[Mick the Quick]

I am in the process of buying a 2013 Accord EX-L. I would like some thoughts from the current owners on whether I ought to get a V-6. I realize that this, like everything else in life, is all about trade-offs and what relative value I assign to Horsepower, on one hand, and the Price and Fuel Economy, on the other hand.

So, to phrase the question differently, do some CVT owners regret not getting a V-6 (i.e., is the 4 cylinder engine adequate power-wise)? Or vice versa. Also, some input on their satisfaction with CVT versus the traditional automatic transmission on V-6.

I am going to test drive both obviously (I've only driven CVT thus far), but wanted to get the current owners' learning on this after some extended ownership.

Thank you in advance!
Mick

 

[tnhondaman]

Hello....I have driven both....frankly was in same scenario. After reading many posts and reviews, I decided on four cylinder. I have enjoyed several high performance cars over the years....but now feel inclined to give up some HP for the gain in MPG. Part of my decision is pocketbook oriented; but I also believe Honda's long term strength is with their 4 cylinder powertrain technology.....perhaps wrong but just my opinion. I am supposed to pick up EXL CVT next week. However I would have gone for the sport if it had a passenger power seat available.....but (similar to posts within this forum)....the passenger seat cushion bottom just did not fit my wife - - & although she has an 8th gen EXL, there was no need for her, or anyone, to be uncomfortable riding shotgun in the new 2013 car. Good luck with your decision.

 

[mf15]

I am in the same spot,test drove the CVT,it is very nice and has good power,
will get better city mpg,might be pretty much a toss up on highway mpg with the v6. The v6 will cost another 2 grand or so,
and has a heavier front end,and a belt that will need changing at 100k.
That being said, I came out of an 07 TL 2 years ago,and just can't go back
to an I4 no matter how nice. Now the problem is to get local dealers to match the Weymouth price of 27,739 including dest,plus TTL and dealer fee.
I have been watching inventories on the EX-L V6 sedan for two weeks within 25 miles of my zip and they are not moving very well.


Old Mike

 

[mustakoira]

I went from an 11 V6 manual coupe to a 13 sport sedan CVT. I can honestly say I have zero regrets. I initially only test drive the CVT to get a feel for the new 13 model thinking I would order a manual (had been a manual snob for a long time), but I was so impressed with the CVT that I didn't even wait to try a manual or a v6.

It is just so smooth and "comfortable" to drive and it has enough go when you need it to not feel compromised. Of course, not the same as a v6 but the benefits (mileage, cvt, smoothness, price, and sport model features) out weighed the raw power at least for me.


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[Mick the Quick]

I am in the same spot,test drove the CVT,it is very nice and has good power,
will get better city mpg,might be pretty much a toss up on highway mpg with the v6. The v6 will cost another 2 grand or so,
and has a heavier front end,and a belt that will need changing at 100k.
That being said, I came out of an 07 TL 2 years ago,and just can't go back
to an I4 no matter how nice. Now the problem is to get local dealers to match the Weymouth price of 27,739 including dest,plus TTL and dealer fee.
I have been watching inventories on the EX-L V6 sedan for two weeks within 25 miles of my zip and they are not moving very well.


Old Mike

Dealers around here would take $28,000 or a little less, but Weymouth still has the best price by a bit. You are right, no one seems to have many of these cars in stock.

Mick

 

[mf15]

Mick: I am nowhere near Weymouth but that is the price I am willing to pay,if I can get it.
No there are not all that many v6'sd around 32, within 25 miles of my house,but they
are not selling fast as far as I can tell. If I look at VIN's they are all early production,mostly first/second week production back in August,so they are just stting from the get go.
Honda has cheaped out a little or do not want to add a few things that are in the TL,no mirror memory,no split rear seat or pass through. Researched others Altima,Camry,Fusion,Sorento,seems to me Accord is the best overall,value/price/upscale/mpg/braking not great.
Old Mike

 

[glen e]

Honda has cheaped out a little or do not want to add a few things that are in the TL,no mirror memory,no split rear .....
Old Mike

Why wouold you think Acura and Honda would carry the same equipment levels?

 

[namegoeshere]

Why wouold you think Acura and Honda would carry the same equipment levels?

So they can cannibalize each others sales? :dunno:

Honda has cheaped out a little or do not want to add a few things that are in the TL,no mirror memory,no split rear seat or pass through.

At least the Accord still has folding rear seats. The TL doesn't even have that.

 

[mf15]

I don't, mirror memory would have been nice, but the rear seat is a mistake. This is supposed to be a family sedan,families haul stuff on occasion,
they have turned it into a two passanger car if you have to haul something that is long.
My family is grown,and I have an Escape so it does not bother me about the seat.


Old Mike

 

[benjaminh]

I think a 4 cylinder 2013 CVT has almost the same acceleration to 60 as the 6 cylinder auto of the previous generation...

 

[Mick the Quick]

I think a 4 cylinder 2013 CVT has almost the same acceleration to 60 as the 6 cylinder auto of the previous generation...

i thought that 2012 V-6 (auto) did 0 to 60 in something like 7.0 seconds, and that 2013 CVT does it in 7.7 seconds or something like that. In real life, that is a several car lengths, I believe. Obviously, the testing publication and testing conditions create great variances in these things. But definitely not bad at all for the CVT.

