless entry, driver power-seat, power-window, subwoofer, wheel-bearing, ABS-module, backup-camera, brake, suspension coil, strut, throttle-body, drain, or general electronic or electrical problems reported.

Here are some OBD2 trouble codes you might run into when having to diagnose Accord problems:

  • The 2013-2017 Honda Accord V6 trouble code P0001 means the fuel-volume regulator (FVR) control circuit is open, which can be caused by a faulty FVR or a wiring problem.
  • The 2013-2017 Honda Accord 4-cylinder dash codes P0135, P0138, P0155, and P0172 all relate to faults in the operation of the oxygen sensors and/or fuel-injection system.
  • The P0300 codes are all cylinder misfire codes, with the last digit denoting the number of the misfiring cylinder, so the 2013-2017 Honda Accord 2.4L LX or EX dash code P0301, P0302, or P0303 indicates that cylinder number one, two, or three is misfiring for any of a variety of reason.
  • The Honda Accord 3.5 V6 P0333 error indicates that there is a problem with knock sensor two due to a faulty sensor, faulty wiring, or a fuel-pressure or -octane problem.
  • The Honda Accord 2.4L P0351 error code indicates that there is a problem with an ignition coil.
  • The Honda Accord P0087 sedan/coupe 2.4L engine code causes code P0420 in some cases. P0087 means the fuel rail's pressure is too low and P0420 means there is an issue with the catalyst's efficiency, which is often caused by fuel-mixture problems.
  • The Honda Accord EVAP leak DTC - diagnostic trouble codes - P0455, P0456, and P0498 all indicate problems with the evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system - P0455 denotes a large leak, P0456 a small leak, and P0498 a problem with the EVAP canister vent shut valve.
  • The 2013-2017 Honda Accord 2.4L engine code P0506 is an idle-air-control code indicating an idling speed that is too low.
  • The Honda Accord P0641 code refers to a sensor reference voltage discrepancy and could point to a faulty ECM or wiring, or that any of the sensors on the five-volt circuit is faulty.
  • The Honda Accord P0685 error code indicates a problem was detected by the powertrain control module (PCM) and this code may result in a no-start situation, which could mean there is something wrong with the PCM power relay circuit.
  • The Honda Accord LX CVT trouble codes P0705, P0717, P0777, P0793 or P0796 all refer to transmission-related problems. P0705 is for an issue with the Park/Neutral position switch, P0717 is for a problem with the transmission speed sensor, P0777 and P0796 are for stuck pressure-control solenoid valves, and P0793 is for a problem with the transmission's intermediate shaft speed sensor.
  • The Honda Accord P154A and P16E3 codes mean there are problems with the battery sensor.
  • The 2013-2017 Honda Accord no-start code P1659 relates to an electronic throttle control (ETC) malfunction.
  • The 2013-2017 Honda Accord P16E2 error code usually indicates a faulty alternator, a wiring issue, or a faulty PCM.

Less Common Problems

Steering racks can sometimes fail between 60,000 and 70,000 miles and at around $2,200, this is one of the expensive 2013-2017 Honda Accord speed-sensitive electrical power steering - or EPS - problems, so check that the steering system is working properly, with no clunks and rattles and no loss of power assistance. Some owners complain of the paintwork chipping and/or peeling too easily, so be sure to check that the paint is in good condition. Repairing and/or repainting body panels can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is reliable, but the occasional condenser needed replacing at a cost of over $500; other than that, there aren't many 2013-2017 Honda Accord heater control and defective air-conditioning/air-conditioner - or AC - problems to report.

Which One To Avoid

The 2013 and 2014 Accord with the CVT gearbox might exhibit various issues. The CVT transmission tended to be somewhat troublesome and you run the risk of buying a model with starter and/or battery problems. These V6 models from these two years also have a reputation for drinking oil. Infotainment problems are also the most common on the pre-facelift models and they also received the most complaints about uncomfortable seats and flaky paintwork. These are a few reasons to avoid the 2013-2015 9th-gen Accord.

Which One To Buy

The Honda Accord is a spacious, safe, luxurious, and affordable family sedan.

As such, we'd choose the engine and trim that work best with the car's main selling points, namely its spacious, comfortable interior, and effortless driving experience. It has to be the 3.5-liter V6 with an automatic transmission, in post-facelift EX-L trim. Honda decluttered the interior a bit, but the small changes to the exterior design make the biggest difference. Most of the Accord's major flaws were also fixed after the facelift and the 2017 model year exhibited very few problems. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on this trim in its facelifted form. Just make sure those dodgy DRLs have been replaced and the infotainment system works properly and its software is up to date.

The 3.5-liter V6 provides enough power for the driving experience to feel effortless, and it returns surprising fuel consumption figures. Honda's traditional automatic gearbox is much better than its CVT. The automatic simply fades into the background and does its job, like any good automatic should. Honda only put the V6 engine in the high-spec models, but that's not a bad thing. The EX-L has all of the toys you need, plus a few you weren't expecting. If you are an enthusiastic driver, it's worth taking a look at a V6 manual. Good luck finding one, however.

9th Gen Honda Accord Verdict

The 9th-generation Accord is a bit on the bland side, but it is a good used buy. Stay away from the 2013-2015 models, ensure that the car was well maintained by its previous owners, check the service booklets to confirm recall problems were sorted, and you should be golden. And go for an extended test drive because poor seat comfort is a deal-breaker for some people - while the seats don't bother other people at all. Going by what we've seen, you should be able to get at least 200,000 miles out of a good Accord. If you want something similar but slightly more engaging, it's worth checking out the Civic and Civic Si models, and if you prefer a high-riding version of the Accord, the CR-V is also a good buy.