The new 2013 Honda Accord 4DR Sport is one of many Accord variants produced by Honda, and with a 6-speed manual transmission, it sure is one of the more intriguing. We were fortunate enough to test a sweet, modern steel sport model and came away with some new impressions of the Accord.

Crisply styled and aerodynamically efficient, the 2013 Accord Sedan body design is the most sophisticated in Accord history. The 2013 Accord unit-body uses 55.8-percent high-tensile steel, more than in any previous Accord. In addition, 17.2-percent of the steel is now grade 780, 980 and 1,500 – extremely high grades that have never before been used in any Accord. This contributes to higher body rigidity and reduced weight, which directly benefits ride and handling, interior quietness, performance and efficiency and long-term durability.

With its contoured body sides, the Sedan’s exterior design is sleek, bold, decisive and athletic. Extensive use of under-covers improve aerodynamics for increased fuel efficiency, while other advances include available LED headlights, DRLs and brake lights, mirror-mounted turn signals, and the standard Expanded View Driver’s Mirror that increases the driver’s field of vision by 4.2 degrees. Our test model also sported 18-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, power door mirrors, dual exhaust, rear decklid spoiler and auto on/off headlights.

As with past Accords, the 2013 Honda Accord 4DR Sport offers a cabin that is clean and stylish. There really is something about the Accord interior that elevates this car over her rivals, and it’s been that way for years. A completely new interior provides a level of luxury and craftsmanship never before seen in the Accord. Available in Black, Gray and Ivory cloth or leather, the interior combines welcoming comfort with an impressive range of available technologies. Standard features include redesigned seating, dual-zone automatic climate control and simplified controls and instrumentation.

Compared to the prior edition, the 2013 Accord Sedan offers spacious accommodations for five passengers and a roomy trunk with a flatter load floor for greater utility. Although the Accord’s length has decreased over three inches and the wheelbase is almost an inch shorter, key interior dimensions grow. Rear legroom increases over an inch, both front and rear shoulder room increase, and trunk space is up over a cubic foot. Altogether, the interior is remarkably quiet, stylish and upscale, with high-quality materials, exemplary fit and finish, and advanced seating comfort and ergonomics. The extra room in the interior was noticeable when a few passengers are in the Accord, and the backseat room was commented on in a very positive manner.

Contemporary onboard electronics help the Accord driver seamlessly interface with the latest generation of compatible personal mobile electronics. Standard features on the Sport model and on all Accords include a bright, full-color 8-inch (diagonal) “intelligent” Multi-Information Display (i-MID), Bluetooth HandsFreeLink phone interface, Pandora internet radio interface and an SMS text messaging feature. A new available Audio with touchscreen display and the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and FM Traffic is also available.

The 2013 Accord is also the first Honda product to offer available HondaLink technology, which works with the owner’s compatible smartphone to connect the Accord with music and media resources such as Aha by Harman, internet apps, roadside assistance and more. Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) are also available. The rearview camera was clear and helped make me a much better driver when in reverse.

We enjoyed driving the 6-speed manual transmission coupled with the 189 horsepower 2.4 liter DOHC 16 valve Earth Dreams Direct Injection Engine. Shifting was incredibly smooth and power was sufficient in all driving conditions. Literally every aspect of the Accord’s chassis was reviewed or redesigned to create the best possible driving experience. Altogether, the highly rigid unit-body, refined suspension technology and advanced electronics define the 2013 Accord chassis as the most capable in model history. The new Accord is quieter and more responsive on city streets, smoother and more composed on the highway, and even more faithful to the driver’s wishes on winding roads.

New features for the Accord include a MacPherson strut front suspension, a steel and aluminum front subframe and electric power steering (EPS). Standard Active Noise Control (ANC) and Active Sound Control (ASC) on both 4-cylinder and V-6 models counteract engine noise, particularly at high rpm. This technology really works, and we were very impressed with the quiet cabin.

The lightweight MacPherson strut front suspension improves ride and handling qualities while also reducing interior noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The new aluminum and steel front subframe reduces weight and, in conjunction with the new independent multi-link rear suspension, further reduces NVH. Careful aerodynamic tailoring of the underbody and suspension systems provides additional noise reductions. The new EPS setup uses an electric motor to assist the rack-and-pinion steering rather than the hydraulic assist of the previous Accord. The result is reduced steering effort and fuel consumption, with improved precision, feel and stability.

Four-wheel disc brakes are also standard, as is Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist, a 4-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Hill start assist is also now standard on the Accord. Fuel efficiency was strong, coming in at 24 mpg in the city and 34 mpg in highway driving.

When you take a look at the 2013 Honda Accord 4DR Sport, the sleek and upscale design grabs your attention. When you consider the quality, craftsmanship and performance of this car, you have to wonder how Honda came in with a sticker price of just $24,180 as tested. This completely redesigned Accord for 2013 provides a host of powertrain, engineering, electronic and safety firsts combined with Honda’s trademark visibility and smart design, and customers will be the big winners.