2013 Honda Accord Earns 5-Star NHTSA Safety Score
The all-new 2013 Honda Accord sedan has earned a 5-star overall crash test rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently issued the rating, noting that the redesigned sedan scored highly in all three of its rigorous crash tests.
According to the government agency, the Accord scored a perfect five stars in the side and rollover crash tests. In the side impact test, a 3,000-pound barrier hits the driver's side at 38 miles per hour. Five stars indicate the chance of injury is 5 percent or less. The rollover test determines rollover risk by combining real-world driving with a mathematical equation based on a car's height and weight. There, five stars indicate the chance of injury at 10 percent or less.
The Accord's only blemish came when it earned four out of five stars in the front impact test, indicating an 11 percent to 20 percent chance of injury. That test measures injury risk when a car hits a fixed barrier at 35 mph.
But despite its single 4-star rating, the Accord earned a 5-star overall rating because of its strong performance in the other two tests. The same is true for a top Accord rival, the 2013 Toyota Camry, which netted a 5-star overall rating despite earning two 4-star ratings and one 5-star rating.
The 2013 Honda Accord went on sale in September. Typically among the most popular cars in the United States, the Accord starts around $22,000 and comes as a sedan or a 2-door coupe. The NHTSA has not yet tested the Accord Coupe.
In addition to the Camry, major Accord rivals include the Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata and Ford Fusion. While the all-new Fusion has not yet been tested, the Altima and Sonata both matched the Accord's perfect 5-star overall ratings.
What it means to you: Shoppers interested in a 2013 Accord can breathe easy knowing the sedan is among the safest cars in its class.
What do you think about the Honda Accord's crash score rating? Let us know in the comments below.