Which 2018 Honda Accord Trim Level Should I Buy: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L or Touring?

CARS.COM — The family-sedan pond has shrunk a bit of late, but the Honda Accord remains one of its biggest fishes. Redesigned for 2018, the new Accord is a must-drive for anyone shopping the class, as is its top rival, the also-redesigned Toyota Camry. Now you can finally do that: The new Accord sedan hits dealerships today with its base engine — a not-too-shabby 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder — in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels.

Related: 2018 Honda Accord Review: First Drive

Come late November, Honda will add an available turbo 2.0-liter four-cylinder to Sport, EX-L and Touring models. All of them have automatic transmissions save the Sport, which offers a six-speed manual with either engine. That makes the manual Accord Sport my variant of choice; it pairs well with either engine, and I drove both at Honda’s media preview in September. (Granted, the joy of three-pedal Sunday driving wears thin come Monday morning.)

So, which automatic Honda Accord mixes value and features best?

Here’s the good news: Even the Honda Accord LX comes well-equipped, with standard features like a continuously variable automatic transmission, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen with a backup camera, LED headlights, 17-inch alloy wheels, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering and the all-important forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. At that, its starting price is a reasonable $24,445 (all prices include a destination charge).

Which Accord to buy if you’re shopping for a new car in the midsize sedan category: I like the Accord Sport. For another $2,210 with the automatic or manual transmission, it adds 19-inch wheels and sportier exterior styling, a sport-tuned suspension, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, vinyl-and-cloth upholstery, a power driver’s seat and an upgraded stereo system. The Sport also gets an 8-inch multimedia infotainment system with must-have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Ride quality is controlled but firm in the Sport, which I found comfortable enough.

Still, those who want more isolation should consider the LX, EX or EX-L, which pair 17-inch wheels and higher-profile tires with softer suspension tuning. (I haven’t evaluated the setup, as Honda didn’t furnish those trims.) If you find the ride quality acceptable, a 1.5-liter Accord Sport ($26,655) is a lot of bang for the buck.

That’s just the beginning. Here’s a breakdown of other major features by trim level:

Standard Features

LX trim level, $24,445 base price with continuously variable automatic transmission:

• A turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder (192 horsepower, 192 pounds-feet of torque)
• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking
• Full-speed adaptive cruise control
• Lane-centering steering
• LED low-beam headlights with automatic high beams
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• One-touch power front windows
• A 7-inch multimedia infotainment system
• A backup camera and predictive guidelines
• Bluetooth and USB port
• A single-piece folding backseat

Sport

This trim level ($26,655 with the automatic or manual transmission) adds:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Sportier exterior accents
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Larger front disc brakes
• An 8-inch multimedia system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• Vinyl-and-cloth upholstery
• An eight-way power driver’s seat with four-way power lumbar
• A split, folding backseat
• More stereo speakers and wattage

EX

This trim level ($28,345; automatic only) adds:

• Satellite and HD radio
• A moonroof
• Heated side mirrors
• Keyless access with remote start
• Heated front seats
• Rear-seat air vents
• A blind spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert
• A second USB port

EX models also delete the 19-inch wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, vinyl-and-cloth upholstery, larger front brakes, sportier exterior accents and sport-tuned suspension.

EX-L

This trim level ($30,845; automatic only) adds:

• Leather upholstery
• A leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter
• A memory driver’s seat
• A four-way power passenger seat
• A top-line audio system
• An optional navigation system (for another $1,000)

Touring

The Accord Touring trim level ($34,675; automatic only) adds:

• A standard navigation system
• LED high-beam lights
• A head-up display
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive shock absorbers
• Larger front disc brakes
• Automatic phone pairing (near-field communication)
• Wireless phone charging
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Chrome exterior accents

2.0-Liter Sport, EX-L and Touring

The optional 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder (252 hp, 273 pounds-feet of torque) on the Sport, EX-L and Touring gets a 10-speed automatic transmission instead of the CVT. A six-speed manual is available on the Sport.

Versus the 1.5-liter Sport, the 2.0-liter engine Sport ($31,185 with the automatic or manual) adds:

• Heated front seats
• A moonroof
• Satellite and HD radio
• Keyless access with remote start

The 2.0-liter EX-L ($32,845; automatic only) gets larger brakes versus the 1.5-liter EX-L, while the 2.0-liter Touring ($36,675; automatic only) has the same features as its 1.5-liter counterpart.

Full details on the redesigned Honda Accord Hybrid are still to come; it goes on sale in early 2018.