2014 Honda Accord Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2014 Honda Accord is One of the Best Midsize Cars on the Market

The 2014 Honda Accord regularly ranks at the top of the midsize car segment of the American auto market, standing out amidst a very large group of competitors. There are plenty of reasons that the Accord is so widely loved, but its real appeal is in what it lacks. There simply aren't any major flaws in the 2014 Honda Accord. Have a look for yourself – here are the top 10 reasons to own a 2014 Honda Accord, along with a few examples where the competition is marginally superior. [ For the 2015 model see - Honda Accord Pros and Cons ]

10 Reasons to Buy a Honda Accord - the Pros

1) Flexibility

The 2014 Honda Accord is available in sedan, coup, plug-in, or hybrid models. The 4-door sedan is perfect for families and the 2-door coupe is sleek and sporty, while the Hybrid and Plug-in Sedans are great choices for people who spend a lot of time on the road. Each model offers great performance and economy for its specific class, and they all have plenty of available options. The only reason to choose one over the others is the buyer’s specific set of needs and preferences, and that’s how it should be.

2) Performance

The Honda Accord has long been to known as a sporty vehicle, and the 2014 model is no exclusion. The standard 185-horsepower, 2.0L Earth Dreams i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine has more raw power than most of the Accord’s competition, but it doesn’t sacrifice fuel efficiency in the process. The available 278-horsepower, 3.5L, i-VTEC V-6 engine offers an even more powerful option at a time when many midsize cars don’t have a V-6 option at all.

The Hybrid and Plug-in models are powered by a 141-horsepower, 2.0L i-VTECC 4-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor lithium ion battery packs. While the Plug-in is the only one of the two that can charge at a charging station, both models are able to switch easily between EV Drive (100% electric), Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive, giving owners the ability to choose the best mode for every situation.

3) Fuel Economy

The 2014 Honda Accord comes with both an Eco Assist system and an ECON button, combining coaching bars on the instrument cluster with a button that automatically maximizes fuel efficiency to get the most out of every mile. The numbers for the 4-cylinder Earth Dreams engine rise even higher when it’s paired with the available continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Accord Sedans or Coupes with the i-4 Earth Dreams engine starts out at 24 city / 34 highway mpg, and reaches 26 city / 36 highway for CVT models, while the V-6 engine gets 21 city / 34 highway mpg. For those who want, or need, a super-efficient vehicle, the Accord Hybrid and Plug-in models are the way to go. The 2014 Accord Hybrid gets an incredible 50 city / 45 highway mpg, and the 2014 Accord Plug-In gets 47 city / 46 highway mpg.

4) Collision Prevention

The Accord uses a camera mounted at the top of its windshield to keep track of what’s happening on the road ahead. In the Touring model, a radar system is mounted in the grille for further enhanced awareness. The system provides the driver with visual and audible warnings if it detects any unintended lane departures, or if it senses a potential collision with vehicles ahead. This cutting-edge technology, combined a rearview camera and the available Honda LaneWatch camera system, works to help reduce the likelihood of an accident and keep the vehicle under control during avoidance maneuvers.

5) Accident Mitigation

If an unavoidable situation should lead to an impact, the 2014 Honda Accord is loaded with features to prevent harm to its occupants. Even the body of the car was specifically designed to keep the driver and passengers safe in a wide variety of situations. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) II body structure utilizes high-grade steel in a unique design that works to distribute force evenly during a crash. Combined with smart dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags that can optimize deployment depending upon the type of impact, as well as SmartVent front side airbags, the Accord mitigates potential injuries in all types of accidents.

6) Interior

The interior of the 2014 Honda Accord remains conveniently functional while looking sleek and stylish. High quality materials makes a difference in the look and feel of a vehicle’s cabin, and the Accord’s designers kept this fact in mind when they made the accord. These materials work with the Accord’s dual-zone climate control, seven-speaker stereo, and adaptive cruise control to make even the longest commutes into relaxed and comfortable experiences.

7) Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID)

The Intelligent Multi-Information Display, located front and center at the top of the dash, provides a wealth of convenient information. In addition to keeping tabs on almost all of the Accord’s systems to provide trip information and performance statistics, it also display text messages and play music, too. It also works as the central component in Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation system with voice recognition and FM traffic information.

8) HondaLink

The available HondaLink system helps keep keeps owners connected to the cloud while on the road. The HondaLink featuring Aha app allows access to online services from the dashboard. Instead of using a mobile phone, HondaLink lets you hear things like Facebook status updates and Tweets. The system is capable of much more, and restaurant recommendations, personalized radio stations, and Internet news are just a few of the other cloud-based information and entertainment services that HondaLink can access.

9) Audio

The Accord comes with a variety of ways to bring audio content into the car. The audio system’s touchscreen panel is connected to a Bluetooth HandsFreeLink on the wheel, and to the USB audio interface, but it comes with even more options. Audio can be imported using the system’s Audio HDD, iPod interface, or auxiliary jack, and the system can play both MP3 and WMA files. In addition to a Pandora display, standard radio and CD options are included, and it also comes with available XM radio.

10) Exterior

The Honda Accord has always been a smooth, sporty-looking car, and the 2014 model has only added to the appeal. Now in its ninth generation, the Accord has enhanced the sophistication of its look to match contemporary trends while retaining sleek lines that contribute to a look that hints at the car's sporty aggression. The 2014 model has an improved grille that meshes extremely well with other front features, and the standard alloy wheels look almost like aftermarket upgrades.

The 2014 Honda Accord has all the right features in all the right places, and while it has no major flaws to find, it does fall slightly behind some of the competition in certain respects. Here’s a look at a few of the areas where the competition has edged ahead.

3 reasons Not to buy a Honda Accord - the Cons

1) Ride Comfort

In keeping with its sporty appeal, the Accord’s suspension is stiffer than many competing automobiles. This makes it more fun to drive and enhances its overall handling with superior road grip, but there are drawbacks to stiff suspension. The most common critique of the 2014 Accord is its rough ride, and while the effect is negligible on well-maintained roads, it's noticeable elsewhere. Competition like the 2014 Toyota Camry offers a smoother ride over poor road conditions.

2) Flexible Cargo Space

The 2014 Honda Accord has the standard amount of cargo space for its class, but while its rear seats fold down to offer expanded storage, they aren’t split like many of the competitor’s folding rear seats. This can be a limiting downside when a situation requires a mix of passengers and cargo. Providing enough space for large objects quickly turns the Accord into a two-seater. Cars like the 2014 Ford Fusion have 60/40 split rear seats, allowing for more flexible choices.

3) Steering

The 2014 Honda Accord has great road grip, but some drivers wish they could feel it more in the steering wheel. The wheel is quick and responsive, and its weighting ideal, but some say that it feels a bit numb when it comes to conveying the distinct contours of the road. Other mid-size models, like the 2014 Volkswagen Passat, feel a bit livelier in the wheel

Overall, the 2014 Honda Accord can only elicit minor complaints in any one area while excelling nearly every other respect. Whether its power or economy, comfort or convenience, the 2014 Accord has so much to offer that it’s easy to overlook any minor complaints. Admist a field of tough competition, the Accord's sporty and sophisticated appeal helps it to hold a commanding position at the front of the pack.