The biggest rival of the segment-leading Toyota Camry, the Honda Accord makes a lot of sense as a daily driver. Priced from $24,970 excluding destination charge, the mid-size sedan comes into its own if you pony up a few dollars more for the 2.0-liter turbo engine and 10-speed tranny.
The Sport Trim level with the aforementioned powertrain carries a total MSRP of $33,125, including taxes, which is tremendously good value for 252 horsepower. Closely related to the lump in the Civic Type R, the 2.0-liter turbo also develops 273 pound-feet (370 Nm) of torque from 1,500 through 4,000 revolutions per minute. If driven like a granny to Sunday church, you can also expect 26 miles per gallon (9.04 l/100 km) combined.
What makes the Accord 2.0T special is the way the 10-speed tranny complements the powerplant. Still, can the Japanese family sedan hold its own against an EcoBoost-engined Mustang with the optional automatic?
Sam CarLegion is much obliged to answer that question with a series of rather interesting drag races. Priced from $30,640 excluding incentives but including the destination charge, the pony car with the 10-speed transmission delivers 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet (476 Nm) from 3,000 revolutions per minute at the crankshaft. Although it’s a little more pokey, the Mustang also happens to be an idea heavier than the Honda Accord.
In Sport Mode, the first quarter-mile run starts off with a better launch from the rear-wheel-drive pony car from Flat Rock and ends triumphally for the American contender. They’re very close over the line, though, as the Honda picks us the slack after the halfway point of the quarter-mile. Pretty much the same plot unfolds on the second run with traction control off, and on the third run with traction control off from a roll. The final run, which was performed in Sport Mode with traction control on from 50 kilometers per hour (80.4 miles per hour), ends in victory for the family car.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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