The Honda Accord has long been celebrated for its reliability, efficiency, and sophisticated design. For the 2025 model year, the Honda Accord continues to uphold its reputation, particularly excelling in safety. As a prospective car buyer, understanding safety ratings is crucial, and the Honda Accord 2025 delivers impressive results across various rigorous evaluations. This article delves into the comprehensive safety performance of the Honda Accord 2025, providing a detailed analysis based on standardized crash tests and safety feature assessments.
Small Overlap Frontal Crash Test: A Deep Dive into Accord’s Robustness
The small overlap frontal crash test is designed to simulate what happens when the front corner of a vehicle collides with another vehicle or a narrow object like a tree or pole. This is a particularly challenging test as it concentrates crash forces on a small area of the vehicle’s front structure, bypassing the main energy-absorbing structures. The Honda Accord 2025 models, mirroring the 2023-2025 design, have undergone both driver-side and passenger-side small overlap tests, achieving top marks in both.
Driver-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test: “Good” Rating Achieved
The 2023 Honda Accord EX 4-door model was used to represent the 2025 lineup in the driver-side small overlap test. Honda themselves conducted this test, and the Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) validated the results, assigning a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Driver-Side Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Driver Restraints and Kinematics | A |
The “Good” rating signifies the highest level of protection. Specifically, the Accord’s structure and safety cage held up exceptionally well (“Good”), minimizing intrusion into the driver’s space. Injury measures for the head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good,” indicating a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type. While most metrics were “Good”, the “Acceptable” rating for driver restraints and dummy kinematics suggests there’s still room for minor improvement, although overall protection remains high.
Alt text: Honda Accord 2025 driver-side small overlap crash test, showing minimal cabin intrusion and airbag deployment.
Technical measurements further illustrate the Accord’s performance. For instance, maximum intrusion into the lower occupant compartment was minimal, with only 2 cm at the lower hinge pillar and 5 cm at the footrest and left toepan. Steering column movement was negligible at 0 cm, and upper occupant compartment intrusion was also limited to 2 cm or less. Driver injury measurements were also low, with a Head Injury Criterion (HIC-15) of just 147 and no hard contact to the head. Chest compression was a mere 25mm, and femur and tibia forces were also very low, all contributing to the “Good” injury ratings.
Passenger-Side Small Overlap Frontal Test: “Good” Rating Extends to All Occupants
The passenger-side small overlap test is equally critical, ensuring that protection is not just for the driver but also for front-seat passengers. Again, using the 2023 Honda Accord EX 4-door as representative of the 2025 models, the passenger-side test also resulted in a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Passenger-Side Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/Thigh | G |
| Lower Leg/Foot | G |
| Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | G |
Notably, in the passenger-side test, the Honda Accord 2025 achieved “Good” ratings across the board, including passenger restraints and dummy kinematics. This indicates that the Accord is engineered to provide excellent protection for both the driver and the front passenger in a small overlap frontal crash scenario.
Alt text: 2025 Honda Accord passenger-side small overlap front crash test, demonstrating robust structural integrity and effective passenger protection.
Measurements from the passenger-side test show slightly more intrusion compared to the driver-side, but still within acceptable limits for a “Good” rating. For example, lower occupant compartment intrusion reached 4 cm at the lower hinge pillar and 7 cm at the footrest. However, injury measures remained low, with a HIC-15 of 137 and no head contact. Chest compression was 20mm, and femur and tibia forces were again very low, reinforcing the “Good” injury risk assessments.
Moderate Overlap Frontal Test: Updated Stringency, Unwavering “Good” Rating
The moderate overlap frontal test simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight. The IIHS updated this test to be more demanding by including a rear passenger dummy to assess rear seat occupant protection, reflecting real-world scenarios more accurately. Despite the increased rigor of the updated test, the Honda Accord 2025 maintained its “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Thigh/Hip | G |
| Leg/Foot | A |
| Driver Restraints and Dummy Kinematics | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Thigh | G |
| Rear Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | G |
The Honda Accord 2025 exhibited “Good” performance in structure, driver restraints, and rear passenger restraints. Driver injury measures were “Good” for head/neck, chest, and thigh/hip, with an “Acceptable” rating for leg/foot. Crucially, rear passenger injury measures were all “Good”, demonstrating that the Accord provides excellent protection for occupants in all seating positions in a moderate overlap frontal crash.
Alt text: Post-crash view of the 2025 Honda Accord in the moderate overlap test, highlighting airbag deployment and structural integrity.
Technical data reveals minimal occupant compartment intrusion in this test as well. Maximum footwell intrusion was 12 cm, and instrument panel and steering column movement were negligible. Driver and rear passenger injury measurements remained low, supporting the “Good” ratings. For rear passengers, head and neck injury risks were minimal, and the shoulder and lap belts remained in optimal positions, crucial for effective restraint.
