2011 Honda Accord Sedan Earns Best-Possible 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score in More-Stringent Federal Government New-Car Assessment Program

TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2011 Honda Accord Sedan has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score(1) of five stars, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., announced today.

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Helping the Accord achieve the top score were five-star ratings for overall frontal crash safety, overall side crash safety and rollover resistance. The Accord is one of only six vehicles to achieve a five-star Overall Vehicle Score to date, and is the first to achieve five stars in each of the three ratings categories: 5-star frontal crash rating, 5-star side crash rating (combined results of side barrier and side pole) and 5-star rollover rating.

The newly introduced Overall Vehicle Score is part of the federal government's more stringent New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) that is first being applied to 2011 models. As a convenience to new car shoppers, the Overall Vehicle Score represents the combined results of the overall ratings from the frontal crash tests, the side crash tests(2) and the rollover-resistance(3) into a single, summary score between one and five stars.

Revised for 2011, the frontal crash safety test incorporates a crash dummy representative of a small-size female in the front passenger's seat and, as before, an average-size male crash dummy in the driver's seat. The side-crash safety evaluations continue to include the side-barrier test used previously where a moving barrier strikes a stationary vehicle at an angle. However, a new side-pole test has been added where a moving vehicle strikes a stationary pole barrier. Ratings are provided for both of the individual seating positions in the side-barrier crash safety test, as well as a combined rating for both positions, while the side-pole rating is based on a test of the frontal seating position only.  The front seating position side barrier crash safety test result also is combined with the side-pole crash safety test result for a front seat side impact rating, with the results of all of the tests combined into an overall side-crash safety rating.

The side-barrier crash test now implements a combination of male and female crash test dummies, with the male positioned in a front seating position (as before) and the small female (new) in a rear seating position. The newly introduced side-pole crash test exclusively uses the small female crash dummy in a front seating position.

Complete NCAP safety rating results for the 2011 Accord Sedan are:

All 2011 Accord vehicles utilize the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure. ACE is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Standard safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with traction control; an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); side curtain airbags; dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; a driver's front side airbag; and a front passenger's side airbag with an occupant position detection system.

The entire Honda Accord lineup has received updates and improvements for 2011, highlighted by increased fuel economy, enhanced exterior and interior styling, and the addition of a new Special Edition (SE) trim level. With a variety of models available in 4-cylinder and V-6 variations, each Accord model provides a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value.

The 2011 Accord Sedan's exterior expresses a more upscale and powerful presence with new styling for the front grille, front bumper and rear deck lid, along with a new wheel design for EX models. Improvements to vehicle aerodynamics, engine friction and an optimized fifth-gear ratio on automatic transmission models all contribute to fuel economy improvements. The EPA fuel-economy ratings(4) for Accord 4-cylinder sedan models equipped with an automatic transmission improve by 2 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city, 3 mpg on the highway and 2 mpg combined, for a city/highway/combined rating of 23/34/27 mpg.

Balancing value and luxury, the new Accord SE Sedan trim level offers all of the standard features from the popular Accord LX-P while adding leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, driver's power-lumbar support and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.

Interior updates on all models include new seat fabrics on models with cloth seats, an updated instrument panel design and more-refined accent points throughout the interior. New features on certain models include a USB Audio Interface on Accord EX and EX-L Sedans, a rear-view camera on sedans equipped with the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation(5) System™, and all Accord EX models gain the auto on/off headlight feature. Additionally, Accord EX-L V-6 models receive a two-position memory system for the driver's seat.

A 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine is standard in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedans. The 2.4-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans produces 177 horsepower. The available 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine produces 271-horsepower and takes advantage of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising to improve fuel economy. EPA fuel-economy ratings(4) for the 2011 Accord V-6 Sedan are 20 city/30 highway mpg, an improvement of 1 mpg in each environment. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard on 4-cylinder models and a 5-speed automatic is available. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard on V-6-powered models.

The fully independent, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2011 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers (alloy on LX-P and SE); and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on EX and above sedan models. All Accords feature four-wheel disc brakes.

Currently more than 95 percent of the Accord vehicles sold in the United States are produced(6) at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio, or at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, in Lincoln, Alabama.

For more information and downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at www.honda.com.

(1) Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side-impact air bags (SABs). Rating applies only to the Accord Sedan. Vehicles tested under this program cannot be compared to model-year 2010 and earlier vehicles. Ratings can only be compared with similar ratings on model year 2011 and later vehicles if rated under the new program.

(2) Includes a new, additional test mode for side-pole impact.

(3) Vehicle tested includes electronic stability control as standard equipment, branded as Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) on Honda and Acura vehicles.  

(4) Based on 2011 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

(5) Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include but are not limited to automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments.

(6) Of domestic and globally sourced parts.

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.