In 2023, China's auto market will show an unprecedented prosperity, which can be described as "a hundred schools of thought contending" and "a hundred flowers blooming", which is dazzling. But throughout the market, whether it is attention or importance, B-class cars are first-class existence, after all, "those who get B-class cars win the world" is not an empty phrase.
For a long time, the main track of the B-class car market has been dominated by traditional joint venture brands, among which we are more familiar with Honda's Accord and Ford's Mondeo, but now the B-class car market is not as simple as before, more and more domestic independent brand B-class cars are emerging, and the pressure of traditional joint ventures is also increasing, so whether traditional joint ventures can hold the "heart" of Chinese has become the top priority, coinciding with the new generation of Accord listed not long ago, so today we will compare to see who is the real "hero", Who knows Chinese consumers better.
Spatial properties, who is better?
As a B-segment sedan, the space configuration of the vehicle is undoubtedly an important consideration when buying a car, and the new generation Mondeo and Accord show obvious differences in this regard.
The new generation Mondeo has a body size of 4935/1875/1500mm and a wheelbase of 2945mm. The wide body and long wheelbase ensure that it can provide a spacious seating space, whether it is the head, leg or shoulder room of the rear passengers, it is very generous and does not create a sense of oppression. In addition, the trunk has a volume of 520L, which is enough to easily hold all kinds of luggage and belongings to meet daily work and travel needs.
In contrast, the space configuration of the Accord is relatively tight. Its body size is 4980/1862/1449mm, and its wheelbase is only 2830mm. Compared to the Mondeo, the Accord has a wheelbase of 115mm less, which is undoubtedly a significant gap. This directly affects its comfort and practicality, and compared to the new generation Mondeo, the new generation Accord is slightly inferior in both aspects.
Therefore, from the perspective of space configuration, the new generation of Mondeo is closer to the needs of Chinese consumers, and its ultra-long wheelbase and large space are comparable to the BBA brand in the same class, providing drivers and passengers with a more comfortable and spacious riding experience.
Exterior design, who is more prominent?
In terms of exterior design, the Honda Accord continues its signature family style, low-key and steady. The grille and headlights are integrated, and the straight lines create a streamlined visual effect at the front of the car. Although the narrow air intake at the bottom adds a touch of sportiness, overall, the Accord still follows its usual conservative style in design, which is somewhat similar to its "Civic" brother.
But the new Mondeo has a new look, young and energetic. The striking "breathing 3D scale grille" boldly occupies the front face, and with the smart split LED headlights, it makes the Mondeo visually impactful. What's more interesting is that the new generation Mondeo is equipped with a welcome induction system, a unique configuration that undoubtedly gives it a high-tech feel, and the same manufacturing system as the Lincoln Z also enhances the sense of luxury.
On the whole, these two cars have their own advantages in terms of appearance, and there is no difference between advantages and disadvantages, but the stronger sports attributes of the new generation Mondeo seem to be more acceptable to the current main consumer post-95 generation.
Power level, who is stronger?
With a more sporty appearance, the power Mondeo is naturally not bad, the new generation Mondeo is equipped with a 2.0T turbocharged engine, the maximum power is 175kW, the maximum torque is 376Nm, matched with an 8-speed manual automatic transmission, the power output is smooth and powerful, the acceleration performance is excellent, and it is easy to join the 6-second club.
And the new generation Mondeo also adopts the same lightweight weight reduction design as the Mustang, the whole vehicle matches a large number of aluminum alloy accessories, the cost of materials is increased by 30% compared with traditional materials, the effect of this not only improves fuel economy, but also brings better handling, in addition, the new generation Mondeo is also equipped with a variety of driving modes, including comfort, sport, skiing, wet, trailer, etc., can adapt to different road conditions and driving styles.
The Accord is a little weak in power performance, its 1.5T version is equipped with a 1.5T turbocharged engine, the maximum power is 141kW, the maximum torque is 260Nm, matching CVT continuously variable transmission, the power output is relatively flat, and the acceleration performance is also average.
In terms of power performance, the new generation Mondeo is more powerful and efficient, not only has a class-leading powertrain, but also has a lightweight design and a variety of driving modes, allowing users to have a better driving experience.
Intelligent configuration, who is richer?
In terms of cockpit configuration, the interior design style of the new generation Mondeo is the same as the exterior, taking the route of youth and technology, and adopting a wrap-around cockpit design to bring more comfort and safety to the driver and passengers. The center console is equipped with the industry's first 27-inch 4K high-definition screen, and integrates a 12.3-inch full LCD digital instrument cluster and center display to achieve multi-function and multi-scene intelligent interaction. In addition, the new generation of Mondeo is also equipped with luxury features such as B&O certified audio, wireless charging, and electric trunk of the famous Danish brand, which improves the driving quality.
The Accord is somewhat bland in the interior configuration, using the traditional instrument panel and center console design, although it is also equipped with an 8-inch touch screen and a 7-inch LCD dashboard, but compared to Mondeo's large screen, the sense of technology is much weaker. As for the main intelligent configuration at this stage, Ford has built-in the latest generation of SYNC+2.0 intelligent connected car machine, equipped with BlueCruise active driving assistance system, with vehicle-road coordination function, which can actively display the status of traffic lights at intersections, greatly increasing convenience.
Although the new generation of Accord's Honda CONNECT 3.0 intelligent system is not bad, compared with the tenth generation of Accord has been greatly improved, but its interior technology, intelligent system completion, and practicality, the new generation of Accord is still not as good as the new generation of Mondeo.
Write at the end
In the increasingly competitive automotive market, as a consumer, choosing a vehicle is not easy, especially in the B-segment market, Accord and Mondeo, these two models have their own characteristics and advantages. However, it is reported that in early July, the new generation of Mondeo 1.5T will be launched, richer Mondeo family product line, we can see strong power, luxurious configuration, technological design and spacious space, these are the pursuit and needs of modern consumers, and this is the characteristics that a 150,000-class best B-class car should have.
As for "who is the real hero", I don't think it matters. The important thing is that no matter which car, its value lies in whether it can meet the needs of consumers, whether it can provide a high-quality driving experience, and whether it can give consumers physical and mental comfort and pleasure. At this point, the new generation of Mondeo can undoubtedly capture the hearts of Chinese consumers.