Honda Accord Generations: Through The Years

The Honda Accord is on its eleventh generation and doesn’t show signs of stopping. Here’s a look back at this model’s previous generations.

Practical, Efficient, Reliable: The Honda Accord

First 3 Honda Accord generations – hondanews.com  |  Shop Honda Accord on Carsforsale.com

Honda’s most popular car may be the Honda CR-V, but their mid-sized Honda Accord produces great sales figures too. Since the Honda Accord first hit the scene in 1976, it has been one of the best-selling cars ever since. Honda has continually engineered the Accord to be a reliable driver, efficient at the pump, and laid out in such a way that it’s both spacious for passengers and cargo. It’s time to take a look back at the 11 different generations of the Honda Accord and see why this model is continually a best seller.

First-Generation Honda Accord (1976 – 1981)

• The Honda Accord debuted in 1976 as the upscaled sibling to the Honda Civic.
• It was originally only available as a three-door hatchback body style.
• Its lone initial engine option was a 1.6L SOHC inline four-cylinder engine with an all-aluminum cylinder head and utilized Honda’s Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion technology (CVCC).
• The revolutionary CVCC technology debuted the year prior in the Civic and it helped Honda’s vehicles meet new emissions standards without the need of a restrictive catalytic converter.
• The Accord’s 1.6L SOHC CVCC I4 engine produced just 68 horsepower and 85 lb-ft of torque.
• While that engine produced less than half of what American V8s were making at the time, the lighter Accord carried a better power-to-weight ratio than its American counterparts.
• Honda initially offered two transmission options in the form of a standard 5-speed manual transmission or the optional 2-speed “Hondamatic” semi-automatic transmission.
• Inside of these first-generation Honda Accord models was an innovative maintenance reminder system that recommended when certain maintenance tasks should be performed.
• In 1979, Honda debuted the Accord four-door sedan body style, a mainstay to the Accord’s anthology.
• That same year, Honda introduced power steering as standard equipment on the Accord and transitioned the Hondamatic name to a 3-speed fully automatic transmission that was optional equipment.
• The engine displacement also increased to 1.8L for 1979, helping the Accord output four more horsepower over previous models.
• 1981 saw the introduction of the Honda Accord Special Edition model that featured leather upholstery, power windows, alloy wheels, and a sound system that had an integrated cassette deck.

Second-Generation Honda Accord (1982 – 1985)

• 1982 saw the introduction of the second-generation Honda Accord.
• Honda of America Manufacturing began producing the Accord within American in November of 1982, making it the first passenger car produced in America by a Japanese automotive company.
• The second-generation Accord was still available as a three-door hatchback or four-door sedan.
• The standard engine was a 1.8L SOHC CVCC inline four-cylinder that generated 75 horsepower and 85 lb-ft of torque.
• Transmission options were a 5-speed manual, a 3-speed automatic, and a new 4-speed automatic that debuted in 1983.
• While the engine remained at a displacement of 1.8L in 1984, Honda enlarged it slightly, allowing the unit to produce 86 horsepower.
• Honda discontinued the 3-speed Hondamatic automatic transmission in 1984 as well.
• The following year, Honda debuted the new Accord SE-i which added fuel injection to the 1.8L engine allowing it to produce 101 horsepower and 94 lb-ft of torque. It was the first non-CVCC engine in the Accord.

Third-Generation Honda Accord (1986 – 1989)

• Honda introduced the third-generation Accord in 1986 and it was once again available as either sedan or hatchback.
• Honda took things in a sportier direction for this generation, and it was the first (and only) Honda Accord model to feature pop-up headlights.
• The model also gained a double wishbone suspension front and rear, a first for any front-wheel drive vehicle.
• This racing-inspired suspension aided in the Accords stability and provided sharper handling.
• Third-generation Honda Accords featured a 2.0L SOHC 12-valve inline four-cylinder under the hood that output 98 horsepower and 114 lb-ft of torque.
• The Accord LX-i was introduced to the lineup for this generation. It added fuel injection to the 2.0L unit to produce 110 horsepower.
• A 5-speed manual transmission was standard while a 4-speed automatic was optional.
• The first product designed by Honda R&D Americas was the Accord coupe in 1988. It was not only the first time the Accord was available as a two-door coupe, but it was the first Japanese branded vehicle to be assembled in America and exported back to Japan for sale.
• The top-selling car in America was the Honda Accord for the first time ever. It went on to hold that title until 1991.
• 1989 also reintroduced the SE-i trim, this time with the fuel injected 2.0L engine. The trim level also gained dual exhausts, alloy wheels, four-wheel disc brakes, air conditioning, power windows, power moonroof, leather upholstery, and an audio system from Bose.

