2021 Honda Accord

Ten generations into its lifespan, the Honda Accord continues to impress with balanced handling, a comfortable interior and attractive fastback looks. Three powertrain choices and a variety of trims mean that there’s an Accord for nearly every buyer and budget, and the car has plenty to offer in all its forms.

For 2021, Honda has given the Accord a refreshed front face with a wider and tasteful chrome grill and a variety of tech upgrades. Sadly, the automaker killed off the manual transmission option at the end of 2020, but the remaining ten-speed automatic and continuously variable transmissions more than get the job done.

There are four Accord trims for the standard engine, a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 192 horsepower and paired with a continuously variable transmission. The base 1.5-liter LX starts at $25,725 including destination fees, followed by the Sport ($28,185), Sport SE ($29,675) and EX-L ($32,045).

A 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing a punchy 252 horsepower mated to the ten-speed automatic transmission is standard on the Sport 2.0T ($32,865) and Touring ($37,655).

The Accord hybrid uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and electric motors to make 212 horsepower in total. There are four trims on the hybrid, base ($27,325), EX ($31,275), EX-L ($33,645), and Touring ($37,195). Features on the top two trims are identical to those on the non-hybrid versions. For 2021, Honda recalibrated the throttle response on the all three for a little more off-the-line oomph and smoother responses.

The base 192-horsepower four-cylinder is no slouch, but it’s the larger 2.0-liter engine that truly makes the Accord shine. Responsive and refined, the bigger engine that can chirp the front tires with a quick jab of the throttle. There’s not much in the way of exhilarating sound or acceleration any of the three powertrain choices and all make a little too much noise at speed, but there’s plenty of go-power to keep things fun.

While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the 1.5-liter model’s CVT, the ten-speed automatic that comes paired with the larger turbocharged engine is a much more responsive transmission, and nearly as seamlessly smooth. Its programming and quick shifts help keep the turbocharged engine in its ideal power band, and it helps make the Accord feel faster than it is.

The Accord’s chassis and suspension are so well in tune with each other that the car is happy to be pushed hard. The car stays planted and holds firm in corners, coming out feeling like a sports sedan. Braking and steering are both predictable and confidence-inspiring, and while the ride is sporty, the car never feels jittery or unsettled over rough pavement. Aside from the Mazda6, there aren’t too many other family-hauler sedans that offer such engaging experiences.

There also isn’t much of tradeoff in fuel mileage for the Accord’s sporty moves. With the base engine, the Accord achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy ratings of 30 mpg in the city, 38 mpg on the highway and 33 combined. The more eager 2.0-liter delivers up to 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined, about even with the Mazda6 and Chevrolet Malibu. The frugal hybrid powertrain is rated at up to 48 mpg on all measures, though the Sport and Touring trims return only 43.

Sitting inside, the Accord feels spacious, a sensation backed up by the car’s generous passenger and cargo space numbers. The front seats are well-padded and deep enough to accommodate a wide range of backsides, while the leather upholstery in top trims give the car a truly upscale feel. Even the standard cloth interior is well done and rises to a premium level of comfort and feel. There’s more than ample rear legroom and despite the sloping roof, back-seat passengers get plenty of headroom too. It’s worth noting however that the roofline does make loading car seats more challenging and creates significant blind spots.

People demand a lot from their Accords, including carrying gear in addition to people. To that end, Honda gave the car a 16.7 cubic-foot trunk, best in class, and the rear seats fold down to accommodate even more. Cabin storage space is less impressive, as the door pockets can be hard to reach and the center console storage is skimpy. That shouldn’t be a deterrent, however, as there’s still plenty of space to carry small items and gear.

The Accord got an infotainment update for 2021, which brought a standard 8-inch screen, previously an option, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto to the mix. Honda’s infotainment software has been improved and is now quick and intuitive to use. The EX-L trim and Touring get a 10-speaker, 450-watt premium audio system and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Tourings get lots of extras including heated and ventilated seats and a head-up display, so the car really can be configured to the buyer’s needs.

The 2021 Accord earned a Top Safety Pick + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. That rating included Superior scores for its front crash prevention system, both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian. 

The car’s standard safety kit certainly boosted its performance in crash tests, which includes automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts and parking assistance are all held back as added-cost options on lower trims, but are standard on the 2.0T, EX-L, and Touring models.