All-new Honda Accord unveiled

Honda has unveiled the 11th-gen Accord sedan that features a new Civic-inspired exterior and interior design, more technology and an improved hybrid powertrain option. The all-new Accord replaces the 10th-generation model, which was globally revealed in 2017.

The Accord is one of Honda’s oldest nameplates, and at a time when carmakers are giving up on sedans, the new Accord seems like a breath of fresh air in a sea of SUVs.

• Major departure in styling from outgoing Accord 
• Comes with full suite of Honda Sensing ADAS feature
• Gets turbo-petrol and hybrid engine options

New Honda Accord: exterior design

As far as design is concerned, there’s no missing the classic, three-box sedan shape of the new Accord – a major departure from its fastback-styled predecessor. Like the 11th-gen Honda Civic, the new Accord is characterised by smooth and clean surfaces. The sleek headlamps, flanking a wide and hexagonal grille, have a smoked-out effect. The front bumper with a wide, central air intake is rather plain, and is only contrasted by a silver trim on either end.

The profile of the new Accord is characterised by a strong beltline and a chrome trim around the window line. It rides on 17-inch dual-tone wheels as standard, although it can also be optioned with 19-inch units. At the rear, it gets a clean tailgate and large tail-lamps with an LED strip that almost runs end to end only breaking at the Honda logo in the centre. There’s also a gloss black trim at the base that runs all around the sedan.  

New Honda Accord: interior and features

On the inside, the new Honda looks very similar to the Civic and the new CR-V. It gets a 10.2-inch instrument cluster for the driver and a 12.3-inch touchscreen - the largest ever made by Honda - on higher variants and the top-end variant gets built-in Google integration. The AC vents are neatly concealed behind the mesh pattern on the dashboard and the physical knobs and dials for the HVAC are a welcome touch.

The new Accord also supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates. Other notable features include body stabilising seats which offer greater support, wireless phone charging, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a six-inch heads-up display and connected car technology. Safety features include 10 airbags and Honda’s suite of ADAS features that includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist and more.

New Honda Accord: powertrain options

For the new Accord, Honda has discontinued the 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit, which was available with the previous generation. The carmaker is now offering an updated 192hp, 260Nm, 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine on lower variants paired to a CVT gearbox. The higher variants are powered by a new two-motor hybrid system which uses a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder Atkinson Cycle petrol engine. The hybrid powertrain, where the engine and the electric motor are mounted side by side, make a combined output of 204hp and 335Nm.

Honda Accord in India

The Accord was launched in India in 2000 and was the carmaker’s second model for India, after the City. Honda has offered four generations of the Accord in India, where the first three generations were assembled here. The fourth version – which was brought in as a hybrid – was a short-lived CBU import.