SAFETY | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Not yet rated
IIHS
Not yet rated
NHTSA
has managed to maintain its slim A and C pillars even in the face of harder-to-ace roof-crush safety tests
Autoblog
The 2013 Honda Accord includes all the safety features that you might expect to see in a modern four-door sedan; in addition to that it offers some standout active-safety features, and its crash-test ratings have been top-notch.
All Accord models come with four-wheel disc brakes, including Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist, plus stability control, and hill start assist. And in addition to all the expected airbags, the Accord features a new SmartVent technology for its side airbags that eliminates the need for fussy occupant-position detection systems. Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, and Adaptive Cruise Control systems are all available on the Accord.
LED headlamps are also offered at the top of the lineup, and they're the first ever in a Honda, but daytime running lamps are included in all V-6 models and LED brake lights are fitted to EX-L and Touring models.
On EX models and above, there's a cool new LaneWatch Blind Spot Display that, when you click the turn-signal lever, provides a wide view of the passenger side of the vehicle on the Multi-Information Display (i-MID) screen—a feature that should be very useful in avoiding mishaps when changing lanes with a full vehicle or distractions.
Thanks to the Accord's low beltline and thinner pillars, outward visibility is already a bit better than with other vehicles in this class. Those thinner pillars are made possible thanks to the Accord's next-generation ACE body structure, which uses 56-percent high-tensile steel.
The 2013 Accord has some of the best crash-test ratings of the current crop of mid-size sedans. In Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings, the Accord earns the new Top Safety Pick+ rating, with top 'good' scores in all tests, including the tough roof strength test and new small-overlap frontal test. And while the Accord gets a top five-star overall score from the federal government, it does get a four-star frontal-impact score. That said, it's about the safest pick in an already safe class of sedans.
Conclusion
The 2013 Accord has better crash-test ratings than any other affordable mid-size sedan, as well as a robust list of available active-safety features and a new, stronger structure.