 

[Intrepid1]

Well the answer to the 4 cyl CVT or the V6 6 speed auto could be answered by asking - will I be more regretful with less fuel economy, or less power?

As to Honda's equipment levels - with or without comparison to Acura or anything else . . . .

I know that Honda has been limiting its success (success defined as more sales) for quite some time by not offering some desirable equipment.

Will a customer who likes a V6 Accord 6 MT, who wants a car that will burn regulas gas spend several thousand more for an Acura that burns premium gas in order to get the limited slip differential?

Will a customer who wants a reasonably priced 4 cyl car with Navi and likes cloth seats go for an EXL Accord and then add the cost of the Navi - basically adding 3 to 5 thousand and possibly a lot of unwanted equipment to get navi, or will they go to another brand?

 

[blyndgesser]

I bought a Sport with CVT to replace my '02 V6. I have put 3200 miles on it in five weeks. No regrets whatsoever.

 

[vitalyk99]

First of all v6 0-60 is more like 6s. In the second v6 and v4 cannot be compared. 100hp make the difference. You need to choose faster and more comfortable ride (heavier - different setting for suspension) vs noisy (who doesn't know - CVT is the biggest noise generator for this car) much slower 2 grands cheaper and few mph better


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[Jack87]

I recently purchased a EX-L V6, and one month and 1,500 miles later, I have to say I love every moment of driving it, no regrets. For some background, my previous car was a 2008 4 cylinder Camry. It's so nice having all the extra horsepower. 278hp is a pretty big number, almost 100 more than the 4 cylinder Accord if I recall correctly. Passing cars on the highway is not an issue, and the car is just so damn fun to drive. Econ mode off all the time, with a heavy foot, and I'm still getting 25mpg, more than I was getting from my old Camry.

I love it!

 

[robert4]

I recently purchased a EX-L V6, and one month and 1,500 miles later, I have to say I love every moment of driving it, no regrets. For some background, my previous car was a 2008 4 cylinder Camry. It's so nice having all the extra horsepower. 278hp is a pretty big number, almost 100 more than the 4 cylinder Accord if I recall correctly. Passing cars on the highway is not an issue, and the car is just so damn fun to drive. Econ mode off all the time, with a heavy foot, and I'm still getting 25mpg, more than I was getting from my old Camry.

I love it!

I had a 2011 Camry 4 cyl then a 2012 Acura TSX 4 cyl. Both of them averaged very close to 28.5 mpg combined driving. After 3598 miles, this V6 Accord has given me a combined 30.18 mpg. I'm blown away! I don't do any heavy stop and go and it's a mild climate here so my mileage is pretty good with any car. I had expected mileage in the 25-26 mpg range. What a nice surprise this Accord has turned out to be!

 

[Jack87]

I had a 2011 Camry 4 cyl then a 2012 Acura TSX 4 cyl. Both of them averaged very close to 28.5 mpg combined driving. After 3598 miles, this V6 Accord has given me a combined 30.18 mpg. I'm blown away! I don't do any heavy stop and go and it's a mild climate here so my mileage is pretty good with any car. I had expected mileage in the 25-26 mpg range. What a nice surprise this Accord has turned out to be!

Wow! 30.18 mpg? That's amazing! I'm actually kind of jealous, I live in Los Angeles... unfortunately. I drive about 80% city, 20% highway, and during both, I'm often stuck in bumper to bumper traffic. Add my somewhat heavy foot, and 90+ degree temperatures during most of the year, and there you have it.

80% city driving, lots of traffic, AC running most of the time, my love for driving fast = 25 mpg. It's unfortunate, even if I drove like a grandma, and never used the AC, the stop and go traffic is enough to ruin my MPG. Oh well. Glad to hear you're happy with your V6!

 

[ezshift5]

I live in Los Angeles... unfortunately. I drive about 80% city, 20% highway...............

80% city driving, lots of traffic, AC running most of the time, my love for driving fast = 25 mpg.

Not sure which you drive..............V6 or I4.

25 for the V6 would be outrageous, outstanding, out of this world.

(I'm thinking you've a 4-cylindro).

ez

 

[Jack87]

Not sure which you drive..............V6 or I4.

25 for the V6 would be outrageous, outstanding, out of this world.

(I'm thinking you've a 4-cylindro).

ez

Hah, believe it or not, I've got the EX-L V6 my friend.

While the conditions aren't ideal, I try and drive as efficiently as possible. I love having 278 horsepower, but I'm not going to floor it if I see the light up ahead is red, you know? I never use the Econ button, as I think it cripples acceleration too much, but I don't drive like a maniac either. I'll take some photos when I get home later.

Personally, I was impressed when robert4 said he gets 30.1 mpg! Even the V6 Accord gets some pretty awesome mileage it seems!

 

[taz92]

Get the V6. If you are into modding it would eventually cost more than the 2grand honda is charging to get 100 hp in after market parts.