Honda’s top-selling Accord lineup will boast updated powertrains as well as new safety and entertainment features when it goes on sale for the 2021 model year.
The tenth-generation Accord midsize sedan was fully overhauled in 2018 and debuted with six available trims: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, Sport 2.0T and Touring. This year a new Sport SE trim replaces the EX and adds several upscale features on top of the Sport, including leather upholstery with heated front seats, a power passenger’s seat, heated mirrors, a smart entry system and remote start. The other four trims remain unchanged.
The Accord Hybrid’s powertrain also has been tweaked to enhance driving dynamics and deliver more natural acceleration. The changes help eliminate any lag previously experienced after pressing on the pedal. The hybrid variant uses a specially tuned 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motors that produce a combined 212 horsepower. It comes in a base trim as well as the EX, EX-L and Touring.
The LX, Sport, new Sport SE and EX-L are all powered by a version of Honda’s 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s been updated so the stop/start feature restarts faster after the auto-off system has been engaged. The stop/start feature is meant to save fuel and shuts off the engine when the car is stopped. The changes allow a more immediate restart after the driver releases the brake pedal. The engine’s power output of 192 horsepower remains the same as does its continuously variable transmission. A 252-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired to a ten-speed automatic transmission is standard on the Sport 2.0T and the top-tier Touring.
The 2021 Accord also is sporting a handful of styling updates, including a new grille that serves both fashion and function. The fresh design improves the radar unit on Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver-assistance safety technology, which includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, road departure alert and adaptive cruise control. It also gives the popular sedan a more sophisticated look. Higher trim levels also get new LED headlight units for better down-the-road illumination.
An eight-inch touchscreen is standard across the board for 2021. The larger display, formerly reserved for EX and higher trim levels, also brings standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to all Accord models. The top EX-L and Touring trims will offer wireless connectivity to the ubiquitous platforms.
Pricing for the 2021 Honda Accord starts at $25,725 for LX and tops out at $37,195 for the Touring Hybrid model. The new Accord goes on sale mid-October.