Fourth-Generation Honda Accord (1990 – 1993)

• The fourth-generation Honda Accord debuted in 1990 without an available hatchback for the first time.
• Pop-up headlights were no longer available.
• Initial body styles were only the four-door sedan or two-door coupe, but Honda R&D Americas introduced a wagon version to the lineup in 1991.
• An all-aluminum, fuel injected 2.2L SOHC 16-valve inline four-cylinder engine, known as the F22A, was the standard engine option in the Honda Accord for this generation. It produced anywhere between 125 and 130 horsepower and 136 to 141 lb-ft of torque depending on trim level.
• Honda Accord SE returned in 1991 for sedan models with a revised engine and all the features found on the EX trim. The engine carried a different intake manifold, twin outlet exhaust pipes, revised camshaft, and a new ECU tune that allowed it to achieve 140 horsepower.
• 1992 saw a minor facelift to the exterior design that rounded the Accord’s appearance.
• This year the engine carried by the discontinued SE trim was added to the EX trim.
• The EX trim also gained four-wheel disc brakes as standard equipment for 1992.
• 1993 saw the 10th Anniversary Edition Honda Accord to celebrate ten years of Accord production within the USA.
• This was essentially an LX trimmed model that gained ABS, four-wheel disc brakes, the 15-inch wheels from the EX coupe, a front lip spoiler, and given the upholstery from EX models. 10th Anniversary Edition models were available in Arcadia Green Pearl, Frost White, or Granada Black Pearl.
• 1993 also brought back the SE trim for sedan and coupe models. This time the SE models gained standard dual front airbags, leather upholstery, and a Bose audio system. The Accord SE coupe also came with a factory installed rear spoiler.

Fifth-Generation Honda Accord (1994 – 1997)

• 1994 saw the introduction of the fifth-generation Honda Accord featuring a longer wheelbase, shorter but wider body, more passenger room, and better all-around performance.
• Coupe, sedan, and wagon body styles were available.
• Safety became a focus for this model as Honda made dual airbags standard equipment while also engineering reinforced side impact beams.
• Notable interior advancements added to the EX trim include adjustable front passenger lumbar support and powered height adjustment.
• Powering this generation was a 2.2L SOHC inline four-cylinder engine that made 130 horsepower and 139 lb-ft of torque.
• Honda also implemented the Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control system, better known as VTEC, for the first time on the Accord.
• The VTEC version of the 2.2L I4 produced between 145 horsepower and 147 lb-ft of torque.
• The VTEC engine in the Accord gave the model the fuel efficiency from the Civic VX Hatchback’s VTEC-E system while also promoting a higher-performance through the variable valve-timing found on the Civic Si.
• The fifth-generation Honda Accord also featured the first time a V6 engine was available for the model.
• In 1995, a 2.7L DOHC 24-valve V6 engine became available that produced 170 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque.
• Customers could choose between a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission for four-cylinder models. The V6 was only available with the 4-speed automatic though.
• Honda gave the Accord a mild refresh in 1996 that rounded the front and rear bumpers and introduced a new taillight design.
• 1996 also introduced the limited time 25th Anniversary Edition Accord.
• 1997 saw the Special Edition Accord added to the lineup that came with a security system that utilized keyless entry, a CD player, a sunroof, three special exterior color options, and Special Edition alloy wheels.

Sixth-Generation Honda Accord (1998 – 2002)

• The sixth-generation Honda Accord showed up in 1998 with a completely redesigned chassis and no wagon body style.
• The coupe and sedan Accord models remained, but they did not share the same design for the first time in the model’s history.
• Accord coupe models featured a 105.1-inch wheelbase, had unique front bumper design, taillights that looked similar to that of the NSX, were produced in America, and did not come available as a DX trim.
• Sedan models featured a 106.9-inch wheelbase and were imported in from Japan with a different front facia and standard taillights.
• Under the hood of this generation of the Accord was 2.3L SOHC 16-valve four-cylinder making 135 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque for DX trimmed models.
• LX and EX trimmed models gained a VTEC version of the same model to achieve 150 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque.
• A new 3.0L DOHC 24-valve VTEC V6 was also available that produced 200 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. It was only available with the 4-speed automatic.
• This generation of the Honda Accord also introduced cabin air filters, traction control on V6 models, and it was the first Honda model to get a key-chip based immobilizer system in 1997.
• 1999 saw the 5 millionth Honda Accord produced in the United States of America.
• 2000 saw the Honda Accord become the first internal-combustion, gasoline-powered vehicle to achieve Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle status. It was an EX sedan model featuring the 4-cylinder engine and the automatic transmission.
• 2001, the Honda Accord is known as the best-selling car in American and it had its five-millionth model sold in America.