Side Crash Test: Updated Side 2.0 Test, Still “Good”
Side impacts are another significant source of crash injuries. The IIHS has also updated the side crash test to Side 2.0, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better represent severe side-impact scenarios, especially those involving larger vehicles like SUVs and trucks. The Honda Accord 2025 achieved a “Good” overall rating in this more challenging side crash test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Structure and Safety Cage | G |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | A |
| Driver Head Protection | G |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis | G |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | G |
In the Side 2.0 test, the Honda Accord 2025 demonstrated “Good” structure and safety cage performance, along with “Good” ratings for driver head protection and rear passenger head protection. Driver injury measures were “Good” for head/neck and torso, and “Acceptable” for pelvis. Rear passenger injury measures were all “Good”, showcasing comprehensive side-impact protection for all occupants.
Alt text: Honda Accord 2025 side impact test, illustrating side airbag deployment and structural resistance to intrusion.
Intrusion measurements show that the B-pillar was pushed in by 23.5 cm, but this crush stopped short of the driver’s seat centerline, indicating effective structural resistance. Driver and passenger injury measures were well-controlled. For example, driver pelvis combined force was 4.6 kN, and torso deflections were minimal, contributing to the favorable injury ratings.
Headlight Performance: “Good” Rating Across All Trims
Visibility is paramount for accident prevention, and headlight performance plays a crucial role. The Honda Accord 2025 comes standard with LED reflector headlights across all trim levels and has earned a “Good” overall headlight rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | G |
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED reflector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | LED reflector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
The “Good” rating reflects effective illumination in various driving scenarios. Low beams provided good visibility on straightaways and gradual right curves, and fair visibility on sharper curves. High beams enhanced visibility further, and the high-beam assist feature compensates for low-beam limitations, particularly on curves and straightaways. Glare was never exceeded in testing, ensuring that the headlights are not only effective but also considerate of other drivers.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian – “Advanced” Rating
Modern safety systems include features designed to prevent crashes altogether. The Honda Accord 2025’s standard Collision Mitigation Braking System with pedestrian detection achieved an “Advanced” rating in pedestrian front crash prevention.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | A |
| Includes High-Beam Assist Credit |
In daytime testing, the system avoided collisions with a child dummy at 12 mph and significantly reduced impact speed in the 25 mph test (by 23 mph). In nighttime scenarios, using high beams, the system avoided collisions with an adult dummy in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests. With low beams at night, the system showed reduced effectiveness, avoiding collision at 12 mph but failing to slow down at 25 mph. For parallel adult scenarios at night, high beams enabled collision avoidance at 25 mph and warning at 37 mph, while low beams resulted in impact speed reduction at 25 mph but no slowing at 37 mph. This “Advanced” rating indicates a robust system, especially when high beams are utilized, but with room for improvement in low-beam nighttime pedestrian detection.
Seat Belt Reminders: “Good” for Front and Rear
Effective seat belt reminders are crucial for increasing seat belt usage. The Honda Accord 2025 earns a “Good” rating for its seat belt reminder system, covering both front and second rows.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G |
| Front Row | |
| Unbelted Occupant Alert (Audible & Visual) | |
| Duration | Long enough (90+ seconds) |
| Volume | |
| Audio Frequency | |
| Second Row | |
| Startup Status Alert (Visual) | |
| Belt Disengaged Alert (Audible & Visual) | |
| Duration | At least 30 seconds |
| Volume | |
| Audio Frequency |
The system provides clear and persistent alerts for unbelted front occupants, and visual and audible alerts for second-row occupants when belts are disengaged during the ride. The audible signal is sufficiently loud and at an appropriate frequency to be easily noticeable over background cabin noise.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH): “Good +” Rating for Ease of Use
For families, child seat anchor usability is a key safety consideration. The Honda Accord 2025 receives a “Good +” rating for its LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system, including extra LATCH positions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | G + extra LATCH positions |
| Vehicle Trim | EX |
| Seat Type | cloth |
The Accord provides two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors. Usability is rated “Good” due to anchors being easy to find, not too deep in the seat, and requiring minimal force to attach to. This “Good +” rating signifies both excellent safety and convenience for installing child seats.
Conclusion: Honda Accord 2025 – A Top Safety Pick
The Honda Accord 2025 stands out as a vehicle prioritizing safety, achieving “Good” ratings in all IIHS crashworthiness tests, a “Good” headlight rating, an “Advanced” rating for pedestrian front crash prevention, and a “Good +” rating for LATCH system ease of use. These comprehensive safety evaluations provide peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike, making the Honda Accord 2025 a leading choice for safety-conscious car buyers. Whether it’s protecting occupants in various crash scenarios, preventing accidents with advanced technologies, or ensuring child passenger safety, the Honda Accord 2025 excels, reinforcing its position as a safe and reliable sedan in the market.
