The 11th generation Accord in context
The 2023 model year introduced the fully redesigned 11th-generation Accord — cleaner styling, larger interior, updated infotainment, and a simplified powertrain lineup that finally retired the enthusiast-favorite 2.0-liter turbo in favor of a two-choice menu: 1.5-liter turbocharged four for gasoline trims, or a two-motor hybrid for the top trims. The 2024 EX is essentially a carry-over of that 2023 redesign with minor calibration refinements and a couple of small equipment shuffles.
The 2024 Accord trim ladder is: LX (base gas), Sport (gas with sport visual cues), EX (gas volume trim — our review focus), EX-L (leather gas), Sport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, and Touring Hybrid at the top. EX is the highest gasoline-only trim and, for buyers who don't want to pay the hybrid premium, the smartest place to sit in the lineup.
What makes the 2024 EX interesting for a used-market buyer in 2026 is timing. It's new enough to have all the current-generation improvements (wireless CarPlay, updated Honda Sensing 360, redesigned interior) but old enough to be off the frantic 2023 launch pricing. On used lots across central PA, a lightly-used 2024 EX with 15,000–25,000 miles is typically $4,000–$6,000 less than a new one, for a car that's essentially indistinguishable from new.
Powertrain: what the 1.5T delivers
The 2024 Accord EX uses Honda's L15C7 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder — 192 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 192 lb-ft of torque from 1,700 to 5,000 rpm. Power routes through a CVT to the front wheels only (there is no AWD Accord in this generation). This is a mature engine — Honda has been refining the 1.5T architecture across the CR-V, Civic, and Accord since 2016, and the oil-dilution issues that plagued early CR-V builds were resolved long before the 2023 Accord redesign started production.
Zero-to-sixty runs in about 7.5 seconds — not fast, but honest for a 3,200-pound sedan with modest power. More importantly, the peak-torque plateau from 1,700–5,000 rpm makes real-world driving feel stronger than the horsepower number suggests. Merging onto I-81 at Grantville or passing on route 322 doesn't require flooring it.
If you want more performance, the Accord Hybrid isn't just an MPG upgrade — it also delivers more instantaneous torque from the electric motors. The gas EX is the value pick; the hybrid is the driving pick.
Real-world MPG in Central PA
EPA rates the 2024 Accord EX at 29 city / 37 highway / 32 combined. In real-world mixed driving between Lebanon and Harrisburg on I-81 and I-83, I consistently see 30–33 combined. Highway-only at 65–70 mph will regularly return 37–39 mpg on the trip computer. That's genuinely excellent for a mid-size sedan running on regular unleaded.
Fuel cost math at $3.35/gallon for 87 octane, 12,000 miles a year at 32 combined: about $1,260/year in gas. If MPG matters more than that, the Accord Hybrid does 48 city / 44 highway / 46 combined — real-world 40–44 depending on how you drive. On the same 12,000 miles at $3.35, that's about $880/year — a $380/year fuel savings. If the used-market hybrid premium is more than $2,500 above a comparable EX, the math favors the gas EX. If it's under $1,900, the hybrid wins over a five-year hold.
Driving impressions
The Accord has always been the driver's choice among mainstream mid-size sedans, and the 11th generation continues that tradition better than any Camry, Sonata, or K5 currently sold.
Steering is precise and well-weighted — you can hold a line through the Blue Mountain curves on route 501 without constant correction, and on-center at 70 mph on I-78 it doesn't wander. Chassis is composed. Ride quality is well-tuned for both smooth Lebanon streets and rougher county roads through Myerstown and Fredericksburg. The suspension is meaningfully more refined than the 10th-generation Accord it replaced, especially at low speeds over broken pavement.
Where the Accord is honest: it isn't fast. 7.5 seconds to 60 was normal ten years ago; today, when a $30k Hyundai Sonata N-Line does it in six, the Accord feels calm rather than urgent. That trade-off is intentional — Honda tuned this car for daily livability rather than launch-control ambition.
Interior and tech — the biggest upgrade
The 11th-gen interior is where the biggest visible improvements landed. Materials are softer, panel gaps tighter, and Honda finally standardized wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on EX and above. The 7-inch digital instrument cluster is clean and legible. The 8-inch center touchscreen (12.3-inch on Touring Hybrid) is responsive, with physical volume and tuning knobs that owners begged for.
