The Honda Accord has long been recognized as a reliable and safe sedan, and the 2020 model year continues this tradition. Redesigned in 2018, the Honda Accord 2020 boasts impressive safety features and crash test performance. As a leading midsize car, understanding its safety ratings is crucial for potential buyers. This article delves into the detailed safety evaluations of the Honda Accord 2020, providing a comprehensive overview for informed decision-making.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front crash test assesses the vehicle’s structural integrity when the front corner of the car collides with a rigid object like a tree or pole. The Honda Accord 2020 performed admirably in the driver-side small overlap test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The Honda Accord 2020 achieved a “Good” rating across all categories in the driver-side small overlap test. This indicates excellent protection for the driver in this type of severe frontal collision. The structure and safety cage of the vehicle held up well, and injury measures for the head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated as “Good”. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics also performed optimally, ensuring occupant safety.
Technical measurements from the test further illustrate the Honda Accord 2020‘s robust performance:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment intrusion (Lower hinge pillar max) | 1 cm |
| Footrest intrusion | 2 cm |
| Left toepan intrusion | 2 cm |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 5 cm |
| Rocker panel lateral average intrusion | 1 cm |
| Upper occupant compartment intrusion (Steering column) | 0 cm |
| Upper hinge pillar max intrusion | 1 cm |
| Upper dash intrusion | 0 cm |
| Lower instrument panel intrusion | 0 cm |
These minimal intrusion measurements demonstrate the Honda Accord 2020‘s ability to maintain occupant space during a small overlap frontal crash, reducing the risk of injury.
Driver injury measures were also exceptional:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 186 |
| Neck Tension | 1.0 kN |
| Neck Extension bending moment | 13 Nm |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest maximum compression | 23 mm |
| Femur force (Left) | 0.9 kN |
| Femur force (Right) | 0.2 kN |
| Knee displacement (Left) | 0 mm |
| Knee displacement (Right) | 0 mm |
| Maximum tibia index (Left) | 0.35 |
| Maximum tibia index (Right) | 0.51 |
| Tibia axial force (Left) | 1.7 kN |
| Tibia axial force (Right) | 1.8 kN |
| Foot acceleration (Left) | 48 g |
| Foot acceleration (Right) | 41 g |
These measurements are well within acceptable safety limits, reinforcing the “Good” rating for driver injury prevention in the Honda Accord 2020 during a driver-side small overlap frontal crash.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap front crash test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates the protection offered to the front passenger. Like the driver-side, the Honda Accord 2020 achieved a “Good” rating in this crucial assessment.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The Honda Accord 2020 demonstrated consistent “Good” performance for both passenger and driver protection in a small overlap frontal crash. All evaluation metrics, including structure, safety cage, passenger injury measures, and driver injury measures, received the highest possible rating.
Technical measurements for passenger-side intrusion are as follows:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment intrusion (Lower hinge pillar max) | 1 cm |
| Footrest intrusion | 10 cm |
| Right toepan intrusion | 11 cm |
| Center toepan intrusion | 11 cm |
| Rocker panel lateral average intrusion | 0 cm |
| Upper occupant compartment intrusion (Center dash) | 3 cm |
| Upper hinge pillar max intrusion | 1 cm |
| Upper dash intrusion | 4 cm |
| Right lower dash intrusion | 4 cm |
While some intrusion measurements are slightly higher on the passenger side compared to the driver side, they remain within a safe range, contributing to the overall “Good” rating.
Passenger injury measures were also excellent:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 243 |
| Neck Tension | 1.2 kN |
| Neck Extension bending moment | 14 Nm |
| Maximum Nij | 0.23 |
| Chest maximum compression | 25 mm |
| Femur force (Left) | 0.7 kN |
| Femur force (Right) | 0.5 kN |
| Knee displacement (Left) | 1 mm |
| Knee displacement (Right) | 0 mm |
| Maximum tibia index (Left) | 0.42 |
| Maximum tibia index (Right) | 0.33 |
| Tibia axial force (Left) | 1.9 kN |
| Tibia axial force (Right) | 1.8 kN |
| Foot acceleration (Left) | 56 g |
| Foot acceleration (Right) | 55 g |
Driver injury measurements in the passenger-side test remained consistently low, confirming the Honda Accord 2020‘s commitment to overall occupant safety:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 155 |
| Neck Tension | 0.8 kN |
| Neck Extension bending moment | 11 Nm |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression | 25 mm |
| Femur force (Left) | 0.6 kN |
| Femur force (Right) | 0.1 kN |
| Knee displacement (Left) | 0 mm |
| Knee displacement (Right) | 0 mm |
| Maximum tibia index (Left) | 0.55 |
| Maximum tibia index (Right) | 0.25 |
| Tibia axial force (Left) | 1.7 kN |
| Tibia axial force (Right) | 1.3 kN |
| Foot acceleration (Left) | 46 g |
| Foot acceleration (Right) | 52 g |
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test simulates a more common type of frontal collision where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts another vehicle or object. The Honda Accord 2020 again earned a “Good” rating in this original moderate overlap test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The “Good” rating across all categories underscores the Honda Accord 2020‘s robust frontal crash protection. The structure maintained its integrity, and driver injury measures were minimized.
