Comparing Used vs. New Hondas

When looking into buying a brand new Honda it is easy to be tempted by the savings offered by used editions of the same model. Often, Hondas which are just a few years old can be found on used car lots at prices which make them hard to ignore, no matter how set your heart might be on the latest and greatest edition of the car.

It’s not always easy to know whether a used Honda can give you the same features and performance that you are looking for when compared against a brand new model. Let’s take a quick look at five popular new Honda vehicles and compare them against used editions of the same automobile to see how things stack up.

01. 2011 Honda Accord

The 2011 Honda Accord is a best-selling mid-size family sedan that provides a spacious interior and a wide range of different trim levels. The base Honda Accord offers a long list of standard equipment, including air conditioning, power windows and door locks and a CD player, while the top-level EX-L graduates to near-luxury status thanks to its heated leather seats, Bluetooth integration, dual automatic climate controls and an available voice-controlled navigation system.

The 2011 Honda Accord starts out with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood that is good for 177 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque (LX and SE editions) and 190 horses and 162 lb-ft of torque in the EX trim level. Each version of the engine can be had with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission, and fuel mileage for the engine is rated at 23 mpg in city driving and 34 mpg on the highway. A V-6 upgrade is also in the cards for the Honda Accord, bringing with it 271 horsepower and 254 lb-ft of torque from a 3.5-liter unit. Restricted to the automatic transmission, the V-6 offers fuel mileage of 20 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.

02. 2007 - 2009 Honda Accord

There are two editions of used Honda Accord currently plying dealer lots from the years 2007 - 2009. The used 2007 Honda Accord represents the tail end of the previous generation sedan, and although its platform is smaller and its styling is different than the current version it still offers the choice of four-cylinder (166 horsepower) and V-6 (253 horsepower) engines. Transmission choices also remain the same,

The 2008 – 2009 Honda Accord is a strong value as a used car due to the fact that it mimics the 2011 model in terms of features and equipment. The sedan packs the same brawny looks and comfortable interior volume, along with identical four and six-cylinder engines (putting out 177 horsepower and 268-271 horsepower, respectively). Fuel mileage for the 2008-2009 eclipses that of the 2007 edition, which could be a deal-breaker for used Honda Accord buyers.

03. 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid

The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid is the gasoline / electric version of Honda’s entry-level compact sedan. The Honda Civic Hybrid maintains the same interior volume offered by the gasoline-only edition of the Civic and drops just two cubic feet of trunk space in order to accommodate the battery. The Civic Hybrid does gain a higher level of equipment compared to the standard version of the car, offering items such as automatic climate control, an MP3-capable CD player, power windows and door locks and a rear spoiler.

The 2011 Honda Civic Hybrid’s battery-assisted drivetrain is geared towards offering maximum fuel economy, delivering 40 mpg in stop and go driving and 45 mpg on the highway. Power output is rated at 110 horses, sent to the vehicle’s front wheels through a continuously-variable automatic transmission.

04. 2007 - 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

The 2007 – 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid makes use of the same platform that underpins the current 2011 model. This means that used Honda Civic Hybrids of this era also offer higher feature content compared to most other versions of the car, with some providing installed options such as a navigation system that help to give the used Civic Hybrid a more premium feel.

Under the hood – and under the trunk floor – the 2007 – 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid provides the same battery-assisted, four-cylinder drivetrain that offers up 110 horsepower in total. Paired with a continuously-variable automatic transmission, the used Honda Civic Hybrid returns fuel economy of 40 mpg city and 45 mpg on the highway, which is much higher than the 25 mpg city and 36 mpg highway offered by the standard Civic sedan of the era.

05. 2011 Honda Odyssey

The 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan was completely redesigned for the current model year, bringing with it several important changes that have helped the people mover stay at the top of its game. The Honda Odyssey has been given a more aerodynamic exterior and a number of new interior amenities, such as an available refrigerated storage space and a DVD entertainment system with surround sound to go with its eight passenger seating and its 148 cubic feet of total cargo space (with the rear sears out of the picture).

Also new in the 2011 Honda Odyssey is improved fuel economy from its 3.5-liter V-6, which is rated at 19 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway for the Touring and Touring Elite trims, which make use of a six-speed automatic transmission. All other versions of the van feature a five-speed automatic which lowers fuel mileage to a small degree. The engine itself provides a healthy 248 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque.

