Honda Accord

Honda Accord at a glance

The Accord is Honda's main family saloon and one of the best-selling cars in North America: it was the best-selling Japanese car in the US for 16 years from 1982 to 1997, and in 1989 it became the first import to top the US sales chart. It has been built in Japan, the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Thailand and several other Asian countries.

Body styles changed with each generation. The early cars were hatchbacks and saloons; later generations added coupés, estates (Aerodeck and Tourer) and, for one generation, the Crosstour fastback. Since 2017 the Accord has been a four-door saloon only. Honda's wider story, from motorcycles to the Honda NSX, is covered in the history of Honda.

Honda Accord generations

Power is shown as quoted for the main markets: PS for Japanese and European ratings, hp for US figures.

First and second generations (1976–1985)

The first Accord appeared as a three-door hatchback in 1976, with a saloon from October 1977. Its CVCC engine met strict emission rules without a catalytic converter, and power steering was rare in its class. The second generation added PGM-FI fuel injection in Japan in 1984 and became the first Japanese-brand car built in the US when production started at Marysville, Ohio, in 1982.

Third and fourth generations (1985–1993)

The third generation brought retractable headlights, the Aerodeck shooting brake and double-wishbone suspension front and rear, a first for Honda, and won Japan's Car of the Year in 1985. The fourth generation (CB) grew larger, gained a 2.2-litre 16-valve engine with up to 104 kW (140 hp), an estate built in Ohio and, in 1992, dual front airbags on the US SE saloon.

Fifth and sixth generations (1993–2002)

From 1993 Europe got its own Accord (CE), a saloon developed alongside Rover, while North America and Japan received the wider CD with VTEC engines and, from 1995, the first Accord V6. Japan's SiR used the 2.2 H22A with 142 kW (193 PS). The sixth generation used one platform with different bodies for Japan, North America and Europe, and Japan and Europe received the high-revving Accord Type R.

Seventh generation (2002–2007)

The Accord for Japan and Europe became a separate, sportier car, sold in North America as the Acura TSX. It offered the 2.0 i-VTEC (114 kW / 155 PS), 2.4 i-VTEC (140 kW / 190 PS), the Euro R with 162 kW (220 PS) in Japan, and Honda's first diesel, the 2.2 i-CTDi with 103 kW (140 PS). It was Japan's Car of the Year again, the Accord's third win. The US Accord kept a 2.4 four-cylinder and a 179 kW 3.0 V6.

Eighth generation (2007–2013)

The US Accord grew to full-size dimensions, with a 203 kW 3.5 V6 and a Crosstour fastback from 2009. In Europe the saloon and Tourer estate offered 2.0 and 2.4 i-VTEC petrol engines and the 2.2 i-DTEC diesel with 110 kW (150 PS), or 132 kW (180 PS) in the Type S. This was the last Accord sold in Europe.

Ninth to eleventh generations (2012–present)

The ninth generation shrank back to mid-size, offered a 2.4 four-cylinder with up to 141 kW, a 207 kW 3.5 V6, a hybrid and a plug-in hybrid, and was built in Thailand until 2019. The tenth generation (2017) dropped the coupé and V6 for 1.5 and 2.0 turbo engines, the latter derived from the Civic Type R, plus a 158 kW hybrid. The eleventh generation was unveiled on 10 November 2022 as a 2023 model, with a 1.5 turbo and a 2.0 e:HEV hybrid.

Engines, transmissions and performance of the current Accord

The eleventh-generation Accord is a front-wheel-drive saloon:

• 1.5 VTEC Turbo: 1,498 cc, 143 kW (192 hp) and 260 Nm (192 lb-ft), CVT.
• 2.0 e:HEV hybrid: 1,993 cc petrol engine with two electric motors, 152 kW (204 hp) combined and 335 Nm (247 lb-ft), e-CVT.

Honda Canada quotes combined consumption of 7.3 L/100 km (32.2 mpg US) for the 1.5 turbo and 5.3 L/100 km (44.4 mpg US) for the hybrid on the Canadian five-cycle test. The previous tenth generation offered the 2.0 turbo with 188 kW (252 hp) and a ten-speed automatic, plus a six-speed manual in the US.

Dimensions and key specifications (2023 Accord)

Accord safety ratings

Safety ratings depend on the market and test year. For the European Accord, Euro NCAP awarded five stars to the seventh generation (2003) and the eighth generation (2008). In the US, recent Accords have been tested by the IIHS and NHTSA; check the rating for the exact model year before buying.

Reliability and common problems by generation

The Accord has a long-standing reputation for durability in owner surveys. Weak points are generation-specific:

• Older generations (up to 2002): rust in sills and wheel arches is the main enemy; automatic gearboxes on some late-1990s and early-2000s V6 models were a known weak point.
• Seventh and eighth generations (Europe): the 2.2 diesels reward a full service history, and a manual car's clutch and flywheel should be checked on high-mileage examples.
• Recent generations: check the recall history for the model year, as several Honda models of 2018–2020 were recalled to replace fuel pumps.

Rivals: how the Honda Accord compares

In North America the Accord competes mainly with the Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima. In Europe its rivals were the Ford Mondeo, Volkswagen Passat, Toyota Avensis and Mazda6. The Accord usually stood out for its engines and build quality. Honda's own CR-V now takes many of its family buyers.