Technical measurements for occupant compartment intrusion in the moderate overlap test highlight the vehicle’s structural strength:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion (Footrest) | 1 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Left) | 2 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Center) | 2 cm |
| Footwell intrusion (Right) | 4 cm |
| Brake pedal intrusion | 5 cm |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Left) | 0 cm |
| Instrument panel rearward movement (Right) | 0 cm |
| Steering column movement (Upward) | -1 cm |
| Steering column movement (Rearward) | -5 cm |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 0 cm |
These minimal intrusion values demonstrate the effectiveness of the Honda Accord 2020‘s design in preserving occupant space during a moderate frontal impact.
Driver injury measurements in the moderate overlap test further validate the “Good” safety rating:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 195 |
| Neck Tension | 0.9 kN |
| Neck Extension bending moment | 16 Nm |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression | 23 mm |
| Femur force – left | 0.7 kN |
| Femur force – right | 0.5 kN |
| Knee displacement – left | 1 mm |
| Knee displacement – right | 0 mm |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.30 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.28 |
| Tibia axial force – left | 2.1 kN |
| Tibia axial force – right | 1.8 kN |
| Foot acceleration (Left) | 39 g |
| Foot acceleration (Right) | 40 g |
These low injury measure readings confirm the Honda Accord 2020‘s excellent protection against injuries in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
In the original side crash test, which simulates a vehicle being struck on the side by another vehicle, the Honda Accord 2020 once again achieved the highest rating of “Good”.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
The Honda Accord 2020‘s “Good” rating in all aspects of the original side crash test highlights its comprehensive side-impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurement for occupant compartment intrusion in the side crash test:
| Test ID | VTS1717 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -15.0 cm |
The negative value indicates that the intrusion stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, demonstrating good structural resistance to side impacts.
Driver injury measures in the original side crash test were also minimal:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 316 |
| Neck Tension | 0.9 kN |
| Neck Compression | 0.1 kN |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection | 53 mm |
| Shoulder Lateral force | 1.5 kN |
| Torso Maximum deflection | 42 mm |
| Torso Average deflection | 34 mm |
| Pelvis Iliac force | 1.1 kN |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force | 0.9 kN |
| Pelvis Combined force | 1.3 kN |
| Left femur L-M force | 0.8 kN |
Rear passenger injury measures remained low, further confirming the Honda Accord 2020‘s side impact safety for all occupants:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 111 |
| Neck Tension | 0.3 kN |
| Neck Compression | 0.5 kN |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection | 36 mm |
| Shoulder Lateral force | 0.9 kN |
| Torso Maximum deflection | 41 mm |
| Torso Average deflection | 24 mm |
| Pelvis Iliac force | 0.1 kN |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force | 0.5 kN |
| Pelvis Combined force | 0.6 kN |
| Left femur L-M force | 0.7 kN |
Side Crash Test: Updated Test
The updated side crash test is more rigorous than the original, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to simulate a more severe side impact scenario. In this updated test, the Honda Accord 2020 received an “Marginal” overall rating, a step down from the “Good” rating in the original test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Marginal (M) |
| Structure and safety cage | Marginal (M) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Acceptable (A) |
| Pelvis | Marginal (M) |
| Driver head protection | Marginal (M) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis | Acceptable (A) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
While driver and rear passenger head and neck protection remained “Good”, torso and pelvis protection for both driver and rear passenger were rated “Acceptable” or “Marginal”. Critically, driver head protection was deemed “Marginal” because the dummy’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill.
Technical measurements from the updated side crash test provide further insights:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -12.0 cm |
While still negative, the intrusion measurement is less negative than in the original test (-15.0 cm), indicating more intrusion in the updated, more severe test.
