The 2013 Honda Accord is now available and showing the whole automotive industry what the Japanese automaker can do. No longer content to sit in the shadows of the Camry and Altima, the new Accord features a huge list of standard features, a fuel-friendly CVT and is even available as a sexy coupe.
The Accord has always been somewhat of a halo vehicle for Honda, and we’ve picked out ten Accords which stand out in the car’s 40 year history. Unfamiliar with the new Accord? Then read the review right here.
Helping to fight the stigma of buying foreign, Honda started to produce the Accord right in the USA in 1982. Now Americans could get a Honda and still support local workers and the local economy. That Marysville, Ohio plant produced over 350,000 vehicles by 1991 and proved that there was a significant demand for made-in-America vehicles, no matter what the badge on the front says. That Ohio plant is still in business and still builds the Honda Accord as well as the Acura TL.
The Honda Accord of today can be had with an optional V6 engine, although it wasn’t always that way. It’s smooth, efficient and powerful engine, a V6 first joined the Accord in 1995. Called the C27A, the six-cylinder, was transversely mounted and made just 170-hp, 100-hp shy of what’s under the hood of the 18-year younger Accord.
Following on the success of the Civic Hybrid and the Insight, Honda launched the Accord Hybrid in 2005, but with little success.
Using hybrid technology to add power, rather than maximize fuel economy, it mated electric thrust to a V6 engine to improve power from 240-hp to 255-hp, while torque rose from 212 lb-ft to 265 lb-ft. Priced $3,000 above the conventional V6, it proved too rich for some and not fuel efficient enough for others.
Honda’s Accord Hybrid is, however, making a major comeback in 2013 with the Accord Plug-in Hybrid.
The latest Honda Accord Coupe is on this list for one plain reason. Looks. Compare this coupe, to the first accord back in the ’70s and it’s clear that the Accord has no qualms about changing up its style to adapt to the current market. The 2013 Accord Coupe is one of the sexiest vehicles out there, and really showcases Honda’s dedication to design. It also just so happens to be the fastest car in the automaker’s stable and can be had with a V6 engine and a six-speed manual transmission.
With electric vehicles just starting to take relevance in today’s market, Honda has gone to its Accord sedan to carry the torch of every-day versatility of EVs. With the Honda Fit EV only arriving in a few regions, the 2013 Accord PHEV will be the consumer facing EV from Honda, and showing that the company is capable of advanced powertrains and environmental responsibility. Read all about the 2014 Honda Accord PHEV in our review.
The Accord has been available as a wagon for much of its life-cycle, but there was one model that really went out-there. The 1989 Accord AeroDeck used a shooting brake style design which was unique for a Japanese automaker. It was cool, AND practical, two elements that are difficult to combine. It’s a shame the AeroDeck isn’t referenced in current Accord models, since the Accord Crosstour, just isn’t cutting it in terms of coolness.
The Accord first debuted in 1976, and was only available as a two-door hatchback. For the 1979 model year, the Accord grew two more doors and took on the Toyota Corona and the Mazda 626 sedans. The vehicle used the same platform, but was nearly 9 inches longer than the two-door hatchback, proving to be more family friendly. The sedan was clearly a popular addition to the range since a two-door hatchback Accord isn’t in production.
The first-gen Accord had another claim to fame, it came with Honda’s CVCC technology. By using Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion, or CVCC, the 1976 Accord could meet emission standards of the 1970s and early ’80s without using a catalytic converter or unleaded gasoline. This made the Accord a hit with those reeling from the ’70s oil crisis, and made the Accord a competitor right away.
After Honda pioneered the technology in the NSX sports car, the Honda Accord finally received variable-valve timing (VTEC) technology in 1994, with the EX trim package. This proved that high-performance engines weren’t saved for performance vehicles, and that even family-sedans could get great technology. That 2.2L engine put out 145 hp and 147 lb·ft, a healthy amount of power for a four-cylinder engine. Now every Accord is expected with VTEC, from four-cylinder models to V6s.
In 1993, Honda decided to separate the development of the North American and Japanese Accord from the European Accord. In following generations, Honda moved a step further building three different cars: a Japanese specific model, a European specific model and an American specific model. This divide is still present today, with the Acura TSX representing what is available as a Honda Accord in Europe and Japan.
Thankfully Honda introduced the Euro Accord to North America in 2004, allowing for an economical family sedan for some and a fun-to-drive sports sedan for others.
The divide is an important step in Honda’s development as a global automaker, ensuring it has the most appropriate vehicle for each region.