Honda has unveiled the facelifted ninth-generation Accord. The facelifted car gets revised styling on its exterior, while the interior too has been tweaked and given more features and technology.
The company has now equipped Accord's top-end Touring trim with LED headlamps, while the lower trims get standard headlamp units with daytime-running LEDs, depending on the trim level. The front grille is all new and there's a thick bar of chrome running between the headlamps. The front bumper is also new, and top-trim models get more prominent air vents with LED fog lamps.
At the rear, LED units for tail-lamps come as standard across the model range. The bumper
now gets a bar of chrome set higher than on the previous model and it runs the entire width of the unit. The Touring trim gets the addition of an integrated boot-lid spoiler. The wheels on the facelifted Accord are also new, but the option of 19-inch alloy wheels is offered only on the top trims.
Inside, the facelifted Accord retains the twin-screen centre console layout, with the new 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system (the lower screen) getting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The dual-zone climate control unit’s switchgear remains unchanged save for the temperature controls that are now finished in black, and the silver surround from the pre-facelift model is also replaced. The higher-set 7.7-inch display allows access to the audio settings and acts as the display for the rear parking camera and incoming calls.
In terms of technology, the facelifted Accord gets multi-angle rear-view camera as standard across all trims, with the top-end Touring trim getting the addition of auto high-beam for its headlamps. Honda has also added a host of new safety features such as Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control to the model line-up, along with rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors and heated rear seats depending on trim levels.
Under the hood, the facelifted car carries on unchanged with the international model continuing to offer a 2.4-litre four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 petrol.
Honda is set to relaunch the Accord in India in 2016 with the facelifted ninth-generation ASEAN-spec model. The ASEAN-spec model is expected to be slightly different from the US-spec car detailed here, in terms of styling and features. The Accord in India will be launched only with the 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a hybrid model to follow. Honda's facelifted Accord hybrid is expected to be revealed later this year.
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Lenny D'sa
Saptarshi Mondal