Seventh-Generation Honda Accord (2003 – 2007)

• The seventh-generation Honda Accord debuted in 2003 in both coupe and sedan body styles.
• This generation featured Honda’s GPS assisted navigation system as optional equipment in place of the standard radio/CD player and the early infotainment interface would gain Sirius XM in 2004 too.
• The standard engine for this Accord was a K-series 2.4L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC inline four-cylinder that made 160 horsepower and 161 lb-ft of torque.
• Being a K-series engine, the Accord gained a distributor-less coil-on-plug ignition system and was now chain driven rather than use a timing belt.
• A 5-speed manual transmission was available or an optional 5-speed automatic.
• A 3.0L SOHC 16-valve VTEC V6 returned from the last generation but utilized a revised exhaust system to help it make 240 horsepower and 212 lb-ft of torque.
• The V6 equipped sedans came with a 5-speed automatic transmission only, but Accord coupes with these engines could have a 6-speed manual transmission optioned on.
• 2004 saw the 10-millionth Honda Accord Produced at the Honda plant in Ohio.
• In 2005, Honda added a 3.0L SOHC 24-valve i-VTEC V6 hybrid to the Accord. This gas-electric hybrid V6 featured Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management and Integrated Motor Assist technologies.
• Not only did the hybrid V6 provide decent fuel economy, but it produced the best performance numbers at 255 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque.
• Honda refreshed the looks and all available engines for the 2006 Accord.
• Honda also improved the safety features found in the Accord by adding standard side-curtain airbags and side impact airbags for the front seats.
• The grille was revised at the front, the rear featured angular LED taillights, the wheel designs were updated, and the interior was refreshed.
• The 2.4L i-VTEC I4 was retuned to produce 166 horsepower and 160 lb-ft of torque.
• The 3.0L VTEC V6 was also updated to produce 244 horsepower and 211 lb-ft of torque.
• And finally, the 3.0L i-VTEC V6 hybrid was detuned to generate 2 less horsepower and the EPA recorded that its efficiency actually dropped from 28 mpg combined to 25 mpg combined too.
• Honda also made the 6-speed manual transmission available on V6 Accord sedan models.

Eighth-Generation Honda Accord (2008 – 2012)

• The eighth-generation Honda Accord hit the market for the 2008 model year and had increased 4 inches in length and 3 inches in width to further provided ample passenger space.
• Coupe and sedan body styles were still available for the model.
• This generation took safety another step forward by utilizing the Advanced Capability Engineering body structure and by making the Vehicle Stability Assist a standard features.
• Powering this generation initially was the 2.4L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC inline four-cylinder engine, 3.5L SOHC 24-valve i-VTEC V6, or the 3.5L SOHC 24-valve VTEC V6.
• The i-VTEC I4 made between 177 to 190 horsepower depending on trim level. It could be had with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission.
• Both the i-VTEC and VTEC V6 made 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque, and both could be had with an automatic or manual transmission.
• Both the four-cylinder and V6 i-VTEC engines were known as Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV).
• The PZEV system introduced different exhaust valve operations to reduce emissions. Below 2,500 rpm, only one exhaust valve operates to reduce emissions. Above 2,500 rpm, both exhaust valves actuate at the same time following the same cam profile.
• In 2009, Honda revised the V6 engine estimates to be 271 horsepower for both units. The i-VTEC V6 was estimated to achieve 254 lb-ft of torque, while the VTEC V6 produced 251 lb-ft of torque.
• i-VTEC V6 models could be had with either a 5-speed manual or automatic transmission, but VTEC V6 models were only available with the 6-speed manual.
• The Honda Accord is known as America’s retail best-selling passenger car in 2010.
• Honda refreshed the Accord for 2011 by updating its exterior styling and bringing back the SE trim on sedan models.
• The SE trim brought together all the standard features found on the LX-P trim and added luxurious items like leather seat and steering wheel trim, heated front seats, and driver’s power-lumbar support.

Ninth-Generation Honda Accord (2013 – 2017)

