2018 Honda Accord: No More V6, but Turbocharge ALL THE THINGS!

I just saw this article on TTAC on the 2018 Accord, and it's interesting and sorta relevant to GRMers. A few days back, I posted in the new Civic Si thread about Honda installing the Si engine into an Accord Sport instead of the N/A motor that's in there now. Here's what I said:

I've been keeping an eye on these for a potential daily driver replacement for when my Mazda finally gives up the ghost. On paper, they look great: high 30's for MPG, cool stereo, a 205hp turbocharged engine, a real LSD, and (implied) Honda reliability. But, they are kinda ugly, and if you are going to get kinda ugly, why not crank the weirdness to 11 and offer this package on the hatchback/liftback thing? Also, when is the Accord Sport going to get this drivetrain or a variant of it? That would be a great compromise of decent looks and turbocharged sportiness. And please, don't forget the LSD!

And BAM!!!

TTAC said: In the all-new Accord that Honda says will debut later this year, the basic 1.5T — a non-VTEC powerplant — will be linked to either the continuously variable transmission or a six-speed manual. The 2.0T, on the other hand, will be offered with both a 10-speed automatic or a six-speed manual.

So, they are ditching the V6, and getting the Si's Non-VTEC 1.5T AND the Type R's 2.0T, and BOTH will be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission!!! Interesting!

Why should any of us care? Well, some of us need reliable, newer daily drivers that are somewhat efficient but entertaining to drive. And as decent as the current Accord is at doing that, slapping a couple turbo-equipped models into the mix would definitely help on the "entertaining" side of things. Maybe we'll get an Accord Si or something similar? Plus, more turbo sedans proliferating into the market = more swap fodder later on.

Honda, if you are listening, toss a LSD in the Sport and offer it in the mid-$20's please.

I like Honda's V6 a lot but everything is going this way and for the most part i don't see it making the Accord any less interesting, and possibly a lot more.

What that is telling me is that I need to shop 2.0T Accords exclusively, so I can avoid the CVT plague.

Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely LOVE the Accord V6 6spd coupe. Sorry to hear it's being ditched in favor of a turbo 4.

For once, Honda is following the Korean twins. They did that in 2011 with great success. When you design the car to only accept one series of engines and keep lightness in mind you can get 40mpg out of a full size fwd sedan.

Duke wrote: What that is telling me is that I need to shop 2.0T Accords exclusively, so I can avoid the CVT plague.

Yep, me too. I have never driven a CVT that I like. If a vehicle has a CVT, it's off my list.

I have a funny feeling they'll still do the dumb thing they do now with trans options. Sedan? Small engine / any trans or big engine with an auto. Coupe? Now you can get the big engine with a manual.

Why are the flagship high end Acura's still FWD??? For crying out loud Honda. EVERY lux brand is rwd. (Some awd, but still rwd based) and yes, I know, acura bloats it's Honda models for Acura fluff.

Feedyurhed wrote:

Duke wrote: What that is telling me is that I need to shop 2.0T Accords exclusively, so I can avoid the CVT plague.

Yep, me too. I have never driven a CVT that I like. If a vehicle has a CVT, it's off my list.

I never had either until the current gen Civic with the 1.5T. It's not great, but it's the only CVT I've ever driven that didn't leave me wanting to push it off a cliff, so clearly Honda did something right.

Bobzilla wrote: For once, Honda is following the Korean twins. They did that in 2011 with great success. When you design the car to only accept one series of engines and keep lightness in mind you can get 40mpg out of a full size fwd sedan.

And are following GM and Ford, since they went turbos earlier than 2011.

alfadriver wrote:

Bobzilla wrote: For once, Honda is following the Korean twins. They did that in 2011 with great success. When you design the car to only accept one series of engines and keep lightness in mind you can get 40mpg out of a full size fwd sedan.

And are following GM and Ford, since they went turbos earlier than 2011.

4-CYL turbos in their mid size sedans? I know GM didn't in the Malibu. Did Ford?

Trackmouse wrote: Why are the flagship high end Acura's still FWD??? For crying out loud Honda. EVERY lux brand is rwd. (Some awd, but still rwd based) and yes, I know, acura bloats it's Honda models for Acura fluff.