Driver injury measures in the updated side crash test show higher values compared to the original test, aligning with the lower ratings:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 576 |
| Neck Tension | 1.9 kN |
| Neck Compression | 0.8 kN |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection | 54 mm |
| Shoulder Lateral force | 1.6 kN |
| Torso Maximum deflection | 40 mm |
| Torso Average deflection | 36 mm |
| Pelvis Combined force | 5.1 kN |
Rear passenger injury measures, though better than driver measures in this test, also indicate increased forces compared to the original side crash test:
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 279 |
| Neck Tension | 1.0 kN |
| Neck Compression | 0.7 kN |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection | 37 mm |
| Shoulder Lateral force | 0.6 kN |
| Torso Maximum deflection | 43 mm |
| Torso Average deflection | 27 mm |
| Pelvis Combined force | 4.5 kN |
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The Honda Accord 2020 achieved a “Good” rating in this test.
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 3,105 lbs |
| Peak force | 17,114 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.51 |
A “Good” rating in roof strength indicates that the Honda Accord 2020‘s roof is structurally sound and provides good protection in rollover scenarios. The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.51 significantly exceeds the minimum requirement, demonstrating robust roof integrity.
Head Restraints & Seats
Head restraints and seats are crucial for preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The Honda Accord 2020 received a “Good” overall rating for its head restraints & seats.
| Overall Evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
Both dynamic performance and seat/head restraint geometry were rated “Good”, signifying effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Technical measurements for head restraints & seats:
| Seat type | Manual cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry Backset | 22 mm |
| Geometry Distance below top of head | 34 mm |
| Max T1 acceleration | 11.5 g |
| Head contact time | 53 ms |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force | 0 N |
| Max neck tension | 145 N |
These measurements are within acceptable limits for whiplash protection, supporting the “Good” rating.
Headlights
Headlight performance is essential for nighttime driving safety. The Honda Accord 2020 headlight ratings vary depending on the trim level.
Trim Levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, Sport 2.0T, EX-L 2.0T, Hybrid, EX Hybrid, EX-L Hybrid
These trim levels of the Honda Accord 2020 are equipped with LED reflector low beams and halogen reflector high beams.
| Overall Rating | Acceptable (A) |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
The overall rating for these headlight variations is “Acceptable”. While low beams offer good visibility on straightaways and gradual right curves, visibility is only fair on sharper curves. High beams compensate somewhat, and high-beam assist is available. Glare from low beams is noted as “some”.
Trim Levels: Touring 2.0T, Touring Hybrid
Touring trims of the Honda Accord 2020 feature LED reflector low and high beams.
| Overall Rating | Marginal (M) |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
These headlights received a “Marginal” overall rating. Low beams provide good straightaway visibility but are inadequate on gradual left curves and only fair on sharp left curves. High beams are inadequate on the left side and left curves. Glare from low beams is noted as “some”, and is higher compared to the other trim levels.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems help avoid or mitigate frontal collisions with other vehicles. The Honda Accord 2020 features a standard Collision Mitigation Braking System as part of its Honda Sensing suite.
| Overall Evaluation | Superior |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
The Honda Accord 2020‘s front crash prevention system earned a “Superior” rating. It successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests, and its forward collision warning system meets performance criteria.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian front crash prevention systems are designed to detect and react to pedestrians in the vehicle’s path. The Honda Accord 2020‘s system is rated “Advanced”.
| Overall Evaluation | Advanced |
|---|---|
| Crossing child (12 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 3 mph |
| Crossing child (25 mph) | Failed to slow |
| Crossing adult (12 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Crossing adult (25 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 22 mph |
| Parallel adult (25 mph) | Collision Avoided |
| Parallel adult (37 mph) | Impact speed reduced by 34 mph |
The Honda Accord 2020‘s pedestrian front crash prevention system demonstrated “Advanced” performance. It avoided collisions in some scenarios and significantly reduced impact speeds in others. However, it failed to slow in the 25 mph crossing child scenario.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchors (LATCH) make it easier to install child safety seats securely. The Honda Accord 2020 received a “Good+” rating for LATCH ease of use.
| Overall Evaluation | Good + Extra LATCH positions (G+) |
|---|---|
| Number of rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware | 2 |
| Additional seating positions with tether anchor and ability to borrow lower anchors | 1 |
The Honda Accord 2020 has two rear seating positions with full LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and borrowed lower anchors capability, earning it a “Good+” rating for child seat anchor accessibility.
Conclusion
The Honda Accord 2020 offers robust safety performance, achieving “Good” ratings in most crash tests, including small overlap front, moderate overlap front, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. It also boasts “Superior” vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention and “Advanced” pedestrian front crash prevention. The updated side crash test resulted in a “Marginal” rating, and headlight performance varies from “Acceptable” to “Marginal” depending on trim. Overall, the Honda Accord 2020 remains a safe and reliable choice in the midsize sedan segment, with strong safety features and crash test results to provide peace of mind for drivers and passengers.
