Honda rolls out a refreshed version of the Accord sedan for the 2021 model year with new safety tech and quality-of-life improvements, as well as a new trim level and a handful of styling changes.
The new Accord receives a mild nose job in the form of a wider grille, which Honda says will improve the car’s HondaSensing radar system’s performance. All but the base LX trim will get new LED headlights that project longer and broader beams down the road for better illumination, Honda says.
The automaker’s 8-in. (20-cm) touchscreen infotainment system (pictured below) becomes standard for the new model year. Previously, the unit was only available for the EX trim and above, but its wider availability means all Accord models now have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities. The top EX-L and Touring trims will come standard with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
A new trim will join the Accord lineup for 2021 and will replace the EX 1.5T trim from the year before. The Sport SE model will feature leather seats, a power-adjustable passenger seat, keyless entry and pushbutton start, heated front seats and a remote engine starter for the standard Sport trim level.
Honda says the Accord’s two gasoline engines, the 192-hp turbocharged 1.5L 4-cyl. and 252-hp turbocharged 2.0L 4-cyl., will get engine management upgrades that deliver more linear acceleration and better throttle response. The automaker also has updated the 1.5L’s start-stop functionality that improves the start-up time after a stop.
Accord hybrid models will carry on with the same 2.0L 4-cyl. and electric motors that deliver 212 total system horsepower.
Still, Honda says it has enhanced the hybrid’s performance. The car’s throttle response has been updated to give a more natural feeling, and the system is built with magnets that use no heavy rare-earth metals, which should reduce some of the environmental effects of mining.
The ’21 Accord begins arriving in dealerships Tuesday. Pricing will start at $25,725 (including destination charges) for the base Accord LX, and the top-of-the-line Accord Hybrid Touring will carry an all-in price of $37,195.
Accord hybrid models will carry on with same 2.0L 4-cyl. and electric motors that deliver 212 total system horsepower.