• Honda introduced the ninth-generation Honda Accord for the 2013 model year and still provided both a sedan and coupe version.
• This was the first instance of the Earth Dreams engine technology in the Accord which was a system dedicated to minimizing the company’s environmental footprint by improving fuel efficiency.
• It was also the first time a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was used in the Accord.
• This generation came available with a 2.4L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC inline four-cylinder that made 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.
• The Accord was also available with the same 3.5L SOHC 24-valve i-VTEC V6 from the previous generation with revised VTEC and VCM functions. It made 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft of torque.
• New for the Accord was the Sport model that featured an added high-flow dual exhaust system for the 2.4L VTEC I4 that bumped its performance up to 189 horsepower and 182 lb-ft of torque.
• All tenth-generation Honda Accords came with an 8-inch infotainment screen, a backup camera, and dual zone automatic climate control. Adding navigation capability to the model also added a separate 6-inch screen to the dash.
• A new two-motor hybrid-electric system working in conjunction with a 2.0L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC four-cylinder was added to the Accord in 2014 to for both the standard hybrid and the new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant.
• The Honda Accord PHEV was capable of 196 horsepower and 226 lb-ft of torque, able to achieve an all-electric range of 10 to 15 miles and could reach a total driving range of 500 miles on a full charge and tank.
• Also in 2014, the Accord Hybrid gained a lighter, all-aluminum front subframe and aluminum rear bumper beam to cut unnecessary weight which aided in fuel efficiency and offset the weight distribution with the added battery pack.
• 2014 happened to be the same year that an American Honda factory produced its 10-millionth Honda Accord. This car was also the 20-millionth Honda vehicle built in the United States of America.
• The Accord PHEV was discontinued after 2014 and its spot would later be replaced by the Honda Clarity PHEV.
• Honda updated the non-hybrid Accord in 2016 by introducing more rigid construction, a revised chassis, and a refreshed exterior style.
• The Honda Sensing Suite of advanced driver assistance systems was made available on the Accord.
• The Accord’s infotainment system featured both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring software for the first time.
• Honda updated the Accord Hybrid in 2017 with the refreshed looks of the standard Accord.
• 2017 also saw the next generation of the Accord’s hybrid powertrain. This updated two-motor hybrid system now utilized the even more efficient 2.0L i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle engine. This also bumped the hybrid models’ horsepower up to 212.

Tenth-Generation Honda Accord (2018 – 2022)

• The tenth-generation Honda Accord debuted for 2018 with an all-new look, featured the model’s first turbocharged engines, and was only available as a sedan.
• The Accord came standard with a turbocharged 1.5L DOHC direct-injected 16-valve VTEC four-cylinder made 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque.
• A turbocharged 2.0L DOHC 16-valve VTEC four-cylinder was also available that made 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque.
• Honda also provided an updated version of the fuel efficient two-motor hybrid system. It was paired with a 2.0L i-VTEC four-cylinder in the Accord Hybrid to make 202 horsepower, 232 lb-ft of torque, and could achieve 50 mpg combined.
• The Accord Hybrid had its battery pack installed in the floor rather than taking up space in the trunk for this generation.
• Honda introduced new structural adhesives for the first time in the Accord that both aided in reducing cabin noise for the model while also reducing its weight in comparison to the previous model and making the structure of the sedan more rigid.
• Tenth-generation Honda Accord Touring trim models introduced the Accord’s first Adaptive Damper System. This system computed and adjusted the Accord’s shock absorber damping force every 0.002 seconds to create a better ride and handling experience.
• This model was the best-selling passenger car for 2018 and went on to sell over 14 million models by 2020.
• Honda refreshed the 2021 Honda Accord by giving it sleeker exterior styling, new wheel designs, brighter headlights, low-speed braking control, and wireless smartphone integration capability for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Eleventh-Generation Honda Accord (2023 – Present)

2024 Honda Accord hybrid – automobiles.honda.com  |  Shop new Honda Accord on Carsforsale.com

• The eleventh-generation Honda Accord debuted for the 2023 model year with an all-new, modern exterior design that closely aligned with the current design language found in the rest of Honda’s lineup.
• The Accord’s body was lengthened while keeping the same wheelbase distance from the previous model. This added space helped Honda’s latest hybrid system fit better into the sedan without compromising passenger or cargo space.
• A continuously variable transmission is the lone transmission option for this generation.
• That CVT is paired to either the turbocharged 1.5L I4 or the hybridized 2.0L I4 engine.
• A 1.5L DOHC 16-valve VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder making 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque is the standard engine option for this generation of the Accord.
• Hybrid Accord features the fourth generation of Honda’s two-motor hybrid system that couples two electric motors with a 2.0L DOHC 16-valve i-VTEC four-cylinder to produce 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.
• While the hybrid model is the more fuel-efficient option with a 48-mpg combined rating by the EPA, the non-hybrid still achieves a commendable 32 mpg combined.
• Honda added a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen to this generation and featured its first instance of Google software built-in.
• This new Accord also benefits from over-the-air updates for both the vehicle’s electronic control unit and the infotainment system software.
• Safety continues to be a staple on the Accord as it still features the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems as standard equipment and the model’s air bag systems were updated to better protect all passengers.
• Honda also introduced new technologies to the Honda Sensing suite like Traffic Jam Assist and a Traffic Sign Recognition system.
• The 2023 Honda Accord debut also coincided with the company celebrating 40 years of the model’s production out of the USA based Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio.
• The eleventh-generation Honda Accord continues to be one of the best mid-sized sedans on the market and we can expect further updates to the model’s design, efficiency, and maybe even the return of the PHEV in coming years.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in February 2016 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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