The Honda Accord 2.0T has proven to be a fantastic sedan for drag racing. Even though the specs and design don’t suggest this is a fast car, the power of its four-cylinder turbo arrives instantly and the 10-speed automatic gearbox launches well. But the Accord really has its work cut out today because it’s racing the Acura TLX Type S and the Kia Stinger GT, both of which have turbo V6 engines.
In stock form, the Accord 2.0T makes 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This $33,000 sports sedan in disguise has raced the Acura TLX Type S before. Both cars come from the same company, but Acura’s more expensive and aggressive 4-door makes more power from a larger engine.
Specifically, a relatively new 3.0-liter VTEC Turbo helps it produce 355 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. Last year, the two raced on the same YouTube channel, Sam CarLegion, and the TLX easily beat its brother. This is why the Honda returns with Stage 3 upgrades.
Mods clearly include a remap, but also a sporty Akrapovic exhaust system and the bump in power sounds like it’s going to be enough: 300 horsepower at the wheels and 360 lb-ft of wheel torque. Add at least another 10% for drivetrain loss and it sounds like a close race, especially when the Accord is much lighter.
There’s a third contender for the title, the Kia Stinger GT. Just like the Accord, this is an old model on its way out. But the 3.3-liter V6 still delivers a solid 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.
So what happens?
Sam only does one drag race from a dig, which is unusual for him. The Kia Stinger GT gets a fantastic launch, winning by two car lengths in front of the Acura.
The Acord is just nowhere to be seen, and its driver claims his car is struggling for traction. The roll race that follows proves him right, as the three sedans are quite close. But I think the conditions weren’t fair for the Honda. It’s right on the edge of the track, next to the grass, and you can hear rocks flying underneath. Admittedly, it probably wouldn’t have won regardless.
