New 2023 Honda Accord Priced Above CR-V and Every Rival
Honda won’t please sedan enthusiasts (the few that remain) or budget-conscious families with the recent pricing announcement for the new 2023 Accord, which will arrive in Canadian dealerships in February in the case of the base EX model or April in the case of the gas-electric Sport and Touring models.
The completely redesigned Japanese midsize sedan starts at $38,780 including freight and PDI—an increase of more than $3,300 from 2022 and over $10,000 from five years ago when the previous generation hit the market.
And get this: the Accord is now more expensive than the equally new CR-V, which retails from $36,855 for 2023 (freight and PDI included). No wonder people are discarding passenger cars and buying SUVs instead.
For that kind of money, Accord customers get a turbocharged 1.5-litre engine producing 192 horsepower (same output as before, but with a number of enhancements), a power sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, 17-inch Pewter Gray alloy wheels and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.
Now exclusively hybrid, the more upscale Accord Sport and Touring feature a brand new system with better performance and efficiency. We’re talking about 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. of torque with an average fuel consumption of 5.3 L/100 km. At $42,780, the former adds 19-inch Berlina Black alloy wheels, a large 12.3-inch centre touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus a leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel.
If you want even more luxury and technology, the Accord Touring can be yours from $46,280. This model stands out with Honda's first integration of Google built-in, which includes Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play. Also included are desirable items like a customizable head-up display, 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.
By the way, the new, top-line CR-V Touring (hybrid only) costs $50,955.
One last thing: all 2023 Accords come standard with an expanded Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistive technologies that includes Traffic Jam Assist and a smoother, more natural feeling to functions such as Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist.
How will Canadians respond to yet another substantial price hike from Honda, one that elevates the Accord significantly above every other midsize sedan on the market? We’ll find out later this year when Honda posts quarterly sales results.