The 2019 Honda Accord stands out as a popular sedan, renowned for its reliability, fuel efficiency, and spacious interior. For families and individuals alike, safety is a paramount concern when choosing a vehicle. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provides comprehensive safety ratings, acting as a trusted benchmark for consumers. This article delves into the IIHS safety evaluations for the 2019 Honda Accord, offering a detailed analysis of its performance in various crash tests and safety system assessments. Understanding these ratings is crucial for anyone considering purchasing a 2019 Honda Accord, providing valuable insights into its safety capabilities.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side
The 2019 Honda Accord earned a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front crash test. This test simulates a collision where the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. A “Good” rating signifies that the vehicle provides robust protection in this challenging scenario. Key measurements from the test indicate minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment. For instance, the maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar was only 1 cm, and the steering column showed 0 cm of intrusion. Driver injury measures were also rated “Good” across all categories, including head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot, demonstrating effective protection for the driver in this type of frontal impact. The driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated as “Good,” highlighting the effectiveness of the safety systems in controlling occupant movement during the crash.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side
Mirroring its driver-side performance, the 2019 Honda Accord also achieved a “Good” rating in the passenger-side small overlap front test. This is a critical evaluation as it assesses the safety provided to the front passenger. Similar to the driver-side test, the Accord demonstrated excellent structural integrity with minimal occupant compartment intrusion. The maximum intrusion at the lower hinge pillar remained at 1 cm. While the footrest and toepan measurements were slightly higher than the driver side, they remained within acceptable safety parameters. Passenger injury measures, as well as driver injury measures recorded on the passenger side test, were all rated “Good,” ensuring comprehensive protection for both front occupants in a small overlap frontal crash. The passenger restraints and dummy kinematics also received a “Good” rating, indicating consistent and reliable safety performance across the front seating positions.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front crash test, which represents a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the 2019 Honda Accord again secured a “Good” overall rating. This test involves 40% of the vehicle’s front width impacting a deformable barrier at 40 mph. The Accord’s structure and safety cage held up well, earning a “Good” rating. Driver injury measures were also rated “Good” across all categories, including head/neck, chest, and leg/foot for both left and right sides. Technical measurements showed minimal footwell intrusion and instrument panel rearward movement, further confirming the structural integrity of the vehicle in a moderate frontal impact. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics were also rated “Good,” reinforcing the effectiveness of the Accord’s frontal crash protection systems.
Side Impact: Original Test
The original side impact test evaluates the protection offered in a typical side collision. The 2019 Honda Accord received a “Good” rating in this assessment as well. The structural performance and safety cage were rated “Good,” and driver injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg were all “Good.” Driver head protection was also rated “Good,” indicating effective protection from head injuries in a side impact scenario. Rear passenger injury measures and head protection also received “Good” ratings, demonstrating that the Accord provides solid side impact protection for occupants in both front and rear seats under the original test conditions.
Side Impact: Updated Test
However, in the updated side impact test, which uses a heavier barrier and more closely simulates a real-world side impact with a larger SUV or truck, the 2019 Honda Accord’s rating decreased to “Marginal” overall. While the structure and safety cage were still rated as “Marginal,” and driver injury measures for head/neck and torso were rated “Good” and “Acceptable” respectively, the driver’s pelvis protection was rated “Marginal,” and driver head protection was rated “Marginal” due to the dummy’s head hitting the window sill past the side curtain airbag. Rear passenger protection remained strong, with “Good” ratings for head/neck, torso, and head protection, and “Acceptable” for pelvis.
2022 Honda Accord side crash test vehicle showing damage after the updated IIHS side impact evaluation.
Honda Accord occupant compartment damage and deployed side airbags following the updated side impact test.
Driver-side head impact indicated by greasepaint on the window sill, showing airbag inadequacy in the updated side crash test of the Honda Accord.
Rear passenger head protection in the updated side impact test of the Honda Accord, demonstrating effective airbag deployment.
