The Honda Accord gets semi-autonomous driving with Sensing 360+ update

The Honda Accord has been absent from many markets (including ours) for quite a while, as the midsized sedan form factor has fallen out of favor in favor of crossovers. However, it soldiers on in Japan, where the 11th-generation Accord gets some fairly minor cosmetic updates and one big update for its ADAS suite.

The biggest change comes to the Honda Sensing advanced driver assistance suite, where on the higher-end Sensing 360+ model grade, this model now gets semi-autonomous driving capabilities under certain conditions thanks to multiple cameras, maps, and multiple GNSS antennas.

For one, it will only work when the driver monitoring camera and hands-on sensor detect that you are attentive. When on the expressway, adaptive cruise control and the lane-keeping assist system can suggest a lane change to the driver, and it will do it all for you, alongside actively changing lanes towards junctions and exits if a destination is set.

This also comes with speed-reduction road departure prevention on curves, and a driver anomaly response system for unresponsive drivers that slows down, stops the car safely, and alarms other drivers with hazard lights, and it will automatically connect to emergency services. Apart from that, the full suite of advanced driver assistance systems is present.

Apart from that, the Accord gets very minor visual updates, like the use of more body-colored trims on the revised grille, lower bumper garnishes and side skirts, and a new clear headlight housing instead of amber side markers.

The interior remains unchanged, with the same 12.3-inch widescreen Honda Connect infotainment, the Experience Selection Dial where a small screen in the middle can change between a clock, climate controls, and other functions, alongside lots of leather all around.

Finally, the car is only available with the e:HEV hybrid system that uses a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder gas engine and dual electric motors, with a maximum power output of 184 horsepower and 335Nm of torque, alongside goodies like adaptive variable dampers for a better ride.

While it’s very unlikely that we’ll see the Accord return to the Philippine market, we at least know that the Honda Sensing 360+ safety systems will eventually trickle down to other models globally, hopefully with the same semi-autonomous driving tech.

^{Photos from Honda}