The Honda Accord is one of the best sedans on the market. It combines good looks, reliability, efficiency, and just enough driving fun to make it interesting. Granted, it is not a razor-shape, canyon-carving sports sedan, but it is much more sporty, composed, and neutral in the handling department than you would expect. 

Since the dawn of time, the Honda Accord has been one of the best cars you can buy and an everyday hero that does everything you expect of it. In 2022, we expect a lot of our vehicles. As car prices continue to rise, it is not unreasonable to expect your car to deliver what you want in proportion to its price. 

A fully-loaded 2022 Honda Accord Touring with all the accessories, packages, technology, and comfort will set you back over $47,000. That’s a significant amount of money and puts you firmly into BMW 3 Series territory. It also happens to be almost exactly the average price of a new car in the U.S. 

But what about the base version? A stripped-back Accord LX has a starting price of just $26,120. Could that be enough Accord to suit your needs, or is the nearly $21,000 in savings just not worth it? Let’s find out.

2022 Honda Accord LX performance and efficiency

The Accord LX comes with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower. That engine is only available with the CVT transmission and allows for reasonable acceleration. Honda and MotorTrend say that it is good for a 0-60 mph time of 7.1 seconds, while Car and Driver noted a 6.6-second run. That’s decent but not exactly what we might call quick. 

What the LX lacks in power and performance, it makes up for in efficiency. The EPA rates the Accord LX at 30 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. If you spend a lot of time commuting, that is a definite plus.

Exterior, interior, and multimedia

On the outside of the Accord, you’re limited to just three exterior colors (Black, Silver, and Gray). White and red carry an additional $395 charge. As a quick comparison, the Toyota Camry base model offers five colors with no extra charge. 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on the LX. 19-inch wheels are an option but command an additional $3000.

Moving toward the inside, you’ll get black cloth seats with aluminum-look trim. Dual-zone climate control, power windows and locks, and a pair of 12V power ports complete the basic features. 

The multimedia system operates through a dash-mounted eight-inch touch-screen. Honda includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth streaming and a pair of USB ports. If you happen to be an audiophile, the four-speaker sound system will be a bit disappointing. You’ll need to start springing for some options packages to get the 450-watt, 10-speaker stereo system.

The Accord LX is a bit better than “spartan,” but a Toyota Camry base model comes with more tech and toys. 

2022 Honda Accord LX safety equipment and warranty

Honda offers their Honda Sensing safety suite with every model, and in the Accord LX, you’ll get a slew of features. Automatic pre-collision braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, and road departure prevention are standard. There are also ten airbags and child-proof locks and windows.

Those features combine with a rearview camera, automatic high-beams, stability control, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. All standard fare on new cars these days. 

Honda’s warranty with the Accord is pretty basic, 36 months or 36,000 miles, and includes roadside assistance. The powertrain and corrosion protection warranty run for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. 

There is no maintenance warranty or service plan included with the LX, which is disappointing as Toyota offers it on the Camry for two years or 25,000 miles. 

Is a base model Honda Accord LX the one to go for?

The short answer is no. The Accord’s competitors offer more standard features and tech and a better warranty package that includes scheduled maintenance. 

Where the Accord wins is in how it drives. It really is engaging, confidence-inspiring, and has just enough sportiness to keep you interested. But we feel that may not be enough of a reason to go with the base LX model. You will want more kit in this car, especially if you spend a lot of time commuting or have a family to lug around.

Related: How Much Is a Fully Loaded 2022 Honda Accord Sedan?