Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Summer Clearance Event

Looking for someway to end your Summer with a bang?
Come to our Summer Clearance Event!


Whether you're lease is up, helping out your new college commuter or just feel like you deserve that upgrade we've got you covered! You don't want to miss out on these exclusive savings.
Check out our Summer Clearance Event going on now through Labor Day Weekend!
Search Our Latest Inventory Now!

Don't Forget About Our HOT SUMMER SAVINGS!
See these HOT deals here.



We even have EXCLUSIVE Service Offers you'll find
ONLY @ Route 23 Honda!

Friday, August 23, 2013

2013 Honda Accord Sport's Sweet Engine, Quality Interior More Than Make Up for Short List of Shortcomings

The 2013 Honda Accord Sport features a high quality interior designed lo last, room for five adults to sit comfortably, and the reliability of being the latest among a decades-long favorite model. Add in the buttery-smooth 189-horsepower, 2.4-liter four cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission, and the Accord remains a stellar pick.

 


The evening before I was scheduled to return the 2013 Honda Accord Sport after a weeklong test, I stopped by the home of my friend and automotive guru, for his counsel and once-over. He listened to the engine idle, with the same diligence as a pediatrician and a stethoscope. He stepped inside and, as is customary, touched every surface, knob, and fabric. When opened the cubby underneath the radio controls, he noted the slight heft in the compartment’s open-close action, and smiled.

"You may not realize it now," he said, “but once you give it back, you’re going to miss the little things about how this car
works."

Generations of Accord owners have been convinced by its interior quality alone, and the latest model is no exception. All major touch points are constructed of, or covered in, materials that immediately look and feel like they will withstand the test of time. The neatly laid-out instrument panel and center stack are complemented by a multifunction steering wheel with redundant controls and voice commands. A two-tier display is standard across the model line, as are dual-zone climate control, a rear-view camera, an integrated trip computer, and a USB audio input. While many of its competitors use optional, advanced infotainment systems as a major draw, the exemplar Accord is perhaps the one with the fewest options.


Inside, the 2013 Honda Accord features a two-tiered instrumental panel as well as a multifunciton steering wheel with controls and voice command functionality.


The back seat has room for three adults, making it a five-seater capable of more than short, local trips. The flat seats, covered in slippery cloth, are the biggest disappointment, but leather upholstery on higher-trim models helps to remedy the problem.

It would be easy to argue that its interior is the latest Accord’s sweet spot, but then you turn the key and feel its harmonious pairing of engine and transmission. A buttery-smooth 189-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine practically sings as it revs higher, and provides more than adequate power for city and highway driving. My test car was equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which mimicked the gearing of a traditional automatic transmission, despite its gearless nature, without any of the vacuum-esque hum of less sophisticated transmissions.

Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, unique to the CVT Sport, allow for punchier upshifts and downshifts that do their best impersonation of a manual gearbox. Should you yearn to row your own gears, a 6-speed manual transmission – one of the best in the business, let alone the segment – is standard on all four-cylinder Accords.
Over several hundred miles of mixed city and highway driving, the Accord returned fuel economy as high as 36 mpg, and closer to 30 mpg overall. The CVT also matches and exceeds the fuel economy of the manual transmission.
Steering and braking performance is another area where the Accord excels over its competition. Careful chassis tuning helps it avoid the floaty numbness in the corners that is endemic to most midsize sedans. The Accord is more eager to play, and less nervous about reaching its limits, than others of its ilk, as substantiated by several hot track laps earlier in the year. Off the track, that level of performance rewards city and freeway-bound drivers in spades, in terms of confidence behind the wheel at any speed.

If this sounds like high praise, it is – but the Accord is not without subjective shortcomings. Its exterior styling is worth the postage on a letter home, but that’s about it. Inoffensive lines are reminiscent of the Hyundai Genesis sedan, albeit one sharper and more squared-off, but owners will still likely lose theirs in crowded parking lots. A complementary rear exhaust pipe, as well as 18-inch wheels that fill out the wheel wells, brighten the Accord’s otherwise plain bodywork, but do not exude much sportiness. Cabin noise is slightly louder than expected. And the digital screen could benefit from much more functionality on models not equipped with navigation, given its prominence in the cabin.

By any estimation, the Accord Sport is one of the best values for money, among its peers, at approximately $25,000 for the base model. Compare that against the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry, which tend to offer fewer features, power, and refinement per dollar, and the Accord makes even more sense.

It is attention paid to the small touches – from the treatment of the HVAC bezels to the sophisticated hum of the engine – that give this perennial bestseller a marked edge over its competitors.

It’s interesting calculus for a model that is Honda’s bread and butter, but part of the formula that makes the Accord proficient and accomplished from the first look.

See Route 23 Honda's Accord Inventory

We Welcome You to Come in for a Test Drive Today!

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Thank You for Coming to Our Car Show! [PHOTOS]

We would just like to take the time to thank all of you who came to our 1st Annual Car Show this past Sunday, August 18th at Route 23 Honda to show support & your love of Honda & cars!



A BIG thank you to those who participated in the Car Show!
We loved having you & hope you had as much fun as we did.
Can't wait to see you next year!

Scroll to see some photos from the event...

Our GM Mike Murphy in the dunk tank!

THE 1ST PLACE WINNER!
GM Mike Murphy couldn't wait to dunk Nunzio,
so he just threw him in!

Visit Our Facebook Page to See More Photos!



Friday, August 16, 2013

Come to Our Car Show This Sunday!!


This Sunday We are Hosting
Our 1st Annual Route 23 Honda Car Show
 from 9AM - 3:30PM
The show is open to all makes and models.
Please email wjones@route23honda.com to pre-register or for more information.


Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Honda Launches Efforts to Save Some Drive-In Theaters


The movie industry’s plan to stop distributing 35-millimeter films by the end of this year threatens to shut down the roughly 300 drive-in movie theaters still operating in the U.S.
Most drive-ins don’t make enough money to warrant the estimated $75,000 per screen transition to digital projection. 
The U.S. sales arm of Honda wants to help preserve some of those theaters by supplying at least five drive-ins with digital projectors in an effort to maintain that link between cars and the movies.
The automaker is sponsoring Project Drive-In, an organization that will give “people easy ways to get involved and ensure that this historic part of American cinema and car culture lives on.”
Drive-in movie lovers can go to Project Drive-In and vote for which five drive-in theaters will receive new digital projectors from Honda. Voting began on Friday  and ends Sept. 9 at 9 p.m.
Honda will reveal the results in September.
"Cars and drive-in theaters go hand-in-hand, and it's our mission to save this decades-old slice of Americana that holds such nostalgia for so many of us," said Alicia Jones, a Honda spokeswoman.
Drive-ins first opened in 1933, reaching their peak during the 1950s and '60s when there were more than 4,000 across the country.
The theaters were invented by Richard Hollingshead Jr., who got inspiration for the business from drive-in restaurants, according to Drive-ins.com, an enthusiast website.
"We are committed to helping the remaining drive-in theaters flourish with the move to digital projection," Jones said.

Friday, August 9, 2013

'America's Got Talent' Host Nick Cannon Stars in New 'Best Yourself' Honda Civic Ad Campaign

As 'America's Got Talent' host and hubby of Mariah Carey, Nick Cannon might have a full slate of responsibilities, but that TV personality is ready to add Honda spokesperson to the list. Cannon will debut a new ad campaign for the 2013 Honda Civic on 'America's Got Talent' on August 11.


Looking to hook the smartphone generation, Honda is taking a different route. Lining up "America's Got Talent" host Nick Cannon, the Japanese automaker will debut a new ad campaign for its redesigned Civic sedan during the August 11 broadcast of "Talent."

"In the entertainment business, much like the auto industry, there is always pressure to adopt the latest trends," Cannon said in a statement.


"I've built my career by staying true to myself and my personal beliefs, and it's the same commitment that I saw in Honda and their development of the 2013 Civic that drew me to this project."

The campaign focuses on individuals working toward their goals, whether playing the violin, shooting hoops, or completing math problems. Beyond the ad's "America's Got Talent" debut, Honda will push the campaign on social media, inviting users to share how they plan to push themselves and achieve their goals.

