The 2018 Accord, as mentioned, has been a major sales disappointment—I think mainly because of the strange styling, front, side, and rear.
Remarkably, I still have not seen one on the roads here. That astounds me. I was able to see them on dealer lots - it is a very long car (or at least looks like it is) and the front end is not attractive. The bare aluminum A/C condenser peering through the large-grid black plastic lower grill is very unattractive too.
There is no way I'd get 47 mpg average in an Accord Hybrid. The $350 in gas savings from an LX? How many miles per year does that account for?
How much would I save in gas per year if I dumped my Infiniti which averages 19.5 mpg (19,500 miles per year)?
Well, I don't know what Infiniti you have, but the Q60 3.0 is rated 22 mpg combined, and you probably would save c. $1300 a year in gas compared to that at c. 15,000 miles a year.
But you can find your exact car here and do a comparison....
@benjaminh, I drove a 2018 Accord EX-L on Thursday. I found several things that might account for the slow initial sales. First off, it's noticeably lower than my 2015 Accord, hence harder for me to get into. The drivers seat was not as comfortable either, and I don't find my Accord's seat all that comfy. The 1.5 turbo 4 in the one I drove was a little bit more powerful on the low end than my Accord's NA 4 banger. But, the biggest thing I noticed was how close our 2017 Civic EX is in comfort and driving experience to the new Accord, for a lot less coin. The new Accord is larger inside, but I fit fine in the Civic. Ride was pretty darned close between the two. Back seat headroom was better in the Accord. Trunk room was better in the Accord, but I can fit enough luggage for a two week trip for two in the Civic's trunk.
Overall, they were not that far apart. I can see people driving both and opting for the Civic for the price. Honda knocked it out of the park with the Civic, but only hit a double with the new Accord, in my opinion.
It is a Q40 AWD w/ the 3.7L V6 & 7 Speed AT. I average 19.5 mpg.
Then you might save as much as $1500 a year on gas by switching to an Accord Hybrid—that is if you drive c. 15,000 miles a year.
In terms of acceleration, as mentioned, the Accord Hybrid is an upgrade over the Accord 1.5 turbo. But you have a real sports car with a huge engine. The Accord Hybrid, which has a 0-60 time of c. 6.9 seconds, might seem slow to you.
But since I have a 2016 Accord EX 2.4, which takes almost 8 seconds to get to 60 (which works just fine for me), the Accord Hybrid would be a significant upgrade in terms of acceleration.
Too many people making buying decisions bsed strictly on that attractive "MPG" number, that's not the best way to figure it. They should be thinking about "gallonage", or the variation in gallonage from their present car to the new one. Going from 35 mpg to 47 mpg--not such a big deal. Going from 17 mpg to 47 mpg---big deal.
Honda dealers are asking for help on incentives to move more Accords. Even the Altima outsold the Accord during the first two months of 2018. I see lease prices (the only prices ever advertised on Hondas in the Twin Cities area) on Accords dropping recently. Today I saw an ad for $299/month on an LX CVT sign-and-drive for 36 months, about $30 less than a recent ad from the same dealer. Unfortunately for Honda, some very good mid-sized cars are available for much less.
Too many people making buying decisions bsed strictly on that attractive "MPG" number, that's not the best way to figure it. They should be thinking about "gallonage", or the variation in gallonage from their present car to the new one. Going from 35 mpg to 47 mpg--not such a big deal. Going from 17 mpg to 47 mpg---big deal.
When gas prices spiked a few years ago I considered trading my MS3 on a Mini Cooper; I think the delta was 6-7 mpg. I calculated that I would have to drive the car for 5 years just to break even.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
It is a Q40 AWD w/ the 3.7L V6 & 7 Speed AT. I average 19.5 mpg.
Then you might save as much as $1500 a year on gas by switching to an Accord Hybrid—that is if you drive c. 15,000 miles a year.
In terms of acceleration, as mentioned, the Accord Hybrid is an upgrade over the Accord 1.5 turbo. But you have a real sports car with a huge engine. The Accord Hybrid, which has a 0-60 time of c. 6.9 seconds, might seem slow to you.
But since I have a 2016 Accord EX 2.4, which takes almost 8 seconds to get to 60 (which works just fine for me), the Accord Hybrid would be a significant upgrade in terms of acceleration.
Under 7 is decent. 8+ would be slow for me.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
I agree about the Civic. I find it to be a better sized package. And plenty roomy inside. same way I am fine with my Elantra instead of the Sonata (purely from a size standpoint). Only real issue I had with the Civic is the drivers seat was too small (short cushion). That and the level I would want was a bit pricey for a compact. At least for us, there is really no reason to go "super sized" with a sedan.
Too many people making buying decisions bsed strictly on that attractive "MPG" number, that's not the best way to figure it. They should be thinking about "gallonage", or the variation in gallonage from their present car to the new one. Going from 35 mpg to 47 mpg--not such a big deal. Going from 17 mpg to 47 mpg---big deal.