06. 2007 - 2009 Honda Odyssey

The 2007 – 2009 Honda Odyssey is a used minivan that represents the generation just before the current 2011 model. In terms of looks, 2008 and up models differentiate themselves from the 2007 edition thanks to a mild facelift that updated the vehicle’s front end and taillights and also made subtle changes to the minivan’s interior features – most importantly, making navigation standard equipment on the top level trims. The eight-passenger used Honda Odyssey also offers available eight-passenger seating thanks to an optional center seat in the second row that can also be used as a tray table.

Mechanically, the 2007 – 2009 editions of the used Honda Odyssey are all identical. Motivation is derived from a 3.5-liter V-6 that provides 244 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, and when found in top of the line editions this engine also offers a cylinder deactivation feature to pump fuel mileage up to 17 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway. A five-speed automatic transmission handles the gear shifting duties for the 2007 – 2009 Odyssey.

07. 2011 Honda Insight

The 2011 Honda Insight is a four-door hatchback that is intended to provide budget-conscious hybrid buyers with an attractive and affordable compact option. The Honda Insight has also been designed to provide a more engaging driving experience than is found in most other dedicated hybrid vehicles. The vehicle offers seating for five passengers, along with a very practical 31.5 cubic feet of maximum cargo space with the rear row of accommodations folded forward.

The 2011 Honda Insight’s biggest selling point is the fuel economy, which is rated at 40 mpg in stop-and-go driving and 43 mpg on the highway. These numbers are made possible by the Insight’s 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that works in tandem with an electric motor to provide a total of 98 horsepower and 123 lb-ft of torque. The Insight’s relatively light curb weight gives it better than average acceleration compared to larger hybrid automobiles, and it also benefits from a continuously-variable automatic transmission.

08. 2006 Honda Insight

The 2006 Honda Insight was the last version of the first generation edition of the hybrid automobile to be available before the nameplate took a hiatus that extended until its rebirth as a 2010 model. The 2006 Honda Insight offers used hybrid buyers a sleek, teardrop shape and a two-seat design that is intended to serve more as an urban runabout than a sedan replacement.

Powering the 2006 Honda Insight is the brand’s original Integrated Motor Assist hybrid drivetrain. A tiny 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine works together with a battery-powered electric motor to put out a combined 73 horses and 89 lb-t of torque (depending upon whether the five-speed manual or continuously-variable automatic transmission are pulling duty). Fuel mileage for a used 2006 Honda Insight tops out at 60 mpg in city driving and 66 mpg on the highway.

09. 2011 Honda CR-V

The 2011 Honda CR-V is a compact sport-utility vehicle that offers car-like handling and comfort with the additional practicality offered by its taller ride height and more spacious interior. The Honda CR-V can seat as many as five passengers, and with its rear row stowed it can handle as much as 73 cubic feet of cargo. The CR-V EX-L with Navigation represents the highest trim level available and it offers a voice-controlled navigation system, an upgraded stereo system, a rearview camera and heated leather seats.

All versions of the 2011 Honda CR-V are powered by the same 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. Capable of producing 180 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque, this motor is matched exclusively with a five-speed automatic transmission. The CR-V comes standard with front-wheel drive, but it also offers the option of an all-wheel drive system that is designed to send power to the rear wheels should a loss of traction be detected. Fuel mileage for the vehicles is rated at 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway for front-wheel drive editions, with all-wheel drive models posting nearly identical numbers.

10. 2007 - 2009 Honda CR-V

The 2007 – 2009 Honda CR-V used models make use of the same platform offered by the 2011 model. Some of the biggest differences have to do with styling and available equipment – the Honda CR-V was refreshed in 2010 – but overall, the 2007 – 2009 models of the vehicle offer comparable utility to the current edition of the crossover, and with a huge number of these vehicles sold when they were introduced they are easy to find on used car lots.

The 2007 – 2009 Honda CR-V is also mechanically quite similar to the 2011 SUV. 2007 models offer 166 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque from a 2.4-liter engine, a figure that is about 14 horsepower less than that offered by the 2011 edition. Fuel mileage remains strong, however, showing as 20 mpg city and 27 mpg during highway cruising. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional.