DEARBORN, Mich. — Running along the Southfield Freeway that slices through the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, we sample several powertrain combinations available on Honda’s redesigned 2013 Accord sedan and discover an exuberant behavior not found in previous editions.

The mid-size 2013 Honda Accord series rolls out of a Honda assembly plant at Marysville, Ohio, in a completely new format for 2013 models, marking the ninth generation of designs for Honda’s largest sedan.

Everything about the 2013 Honda Accord is new — platform and structure, engines and transmissions, suspension and steering mechanisms, body styling and cabin content, on-board electronics and a load of safety equipment.

Size-wise, Accord for 2013 actually decreases the wheelbase and overall length yet increases almost all measures of cabin dimensions as well as the trunk volume.

The new exterior styling reflects subtle lines and subdued paint colors in the manner of a sophisticated — and expensive — vehicle, as stylists point the Accord upscale toward a prestigious breed.

The 2013 Honda Accord features a streamlined body with sculpted down-sloping forward hood, a raked windshield and arching roofline with bulging front wheelwells and pronounced cutlines on flanks.

A bold front grille supports dual horizontal bars in chrome stacking above a thick front bumper housing the center intake valence and honeycomb mesh insert.

At the tail there’s a fresh treatment for the trunk lid with a horizontal chrome bar that links to rear corner taillight clusters.

Aboard the 2013 Honda Accord are front-wheel-drive (FWD) powertrains in 4-cylinder and 6-cylinder formats, plus precise mechanical systems which produce keen ride and handling traits, and a carload of safety equipment.

Each 2013 Honda Accord rolls on alloy wheels and stocks standard equipment like dual-zone automatic climate controls, a rearview camera, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink connectivity, split-element driver-side exterior mirror, USB/iPod link, Pandora internet radio compatibility and a 160-watt audio kit with AM/FM/CD.

The 2013 Honda Accord trims out in six different versions.

• Accord LX is the entry edition packing a 4-cylinder engine with standard 6-speed manual shifter or optional CVT (continuously variable transmission). Standard content includes 16-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlamps, cruise control, Honda’s active noise cancellation equipment, variable intermittent wipers, cloth seat upholstery and a folding rear seatback.
• Accord Sport — a new trim — scores a more powerful version of the 4-cylinder engine and adds 18-inch alloy wheels, foglamps, twin exhaust pipes and a tail spoiler, 10-way power controls for the driver’s seat and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with shift paddles for the CVT.
• Accord EX features 17-inch alloy wheels and fancy features like a power moonroof, keyless entry/pushbutton start, heated side mirrors with signal repeaters and Honda LaneWatch blind-spot display.
• Accord EX-L upgrades to leather upholstery on seats and steering wheel, but also adds a driver memory system, heated front seats, touch-screen audio, auto-dimming inside mirror, LED taillamps, multi-angle rearview camera and a 7-speaker 360-watt stereo system plus XM radio.
• Accord EX-L V6 employs the V6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transaxle and provides LED daytime running lights, dual exhaust piles, HomeLink and power controls for the front passenger seat.
• Accord Touring V6 brings LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system.

Accord’s base engine is a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder plant with direct injection and Honda’s twin-cam i-VTEC (intelligent variable value timing and lift electronic control) valvetrain system. It generates 185 hp at 6400 rpm and torque of 187 lb-ft at 3900 rpm.

This plant appears in 2013 Honda Accord LX, EX and EX-L trims.

Accord Sport packs the 2.4-liter engine but modifications make more power and torque. The numbers tally to 189 hp at 6400 rpm with torque of 182 lb-ft at 3900 rpm.

For the 2013 Honda Accord EX-L V6 and Accord Touring V6, a high-tech 3.5-liter V6 engine also uses Honda’s dual-cam i-VTEC valvetrain system. The V6 generates high muscle numbers — 278 hp at 6200 rpm plus 252 lb-ft of torque at 4900 rpm.

Further, the six-pack plant employs Honda’s variable cylinder management (VCM) device to conserve on fuel by modifying the number of engine cylinders at work — it can switch from six to four or down to three cylinders, depending on the power demand at any particular moment.

Federal EPA fuel consumption numbers on the 2013 Honda Accord’s engines look solid — up to 36 miles per gallon for highway travel with the base 4-cylinder plant and 34 mpg for the V6.

Brakes mount power-assisted ventilated discs up front and solid discs in back. Then there are electronic ties to Honda’s vehicle stability assist (VSA) equipment operating in conjunction with an anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic brake distribution (EBD) and electronic brake assist (EBA) plus a traction control system (TCS).

Honda adds thousands of dollars worth of new standard features to the redesigned 2013 Accord sedan yet holds the line on MSRP numbers. Prices range from $21,680 for Accord LX to $33,430 for Accord Touring V6.

2013 HONDA ACCORD SEDAN SPECIFICATIONS

• Description: Mid-size 4-door sedan
• Model options: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L V6 ,Touring V6
• Wheelbase: 109.3 inches
• Overall length: 191.4 inches
• Engine size:
  • DOHC 2.4-L I4/DI/i-VTEC
  • DOHC 3.5-L V6/DI/VCM/i-VTEC
• Transmissions/speeds:
  • I4: Manual/6 or CVT
  • V6: Auto/6
• Rear/front drive: FWD
• Steering: EPAS/rack and pinion
• Braking: Power 4-disc, ABS/EBD/EBA/VSA/TCS/TPMS
• Air bags: 2 (front), 2 (side), 4 (side curtain)
• EPA mileage est. city/hwy.:
  • 24/34 mpg: 2.4-M/6
  • 27/36 mpg: 2.4-CVT
  • 21/34 mpg: 3.5-A/6
• MSRP range, est.: $21,680 to $33,430