When gas prices spiked a few years ago I considered trading my MS3 on a Mini Cooper; I think the delta was 6-7 mpg. I calculated that I would have to drive the car for 5 years just to break even.
I agree about the Civic. I find it to be a better sized package. And plenty roomy inside. same way I am fine with my Elantra instead of the Sonata (purely from a size standpoint). Only real issue I had with the Civic is the drivers seat was too small (short cushion). That and the level I would want was a bit pricey for a compact. At least for us, there is really no reason to go "super sized" with a sedan.
Speaking of Civics, the current generation packs a serious punch. As I was stopped waiting to merge onto the highway this afternoon, there was a Civic Hatch (not a type R) that was moving with traffic. He opened it up and squirted ahead pretty easily. It took me a while to catch up to him. I'd love to take an Si for a spin.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Yeah, I think Honda made some questionable design choices with the new Accord. First, for a family sedan often purchased by older buyers, the lower stance of the car—which makes getting in and out a little more challenging for some—is not a plus. Second, the styling is just strange from pretty much every angle. Third, the outstanding rear visibility that has been a signature of Accord for decades has been lost.
In terms of features, performance, interior materials, etc. the new Accord probably deserves that North American Car of the Year award that it won. But Honda seemingly forgot about a core part of the Accord's market in going after a "bold new look."
Back in 2012, Honda had problems with the then-new Civic, which was overly "cheap" in several areas. Honda realized they'd made a mistake, and went into a crash program to fix it. Amazingly, in just a little over a year, a significantly refreshed and enhanced Civic was introduced, and starting in 2013 the Civic got better reviews and did quite well.
As far as I can tell, the only thing Honda can try to "fix" on the new Accord is the styling, since in terms of features, quality of materials, etc., it's already very good. I could see potentially a new front grill and new tail lights helping a little....My guess is even that won't show up until the 2020 model year. In the meantime, the Accord will apparently go from being a close second to the Camry in sales, to a distant second, or maybe even third?
Too many people making buying decisions bsed strictly on that attractive "MPG" number, that's not the best way to figure it. They should be thinking about "gallonage", or the variation in gallonage from their present car to the new one. Going from 35 mpg to 47 mpg--not such a big deal. Going from 17 mpg to 47 mpg---big deal.
When gas prices spiked a few years ago I considered trading my MS3 on a Mini Cooper; I think the delta was 6-7 mpg. I calculated that I would have to drive the car for 5 years just to break even.
Oh, a Mini lifespan!
Our 2009 Clubman is running fine; I even enjoy driving it- FWD and all...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Overall, I like the styling of the next Altima better than the Camry or Accord. I'm still getting used to the "no front bumper look," but I think it works somewhat better here than on the Accord. Rear visibility also seems better than the Accord. And unlike the Accord, where AndroidAuto/CarPlay isn't available unless you move up from the base model, apparently it's going to be standard on the 2019 Altima....
This doesn't happen very often - Honda is taking 2 weeks of Accord production away from Marysville over the next while due to an oversupply caused by sagging sales.
This may be a situation where Honda, and Toyota for that matter, moved to lower cars and rooflines to attract younger buyers. But younger buyers don't seem all that hot on sedans right now. Meanwhile. the older sedan buyer is put off by egress and the lowered driving position. The older segment often buys the more loaded sedans with a plumper margins. I'm thinking these sedans will come with bigger wheels and tires next year or so, to raise their height from the ground?
The new Altima looks like a very competitive offering, and Nissan was selling a lot of the old models. Might give Toyota and Honda a fight for #1 in the shrinking mid-sized market. I like that the base model is pretty well equipped, except the good safety stuff isn't even available :@ and AWD is available at every trim level. Not sure if offering AWD will do what Nissan hopes it will (lure away some CUV buyers to the Altima), but it is a differentiator vs. Camcord. But it's no mystery why mid-sized sedan sales are falling. Families need their vehicles to do more, and a CUV can simply do more than a sedan. When I compare something like the Niro to a mid-sized sedan, I can get more rear-seat legroom, more storage capacity (and more versatile capacity), higher fuel economy (at a similar price point), smaller size (easier parking), and higher seating position than a sedan. Then there's the alternatives of "compact" sedans, some of which are as big as the mid-sized sedans of a few years ago and have plenty of interior room. And if I wanted something sporty, it wouldn't be one of the mid-sized sedans trying to look sporty.
ab, what do you think would get Malibu sales to increase? I'm genuinely curious. I'm of the age where I remember when a Malibu was a cool car to have (albeit the two door version). Are those days gone forever?
ab, what do you think would get Malibu sales to increase? I'm genuinely curious. I'm of the age where I remember when a Malibu was a cool car to have (albeit the two door version). Are those days gone forever?
