2013 Honda Accord hits 6.53L/100km highway

Honda has released official Environmental Protection Agency ratings for the 2013 Accord. Base models come equipped with a direct-injection 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 185 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. When mated with a new six-speed manual gearbox, the sedan returns 9.8 L/100km (24 mpg) city, 6.92 L/100km (34 mpg) highway and 8.4 L/100km ( 28 mpg) combined.

Engineers have also developed a new continuously variable transmission for peak fuel economy. When paired with the CVT, the four-cylinder yields 8.71 L/100km (27 mpg) city, 6.53 L/100km (36 mpg) highway and 7.84L/100km (30 mpg) combined. Those numbers mark an increase of 1.72 L/100km (4 mpg) city and .86 L/100km (2 mpg) highway over the old automatic, but land the Accord behind the 6.19 L/100km (38 mpg) of the 2013 Nissan Altima.

While the new direct-injection system and transmissions account for a large portion of that increase, tricks like an electric power steering system and reworked aerodynamics also help. Sport trim bumps power up to 189 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque with no significant fuel economy penalty. Buyers who step into the 278 horsepower 3.5-litre V6 with its 252 lb-ft of torque can look forward to 11.2 L/100km (21 mpg) city and 6.92 L/100km (34 mpg) highway. That's an increase of .43 L/100km (1 mpg) and 1.72 L/100km (4 mpg), respectively, which helps push the six-cylinder to 9.41 L/100km (25 mpg) combined.

News Source: Honda