The 2013 Honda Civic builds on a 2012 model refresh, adding air conditioning, USB, Bluetooth, and a backup camera as standard features. The 2013 sedan model starts at $18,165, with the Si Coupe model featured in the ad campaign starting at $22,515.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

INTERNATIONAL: 2015 Honda Fit Mugen Leaked in Japanese Brochure


Although pictures of the new Honda Fit (called the Jazz in some overseas markets) have been released on Honda’s website along with some details, its catalog with more variants has not. At least, until now. The leaked catalog shows some versions of the Honda Fit Mugen high-performance model. Featured in the catalog are an extroverted body kit, spoiler, bumper fins, and other elements. Seventeen-inch MFZ wheels complete the package.



The new Honda Fit will be more powerful than the current model, featuring more than just 177 horsepower. It will still feature the same fun-to-drive qualities as the current Fit, and it should still be thrifty at the gas pump.

In other models of the 2015 Honda Fit, which goes on sale in Japan a year earlier, the car will be available in Sport Hybrid trim, featuring the Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive. The Fit Hybrid will be powered by a new 1.5-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine paired with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Regenerative braking further helps with mileage, replenishing the battery for more time between charges.

The all-new Honda Fit is set to be released on September 5 of this year in Japan and should be making its way to the U.S. in early 2014 as a 2015 model. More information about the new Fit, as well as a full catalog, will be released as the launch date edges closer.

If this version of the Fit were to be released in the US would you buy it?
Check out our Fit Inventory & come in for a Test Drive!

Friday, August 2, 2013

New Honda Accord Hybrid Poised to Return Class-Leading Fuel Efficiency

As a pioneering manufacturer of hybrid vehicles since the introduction of the Insight in 1999, it is no surprise that Honda keeps pushing the boundaries of gas-electric technology. The latest example is the all-new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, which is aiming to shake up the midsize-sedan category with class-leading fuel efficiency. Though official figures from the EPA are still pending, Honda estimates that the upcoming hybrid version of its best-selling vehicle will return 49 mpg in the city, topping every other hybrid midsize sedan.



The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid will achieve its leading efficiency thanks to a brand-new 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle engine paired with a 124-kilowatt electric motor and a lithium-ion battery. Three different driving modes will be available, including the options of running in gas- or electric-only modes, or using them in combination for maximum power. The Accord Hybrid will also be able to transition intelligently between modes when needed, delivering optimal power to the transmission while minimizing fuel consumption.

"Honda is going for the hybrid crown by taking its most popular vehicle and giving it similar fuel economy to the Prius," said Frank McLaughlin, general manager of a Greater Boston Honda dealership. "When the Honda Accord Hybrid goes on sale this October, it will attract those drivers who have been waiting out for a hybrid that doesn't require them to compromise on performance, space or refinement."

Technological innovations are not limited to the powertrain in the Accord Hybrid. Buyers will be able to opt for some of the most advanced safety features on the market, including Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and the industry-first LaneWatch blind-spot display. A multi-angle rearview camera will provide additional points of view while displaying guidelines for increased safety. Drivers will also have available access to detailed information on performance, efficiency, entertainment and navigation through easy-to-read console and dashboard screens, including an eight-inch color display.

Bolstering Honda's lineup of electrified and alternative-fuel models, the Accord Hybrid joins its Accord Plug-In sibling, which went on sale earlier this year in certain regions and returns 115 MPGe combined on the city and highway. The Honda Insight remains an efficient option on the market, and the Honda Civic sedan offers both hybrid and natural-gas models. For a subcompact car that is also 100 percent electric, the limited-release Honda Fit EV is rated at an impressive 118 MPGe combined, while buyers who like to optimize responsiveness in their hybrid can opt for the sporty Honda CR-Z.

"Honda is continually expanding its line of green vehicles, and the popular midsize sedan category was the next logical step for developing its most advanced hybrid model to date," added McLaughlin. "The value of the Accord Hybrid comes not only from its fuel efficiency, but also from its intuitive safety features that you can expect to find in luxury sedans."