I don't know. The dealers around here tend not to stock them (or Impalas) so they are not big sellers here. There are some in fleets. I had one for a day as a loaner a year or so back. It was fine and drove well but I would never buy one. For me it is too big without the utility you expect for a car that size. I guess if you had a family of 5 it might make some sense but those people are buying SUVs these days. I thought the base engine was marginal and a little more power wouldn't hurt. I found the interior unappealing as it was all shades of black without anything to contrast. I remember not liking the stop/start but that is pretty universal now. It seemed too long, low and swoopy for what is a family sedan and I didn't care for the design, but I guess that is the same formula Honda followed with the new Accord. I didn't like the styling of the previous Malibu much either but that seemed to have better proportions and not seem as big though I guess interior space wasn't as generous. I almost bought a 2009 Malibu new, actually probably should have looking back. With the V6 it drove well, I liked the dash design better than either of the two models that came after it, and I thought it looked decent on the outside.
@ab348, thanks. Interesting observations. The styling of the current one seems generic to me, but I think the same thing about the Jetta and Sonata. But then again, I think the new Accord styling is horrible. Start/stop would be a showstopper for me. I hate every one I've driven.
I still like the next size down. The Elantra (or Jetta) are a perfect size for me. Plenty of room, but more maneuverable. I don't really need the extra space of the Sonata at this point. If I did, like many people, would likely go to a mid size CUV instead.
According to Mazda North America, Mazda 3 sales were 7,760 which was 8.7% more than last year. Total sales for March were 35% better than March of last year. Mainly CX-5s.
Comments
How much would I save in gas per year if I dumped my Infiniti which averages 19.5 mpg (19,500 miles per year)?
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
But you can find your exact car here and do a comparison....
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbsSelect
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Overall, they were not that far apart. I can see people driving both and opting for the Civic for the price. Honda knocked it out of the park with the Civic, but only hit a double with the new Accord, in my opinion.
In terms of acceleration, as mentioned, the Accord Hybrid is an upgrade over the Accord 1.5 turbo. But you have a real sports car with a huge engine. The Accord Hybrid, which has a 0-60 time of c. 6.9 seconds, might seem slow to you.
But since I have a 2016 Accord EX 2.4, which takes almost 8 seconds to get to 60 (which works just fine for me), the Accord Hybrid would be a significant upgrade in terms of acceleration.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/dealers-seek-help-selling-2018-honda-accord/
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
In terms of features, performance, interior materials, etc. the new Accord probably deserves that North American Car of the Year award that it won. But Honda seemingly forgot about a core part of the Accord's market in going after a "bold new look."
Back in 2012, Honda had problems with the then-new Civic, which was overly "cheap" in several areas. Honda realized they'd made a mistake, and went into a crash program to fix it. Amazingly, in just a little over a year, a significantly refreshed and enhanced Civic was introduced, and starting in 2013 the Civic got better reviews and did quite well.
As far as I can tell, the only thing Honda can try to "fix" on the new Accord is the styling, since in terms of features, quality of materials, etc., it's already very good. I could see potentially a new front grill and new tail lights helping a little....My guess is even that won't show up until the 2020 model year. In the meantime, the Accord will apparently go from being a close second to the Camry in sales, to a distant second, or maybe even third?
But perhaps the main thing is that Toyota has great financing and lease deals, and Honda so far hasn't done that for the Accord.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Edmunds Price Checker
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Overall, I like the styling of the next Altima better than the Camry or Accord. I'm still getting used to the "no front bumper look," but I think it works somewhat better here than on the Accord. Rear visibility also seems better than the Accord. And unlike the Accord, where AndroidAuto/CarPlay isn't available unless you move up from the base model, apparently it's going to be standard on the 2019 Altima....
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
http://www.autoverdict.com/honda/honda-halting-accord-production-for-two-weeks/
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
But it's no mystery why mid-sized sedan sales are falling. Families need their vehicles to do more, and a CUV can simply do more than a sedan. When I compare something like the Niro to a mid-sized sedan, I can get more rear-seat legroom, more storage capacity (and more versatile capacity), higher fuel economy (at a similar price point), smaller size (easier parking), and higher seating position than a sedan. Then there's the alternatives of "compact" sedans, some of which are as big as the mid-sized sedans of a few years ago and have plenty of interior room.
And if I wanted something sporty, it wouldn't be one of the mid-sized sedans trying to look sporty.
http://www.autoverdict.com/gm/chevrolet/2019-chevrolet-malibu-restyled-and-rsed/
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Camry 35,264
Accord 24,171
Altima 23,518
Fusion 16,103
Malibu 14,707
Sonata 11,098
Optima 8,010
Passat 4,292
Legacy 3,889
Civic 32,584
Corolla 31,392
Sentra 23,518
Elantra 17,323
Focus 16,137
Cruze 16,122
Forte 9,381
Impreza 5,973
Jetta 5,512
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6