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Honda Accord History
Honda Accord
Honda's presence in the North American market has been evident since the Japanese automaker first set up shop in the states in 1959. Known mostly for its motorcycles, Honda started to find success in the automobile market with its subcompact Civic in the early 1970s followed by its iconic Accord sedan which rolled out in 1976. Today, the Accord is one of the best selling models in America, a car that has grown larger and more luxurious with each generational update.
Now in its eighth generation, the Accord has kept up with the times by offering customers everything that they expect in a midsize sedan. Chief competitors for the Accord include the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, with the Accord battling the Camry for the top-selling vehicle award for the US market year in and year out. Though the Accord has only beat out the Camry once, it and the Civic are by far the mot popular Honda models sold.
The first Accord was a compact car, not much bigger than the tiny Civic, offering excellent fuel economy thanks to its 1.6L I4 engine and a curb weight of about 2000 lbs. The model's appearance was timely as America was celebrating its bicentennial and just getting used to the idea of higher gas prices and fuel shortages, events that dominated the news in 1973 and again in 1979. When the second oil shortage appeared, the Accord was already in place with demand skyrocketing as pump prices soared.
By 1982, Honda began to build the Accord in Marysville, Ohio, the first Japanese automaker to set up a plant in the US. That moved helped solidify Honda's place in the US market, which was still dominated by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, although Toyota was beginning to make inroads. Model updates in 1982 and 1986 kept customers coming back with a larger 2.0L I4 engine powering the newer models.
While earlier Accord models three door hatchback designs, by 1990 Honda pushed the Accord up market to compete more directly in the crowded, yet lucrative midsize sedan market. Though still offering a coupe, sedan and wagon, the standard 2.2L I4 engine received praise both for its fuel economy and its pep. By the next model change, 1994, a 2.7L V6 was offered optionally which was also the first year that the Accord was officially reclassified as a midsize sedan. That fifth generation model would also be the last one to include a station wagon, a design still sold by Honda in international markets.
From 1998 through 2008 - the last complete overhaul of the Accord - the model was stretched and widened, with more luxury options offered. For a time Honda offered a hybrid version of the Accord, but it never sold well and was soon dropped. Oddly, the car was reclassified as a full-size model by the EPA in 2008 thanks to its cavernous interior, though the Accord is clearly in the same range as other midsize models.
So what's the best thing about owning an Accord? Reliability? Good looks? Excellent fuel economy? Well, all these and more! Thanks to the popularity of this model, the aftermarket parts industry has developed a whole host of stuff to allow you to modify your ride. Check out our supply of nifty Accord deals, the best selection and prices that cannot be beat!
Honda's presence in the North American market has been evident since the Japanese automaker first set up shop in the states in 1959. Known mostly for its motorcycles, Honda started to find success in the automobile market with its subcompact Civic in the early 1970s followed by its iconic Accord sedan which rolled out in 1976. Today, the Accord is one of the best selling models in America, a car that has grown larger and more luxurious with each generational update.
Now in its eighth generation, the Accord has kept up with the times by offering customers everything that they expect in a midsize sedan. Chief competitors for the Accord include the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu, with the Accord battling the Camry for the top-selling vehicle award for the US market year in and year out. Though the Accord has only beat out the Camry once, it and the Civic are by far the mot popular Honda models sold.
The first Accord was a compact car, not much bigger than the tiny Civic, offering excellent fuel economy thanks to its 1.6L I4 engine and a curb weight of about 2000 lbs. The model's appearance was timely as America was celebrating its bicentennial and just getting used to the idea of higher gas prices and fuel shortages, events that dominated the news in 1973 and again in 1979. When the second oil shortage appeared, the Accord was already in place with demand skyrocketing as pump prices soared.
By 1982, Honda began to build the Accord in Marysville, Ohio, the first Japanese automaker to set up a plant in the US. That moved helped solidify Honda's place in the US market, which was still dominated by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, although Toyota was beginning to make inroads. Model updates in 1982 and 1986 kept customers coming back with a larger 2.0L I4 engine powering the newer models.
While earlier Accord models three door hatchback designs, by 1990 Honda pushed the Accord up market to compete more directly in the crowded, yet lucrative midsize sedan market. Though still offering a coupe, sedan and wagon, the standard 2.2L I4 engine received praise both for its fuel economy and its pep. By the next model change, 1994, a 2.7L V6 was offered optionally which was also the first year that the Accord was officially reclassified as a midsize sedan. That fifth generation model would also be the last one to include a station wagon, a design still sold by Honda in international markets.
From 1998 through 2008 - the last complete overhaul of the Accord - the model was stretched and widened, with more luxury options offered. For a time Honda offered a hybrid version of the Accord, but it never sold well and was soon dropped. Oddly, the car was reclassified as a full-size model by the EPA in 2008 thanks to its cavernous interior, though the Accord is clearly in the same range as other midsize models.
So what's the best thing about owning an Accord? Reliability? Good looks? Excellent fuel economy? Well, all these and more! Thanks to the popularity of this model, the aftermarket parts industry has developed a whole host of stuff to allow you to modify your ride. Check out our supply of nifty Accord deals, the best selection and prices that cannot be beat!
