Honda Accord Information

The Honda Accord has proven to be one of the more resilient automotive name-plates in history, trailing only Honda's own Civic and the Toyota Corolla for longest running production passenger vehicle. The Accord has survived through eight presidential elections and continues to be one of the most popular and highest-rated cars on the market.

History

Honda introduced the Accord in late 1976 as a 1977 model. The Accord was originally only offered in a two-door hatchback model, because Honda underestimated the mainstream success of the vehicle. After a few years of strong sales, Honda began to manufacture four-door variants of its popular Accord and continues to do so today. The Accord has proven to be one of the most popular family sedans ever released, selling well over 16 million vehicles worldwide since its introduction. The Honda Accord has undergone eight re-designs over the years and continues to spark consumer interest.

Engine Offerings

The Honda Accord is currently offered (as of 2009) with two different engine configurations in the United States. The best-selling model is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 177 horsepower. Fuel economy is 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway for the four-cylinder engine. The Accord is also offered with a performance-oriented 3.5-liter V-6. The V-6 engine produces 271 horsepower and is rated at 19 mpg in the city/29 mpg on the highway.

Body Styles

The most popular Honda Accord model has always been the sedan, but Honda also offers variants of the Accord. The Honda Accord couple shares few body panels with the sedan, unlike many other two-door variants of vehicles. The design of the coupe results in a sloping windshield and a tapered rear end, major differences from the sedan, which has a more conservative design. The sedan is the mainstream offering while the coupe is marketed toward younger buyers who are looking for a sportier design.

Reliability

The Accord has proven to be reliable over the years, winning confidence from consumers similar to the way its competitor Toyota has done. For 2009, the Honda Accord received a 9 out of 10 rating for reliability from J.D. Power and Associates, which is considered the industry standard for reliability data.

Resale Value

The Honda Accord has been praised throughout its production for achieving excellent used car resale value. The Accord has received the maximum five-star rating for most recent years, according to Automotive Lease Guide. Automotive Lease Guide provides industry data on predicted depreciation values of cars, for use in determining lease residuals. According to the service, the two-year residual percentage of a new Honda Accord is 69 percent, well above most of its competitors.

References

• Residuals
• Fuel Economy
• Sales

Resources

• Honda North American Website