Front seats are among the best in the mid-size sedan class — wide, supportive, with real bolstering and 8-way power adjustment on the driver's side. Rear seat legroom at 40.8 inches is class-leading. Two adults sit behind two adults comfortably. Trunk space at 16.7 cubic feet swallows a full family's luggage, four sets of golf clubs, or a Costco run.
Interior refinement details worth calling out: dual USB-C ports (front and rear), wireless phone charging pad on EX and above, dual-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats standard on EX. Nothing feels stripped.
Safety: Honda Sensing 360 standard
Honda Sensing 360 is standard on every 2024 Accord — adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering, road departure mitigation, collision mitigation braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, low-speed follow, and traffic sign recognition. The system is one of the better implementations in the class — refined, non-intrusive, and genuinely useful on central PA highway commutes.
Adaptive cruise handles I-83 south stop-and-go around Harrisburg well. Lane-centering is subtle enough that it doesn't fight the driver on winding back roads through the Lebanon Valley. The 2024 Accord earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ ratings across every crash test category.
Central PA weather: rear-wheel and winter
The Accord is front-wheel drive only — there is no AWD option in this generation. For central PA winters, that's a real consideration. With proper winter tires (Michelin X-Ice, Blizzak WS90, or Continental VikingContact), a FWD Accord handles Lebanon-area snow adequately. Without winter tires, an all-season-shod Accord will struggle in more than 3–4 inches of unpacked snow.
If your commute is Lebanon-to-Harrisburg on I-81 and the plow trucks reliably keep the interstate clear, this doesn't matter — the Accord is fine. If you live on an unplowed rural road in the Blue Mountains, an AWD SUV is a better choice. Set expectations honestly.
Reliability outlook and known items
The 1.5T in the 2024 Accord is a mature engine — the oil-dilution concerns from early CR-V versions were resolved years ago, and the Accord platform has had the corrected ECU calibration since 2023 production started. Honda's CVT is one of the most refined in the industry. Chassis and interior components are shared with the current Civic and CR-V, so parts availability at every independent shop and Honda dealer in central PA is excellent.
Known items to verify on a used 2024:
- Infotainment lag with third-party USB cables — some early 11th-gen owners reported this. Use Apple-certified or Honda-branded cables for CarPlay wired mode, or use the wireless connection.
- Software updates — a couple of over-the-air infotainment updates have been pushed. Verify current firmware at first service.
- All open recalls closed — check via Honda's owner site with the VIN.
- Tire wear — 2024 with 25,000 miles on original tires may be near replacement depending on rotation history.
Value: the strongest case for the EX
Here's the math that makes the 2024 Accord EX genuinely compelling. New MSRP for a 2024 EX in 2024 was about $32,500 out the door in central PA. On our used market in 2026, a 2024 EX with under 20,000 miles typically sits in the $25,000–$28,000 range — a meaningful discount versus new pricing, on a car that will absolutely run to 200,000 miles with basic maintenance.
For a single driver, a couple, or a small family that doesn't need SUV cargo capacity, this is arguably the best-value new-ish car on the market in 2026. You get modern safety tech, current-generation infotainment, a proven powertrain, and Honda's parts and service network — all for less than a base RAV4 costs new.
Who should buy the EX
Buy the 2024 Accord EX if: you drive mostly solo or with one passenger, MPG matters, you don't need SUV ground clearance, and you value driver-focused chassis tuning without paying for the Hybrid or Touring premium.
Skip it if: you regularly haul three or more people plus their gear (get a CR-V), you need AWD for a rural PA driveway (get any AWD SUV or a Subaru), or you tow (the Accord isn't rated for it).
Verdict and next step
The 2024 Honda Accord EX is a defensible, high-value used purchase for a solo Central PA driver or a small family that doesn't need cargo. It's not the exciting choice — a Genesis G70 is more fun, a Camry TRD is louder, a Sonata N-Line is faster — but it's the smartest choice for someone who wants a well-built sedan that will still be running strong in 2035.
We currently have a 2024 Accord EX on our Lebanon lot. See the full listing, apply for financing, or call (717) 673-1484 to schedule a test drive. Serving Lebanon, Palmyra, Hershey, and central PA drivers.