This “Marginal” rating in the updated side impact test is an important consideration, suggesting a potential vulnerability in more severe side-impact scenarios, particularly for the driver.
Roof Strength
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover accident. The 2019 Honda Accord achieved a “Good” rating in roof strength, with a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.51. This indicates that the roof can withstand over 5 times the vehicle’s weight before significant crushing, providing good protection in rollover situations.
Head Restraints & Seats
In the evaluation of head restraints and seats, the 2019 Honda Accord earned a “Good” overall rating. Both the dynamic rating, assessing whiplash protection in rear-end collisions, and the seat/head restraint geometry, evaluating the physical characteristics of the seat and head restraint, were rated “Good.” This signifies that the Accord’s seats and head restraints are well-designed to protect against neck injuries in rear impacts.
Headlights Performance
The 2019 Honda Accord offers different headlight options depending on the trim level. Models like LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, Sport 2.0T, EX-L 2.0T, Hybrid, EX Hybrid, and EX-L Hybrid trims come with LED reflector low beams and halogen reflector high beams, achieving an “Acceptable” overall rating. These headlights provide “Good” visibility on straightaways and gradual right curves with low beams, but visibility is reduced on sharper curves and left curves. Some glare was noted with the low beams. High beam assist is included, which helps compensate for some low beam limitations.
Touring, Touring 2.0T, and Touring Hybrid trims are equipped with LED reflector low and high beams. These headlights received a “Marginal” overall rating. While low beams offer “Good” visibility on straightaways and right curves, performance is “Fair” on the sharp left curve and “Inadequate” on the gradual left curve. Glare is also present with these low beams. High beam performance is “Good” on the straightaway right edge but “Inadequate” on the left side and left curves. High-beam assist is also included to compensate for low beam limitations.
Overall, headlight performance varies by trim, with standard headlights rated “Acceptable” and touring headlights rated “Marginal,” indicating room for improvement in headlight illumination, particularly in curves and glare control.
Front Crash Prevention Systems
The 2019 Honda Accord comes standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver-assist technologies, including the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS).
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
For vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, the 2019 Honda Accord earned a “Superior” rating. In IIHS tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, the Accord avoided collisions entirely, demonstrating excellent performance in preventing front-end collisions with other vehicles. The system also meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
Pedestrian (Day) Front Crash Prevention
In pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime), the 2019 Honda Accord achieved an “Advanced” rating. The system showed varied performance in different pedestrian scenarios. It reduced impact speed in a crossing child scenario at 12 mph but failed to slow down at 25 mph. In a crossing adult scenario, it avoided a collision at 12 mph and significantly reduced impact speed at 25 mph. In a parallel adult scenario, it avoided collisions at 25 mph and substantially reduced impact speed at 37 mph, with a warning issued 2.2 seconds before impact. The “Advanced” rating reflects good performance in pedestrian detection and collision mitigation, though with some limitations in higher-speed or child crossing scenarios.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) in the 2019 Honda Accord was rated “Good +” for ease of use. The Accord has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors. The lower anchors are generally easy to access and maneuver around, and the tether anchors are easy to find and not easily confused with other hardware. This “Good +” rating signifies that the 2019 Honda Accord provides user-friendly and effective child seat anchor systems, making it easier to install child seats correctly.
Conclusion
The 2019 Honda Accord demonstrates strong safety performance across many IIHS crash tests and safety system evaluations. It achieves “Good” ratings in small overlap front (driver and passenger sides), moderate overlap front, original side impact, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. Its front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” for vehicle-to-vehicle and “Advanced” for pedestrian (day). The “Marginal” rating in the updated side impact test and “Acceptable” to “Marginal” headlight ratings are areas for potential improvement. However, overall, the 2019 Honda Accord provides a high level of safety for occupants, making it a safe and reliable choice in the sedan market. For those prioritizing safety, the Honda Accord 2019 stands as a testament to Honda’s commitment to passenger protection, offering peace of mind for drivers and families alike.
