Honda Accord Generations & History
For over five decades, the Honda Accord has remained the best-selling car in America*. From its unparalleled reputation for quality, reliability, efficiency, safety, refinement, and of course, fun-to-drive characteristics – the Accord is one of the world’s most iconic midsize sedans. Since 1976, the Accord has captured the hearts of drivers both young and old as a practical sedan that makes no compromises on style or performance.
Have you ever wondered how the Accord has maintained its success across a staggering 11 generations? You’ve come to the right place! Our team at Germain Honda of Beavercreek has created this informative guide that provides you with a comprehensive look at each generation of the Honda Accord so you can see how its evolved over the years. Let’s jump right in!
First Generation (1976-1981)
Initially only available as a three-door hatchback, the world got its very first glimpse at the legendary Honda Accord back in 1976. Power came in the form of a standard Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion (CVCC) 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that delivered just 68 horsepower and 85 lb-ft of torque in an effort to comply with the tightened emissions standards of the U.S. Clean Air Act. Unlike the gas-guzzling V8-powered domestic sedans, the Accord was certainly quite innovative thanks to all-aluminum cylinder heads and your choice of a standard 5-speed manual transmission or an available 2-speed Hondamatic semi-automatic transmission. Shortly following its debut, a sedan variant arrived in 1979 along with a larger 1.8-liter engine.
Second Generation (1982-1985)
Entering its second generation, the Honda Accord remained available in your choice of a three-door hatchback and four-door sedan. A huge milestone was achieved when Honda opened its Marysville, Ohio plant in 1982. With the opening of Honda of America Manufacturing, the Accord made history as the first passenger car produced in the United States by a Japanese automobile company. The second generation rode in a longer wheelbase and featured a more upscale look compared to the first generation. Other new features included the addition of fuel injection and an improved four-speed automatic transmission.
Third Generation (1986-1989)
A decade following its introduction, the third-generation Accord was redesigned with iconic features such as its retractable headlights and a low cowl. New features for this generation included a double wishbone suspension design, a 98-horsepower 2.0L engine, and the arrival of the first-ever Accord Coupe variant. The one-millionth Honda Accord was assembled in Ohio in 1988 as well. 1989 marked the first time that the Accord took home the honor of being the best-selling car in the United States.
Fourth Generation (1990-1993)
Continuing to build on its success, the Accord ditched its pop-up headlights for the fourth generation in favor of a more conventional setup. Power was once again increased to 130 horsepower thanks to the debut of a new fuel-injected 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine. For the first time ever, the Accord was available in a wagon body style that was designed and developed exclusively by Honda R&D Americas. Buyers could now choose between a 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan, or a station wagon variant.
Fifth Generation (1994-1997)
With close to two decades of success under its belt, the Honda Accord continued to bolster its reputation with the launch of the fifth generation. Once again, a longer wheelbase created more interior room for passengers to get comfortable. A new VTEC® cylinder head combined the fuel efficiency and low emissions that buyers craved without making any sacrifices on performance. In 1994, Honda celebrated its 100,000th U.S.-made vehicle export for the year. This was the first time the Honda Accord held this honor. In 1995, the Accord was available with a potent 24-valve, 2.7-liter V6 engine that produced 170 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque.
Sixth Generation (1998-2002)
Two larger engines, a redesigned chassis, and an all-new body captured the headlines surrounding the debut of the sixth-generation Honda Accord in 1998. It was the first time in the model’s history that the two available body styles did not share the same wheelbase or design. In 2000, the Accord held the honor of becoming the first internal-combustion, gasoline-powered vehicle to achieve Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (SULEV) status. The five-millionth Honda Accord was sold in the United States in 2001.
Seventh Generation (2003-2007)
Safety and refinement were two points of emphasis when Honda redesigned the Accord for its seventh generation in 2003. Buyers could choose from a new 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC® 4-cylinder or a new muscular 240-horsepower 3.0-liter VTEC® V6 along with the model’s first 6-speed manual transmission option. 2005 marked the debut of the world’s first Accord Hybrid and the world’s first V6-powered gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain. Side-curtain and driver/front passenger side airbags became standard on every Accord in 2005 as well.
Eighth Generation (2008-2012)
The revolutionary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure was implemented into the Honda Accord redesign for its eighth generation in 2008, bolstering both safety and refinement. It retained the same 4-cylinder and V6 choices as buyers had grown accustomed to along with improvements to both efficiency and power output. The trim range was further expanded to give Accord shoppers more options than ever before.
Ninth Generation (2013-2017)
New for 2013 was the Accord Sport, powered by a 189-horsepower version of the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with a high-flow dual exhaust system. The Accord powertrain range also adopted Earth Dreams™ engine technology to mirror the company’s commitment to improving its environmental footprint. This legendary sedan also had the honor of showcasing the very first combined application of Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility from Honda, setting a new industry standard that the competition scrambled to match.
Tenth Generation (2018-2022)
Now more sophisticated than ever before, the tenth-generation Honda Accord was lower and wider than the outgoing variant. New engine options included all-new turbocharged DOHC direct-injected 16-valve VTEC Turbo® 4-cylinder engines along with the first-ever 10-speed automatic transmission mated to a front-wheel drive car. The popular Accord Hybrid also debuted a third-generation two-motor hybrid system with outstanding fuel economy ratings. In 2020, the Accord topped over 14 million units sold in the United States throughout its history.
Eleventh Generation (2023-Present)
At last, we’ve arrived at the current generation of the Honda Accord. The eleventh generation debuted for the 2023 model year with significant improvements both inside and out. November 1, 2022, marked 40 years of production of the Accord at the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) in Ohio. The legendary Honda Accord is now better than ever and now it’s your turn to write your own chapter in the storied heritage of this iconic sedan. Germain Honda of Beavercreek invites you to browse our selection of the latest new Accord models and choose the one that’s best suited to your lifestyle.
*Source: Wards Intelligence cumulative U.S. light vehicle sales among passenger cars, 1970-2022CYTD Oct.