There's never been a RWD acura. Honda was closest with the Legend/3.5RL platform. they only needed about a 3 ft driveshaft and a rear diff to make it happen. Instead, they got scared and decided to run it all the way back to the front. Idiotic.

rslifkin wrote:

Feedyurhed wrote:

Duke wrote: What that is telling me is that I need to shop 2.0T Accords exclusively, so I can avoid the CVT plague.

Yep, me too. I have never driven a CVT that I like. If a vehicle has a CVT, it's off my list.

I never had either until the current gen Civic with the 1.5T. It's not great, but it's the only CVT I've ever driven that didn't leave me wanting to push it off a cliff, so clearly Honda did something right.

Whereas the ordinary 5-speed automatic in my wife's 13-year-old TSX is one of the best commuter-car automatics I've ever lived with, so for the CVT to be "not great" isn't really acceptable even if you didn't want to push it off a cliff.

I think the J series V6 is the best thing Honda has ever done. So this makes me sad.

Also, the NSX wore an Acura badge. I'm sure that doesn't count though.

Chadeux wrote: I think the J series V6 is the best thing Honda has ever done. So this makes me sad. Also, the NSX wore an Acura badge. I'm sure that doesn't count though.

Yes, and it was technically RWD. But it was just a first gen Legend drivetrain stuck behind the driver. Not that technologically advanced.

It would have been cool if he HSV actually ended up being a thing outside of Japanese touring car racing.

I bet the V6's will still be available in the Acura lineup, at least for a while.

I'm a fan of the Honda V6, but I'm more excited for the potential of a sporty, manual transmission-equipped, 300hp turbocharged Honda commuter box that's somewhat fuel efficient.

I don't get all the CVT hate. The concept is brilliant, but it has been tainted by early sub par attempts by Ford, GM, and Nissan. The cvt in the previous gen Legacy is the best "auto" I've ever driven, and I have only heard good things about the Honda units. I'm torn between cvt and manual if I was shopping for a new Honda and would absolutely go CVT if I was shopping subi.

In reply to Brian:

The early Civic CVT's weren't all that reliable either. And uber expensive to repair or replace.

In reply to Brian:

The concept may or may not be brilliant, but the executions that I've encountered have been horrific. If I wanted my throttle inputs delayed by measurable time, I'd ring down to the engine room on one of these:

At least it would look classy.

Hmmm ... I really don't mind the driving manners of the CVT in our '14 Accord 4 cylinder sedan, and absolutely love the fuel mileage, 'specially since wifey puts aboout 35k plus miles on it each year. Mikeage averages 36 for 50/50 mix of city vs highway driving. Lots better tgan our last Accord, an '09 4 cylinder with manual trans, that was averaging a solid 30 over the same route. Cannot complain about that aspect of the current trans!

This is coming from a guy who picked the manual trans over the DSG option in my GTI, so I "get" what a MT is.

My biggest complaint with the modern turbo engines is that in the real world the vast majority still just don't seem live up to their (on paper/in a lab) promise of better fuel economy relative to overall performance compared to a naturally aspirated engine with two more cylinders...Which could have at least made up for them not sounding nearly as pleasant.

Man, too bad. The J-series is a great motor and the manual v6 Accord coupe has been giving some of our loved brethren (cough Mustang cough) a run for their money. But this does seem to be inline with most other "everyman" manufacturers ditching their sixes in favor of T-4s. I bet they'll keep the J in some Acura models, but probably without the manual.

Bobzilla wrote:

Chadeux wrote: I think the J series V6 is the best thing Honda has ever done. So this makes me sad. Also, the NSX wore an Acura badge. I'm sure that doesn't count though.

Yes, and it was technically RWD. But it was just a first gen Legend drivetrain stuck behind the driver. Not that technologically advanced.

The C32 in a Legend shares about as much in common with the NSX as the BMW 1000hp 1.5L M10s in Formula 1 shared with the 2002.

Call me an NSX fanboy, but the NSX was the best made production sports car in the world when it was new in my opinion.

Bobzilla wrote: For once, Honda is following Ford.

There you are.

Ditch the V6s, go with well tuned turbo fours.

"I wish my 2-liter Ecoboost Explorer still had a 200hp V8" said no one ever.