Reliability remains Honda Accord calling card

Honda has historically produced a great vehicle in the Accord, which has been at or near the top of midsize class for many years.

What you get from an Accord is that consistent reliability that has characterized this vehicle for much of the past three decades. Nothing has changed with the Accord; it still delivers value, reliability, performance, comfort, good gas mileage, and great resale capability.

Accord’s running mate through much of this time frame has been the Toyota Camry, another great family-friendly midsize sedan. Despite their overall dominance, many rivals are pushing this pair. That’s not to besmirch the Accord or Camry; it just illustrates that the two Japanese automotive superpowers are no longer as dominant.

The serious competition includes the Chrysler 200, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Mazda6 and Ford Fusion.

2015 Honda Accord

* Performance: 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, 185 horsepower; 3.5-liter, V6, 278 horsepower
* Mileage estimate range: 28-36 mg; 21-34 mpg   
* Price: $22,105 to $33,630
* Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles; drivetrain 5 years/60,000 miles; corrosion 5 year/unlimited; roadside assistance: 3 years/36,000 miles

Introduced in 1976, the Honda Accord arrived with very little fanfare – it was a modest two-door hatchback. For 2015, the Accord comes in numerous trim models as both a coup and sedan, and the lineup includes a pair of hybrids – a standard one and plug-in model.

The Accord offers both a solid performing four-cylinder and a fun and powerful V6. Styling stays true to the Accord game plan: attractive and conservative.

The Accord went through a redesign two years ago, becoming the ninth generation. The Accord is now slightly smaller and lighter than previous models. That went against Honda’s normal redesign playbook for its high-volume selling sedan/coupe.

In previous revamping years, the Accord would typically be bigger, longer and heavier. More bulk was obviously not part of the latest redesign scheme.

The redesign incorporated interior refinements (better audio, improved dashboard) and convenience. There were performance upgrades as well, with a new four-cylinder engine and updates for the V6 offerings.

Expect reliable performance from all the Accord trims. Three of the models feature a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder that generates 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. The V6 Accords have a 3.5-liter engine that produces 278 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The V6 is quick, accelerating from 0-60 mph in 6.1 seconds.

The Accord offers a nice interior, characterized by high quality and a center stack with plenty of bells and whistles. The Accord continues to provide impressive interior room and comfort, and the sedan trunk is a spacious 15.8 cubic feet.

The Accord delivers a refined ride that gives any driver an added feeling of confidence behind the wheel. The feel is almost sporty and there’s little apprehension when taking a corner a little faster than the speed limit. The braking is solid and the Accord has practically no noise issues.

Although the current Accord is slightly different than previous models, some things have not changed. The 2015 Honda Accord remains a very desirable family-friendly sedan that continues to deliver tremendous value and has high resale value.