The hustle and bustle environment of Union City is a lively one. Driving is the most time-efficient way of getting around the city, and if you’re anything like us, you don’t like traffic. However, given driving is a necessity for many, why not make it worth your while? Searching for "used cars near Union City" can take you in all sorts of directions, but today we want to focus on two specific sedans you should consider if you’re a commuter who frequently travels the city, drives to New York every day for work, or just the family-type looking for a reliable car to bring the kids to the Ellsworth Park playground—the Honda Accord and the Honda Civic. Why are these two sedans perfect for drivers in Union City?

Driving Around the City is Cheaper Thanks to Great Fuel Efficiency

The Civic

One of the main reasons you’d want to consider a used Civic or Accord if you live in or around Union City is its fuel efficiency, more specifically, the fuel efficiency of your sedan when driving in the city. Drivers in Union City are used to traffic. Your everyday life may include commuting, traveling dozens of blocks, and finding a spot to parallel park. Altogether, this type of vigilant driving means you’re likely quite skilled as a driver, especially compared to those who live in smaller towns and other suburban settings. Doing all this driving can prove to be quite pricey; the Accord and Civic are excellent choices if you want to save as much money as possible.

You might work locally within the city, or you might drive through the Lincoln Tunnel every day and sit in traffic, so city mileage is important. Let’s look at some used models, such as the 2020 Accord and the 2020 Civic. Both sedans are fuel-efficient in the city or on the highway, but if you’re driving primarily in the city, some powertrains will perform better than others.

The 2020 Civic's 2.0L I-4 engine is available with either a Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT) or a six-speed manual transmission. With the CVT, you get an EPA-estimated 32 MPG in the city, 42 MPG on the highway, and 36 MPG combined. The manual transmission gets 29 MPG in the city, 37 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined. The 2020 Civic was also available with a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine, which came with a CVT unless you bought the Si trim, which replaced the CVT with a six-speed manual transmission.

The non-Si variant of the turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine earns phenomenal city mileage with 32 MPG in the city, and highway mileage is also the best of the bunch with 42 MPG on the highway. Similarly, the combined mileage rating of 36 MPG combined is the best of the three powertrain configurations. With the Si trim, you’ll get 26 MPG in the city and 36 MPG on the highway, along with 30 MPG combined, but this reduction in fuel efficiency, especially in the city, is made up by the fact you’ll get the best performance out of your Civic as the turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine in the 2020 Civic Si creates a strong 205 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque.

Accord

As for the Accord, it is a midsize sedan that not only creates excellent performance but is also a tad more spacious than the Civic. Something that makes the Accord special is an available HEV powertrain that offers the best fuel efficiency ratings we’ll speak of today. The Accord is a popular and practical option from Honda that has always been an excellent representation of Honda’s dedication to quality in the midsize sedan market, which can be quite a tough one to compete in.

Accord models are often treated with the same aura of respect and seniority as the Civic regardless of the few years separating the launch of both vehicles, but that’s because both the Accord and Civic are equally as influential towards modern-day sedans as the Civic and Accord’s first models were released in 1972 and 1976, respectively.

In the 2020 Accord, three powertrains are available, beginning with a turbocharged 1.5L I-4 engine. This engine is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT, and performance is excellent, considering the base 2020 Accord outputs 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque. The fuel efficiency ratings of this powertrain are 30 MPG in the city, 38 MPG on the highway, and 33 MPG combined if your Accord has the CVT, 26 MPG in the city, 35 MPG on the highway, and 30 MPG combined with a manual transmission.

The 2020 Accord is capable of excellent performance with an available turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine you can also pair with either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT. This powertrain produces 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, but considering you drive around the city, whether that’s around Union City or over in Hell’s Kitchen or by Central Park, you may want to consider the fuel economy ratings as the great performance from the turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine does come at a slight cost. Still, the fuel efficiency ratings are impressive nonetheless for this powertrain, with an EPA estimate of 23 MPG in the city, 34 MPG on the highway, 27 MPG combined with the CVT, and 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway, 26 MPG combined with the manual transmission.

Let’s wrap up the talk on fuel efficiency with the 2020 Accord’s available hybrid powertrain. You’ll still be putting gasoline in the engine because the Accord doesn’t have any means of plug-in charging, but this hybrid utilizes its hybrid components to the fullest extent, with a blissful mix of performance and efficiency. With the 2.0L I-4 engine and HEV components, the 2020 Accord outputs 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, and fuel efficiency ratings meet an impeccable 48 MPG in the city, 47 MPG on the highway, and 48 MPG combined.

With the type of fuel efficiency the Accord gives you, your lifestyle won’t be interrupted by constant pricey gas station trips. That means you can have more time to yourself in the morning before your commute to work over in Woodcliff or Weehawken and have more money in your pocket for the fun stuff. For example, why not take that extra money and go to a ball game? It doesn’t matter where you’re going; you’ll save money, even if you’re a Devils fan and drive to the Prudential Center, travel to UBS Arena in Elmont for an Islanders game, or even trek to Madison Square Garden as a Rangers fan (we won’t judge you on your sports team preferences.)

Used Accord and Civic Models Continue to Improve

When you’re thinking of used vehicles, you may think you’re missing out on some of the latest features. The truth is that many used vehicles—Accord and Civic models included—often retain the functions of their newer counterparts. What’s also true, however, is that every feature at one point or another is considered new, meaning there’s always a buffer of a year or two before used models can proudly sport a new wave of technology.

Why do we mention all of this? More used Honda Accord and Civic models, with some of Honda’s coolest features, are making their way onto the pre-owned lot. For example, Honda created the Idling Stop System, which intermittently shuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a complete stop, such as at a red light. Once you release the brake and begin to accelerate, the engine kicks back to life. While the engine is dormant, it doesn’t consume fuel and is a great addition to the list of features, especially for people used to city living. Honda has been including this feature in its vehicles for several years. Little things like this can easily go unnoticed by those who don’t shop for vehicles often.

You should take your time and learn a bit more about your local selection. Look through our inventory of quality pre-owned vehicles on our website, find something you like, then research what cool features that model year featured, and decide if you would like to move forward with buying it, or keep looking. That's one of the exciting things about shopping for a used vehicle—in a gloomy world, it can be an unexpected source of pleasant surprises.