Through four decades, nine generations, and countless design changes, the Honda Accord has earned a reputation for being one of the most reliable cars on the road today. The Accord enjoyed a 15-year period as the best-selling Japanese car in the United States, and it’s appeared on the Car and Driver 10Best List a record 30 times. But how did the little 3-door hatchback introduced back in 1976 earn that reputation? It’s time to find out.
The Honda Accord: Classic, Safe, and Stylish
The Accord made its United States debut in 1976 — a time when the country was still reeling from an oil crisis. Originally released as a 3-door hatchback, the Accord was an instant hit. While not the only “economy” car on the market at the time, the Accord offered both an affordable price, a 68 HP engine, and an impressive suite of standard features:
- An AM/FM stereo
- Rear defroster
- Remote trunk release
In addition to all of those features, the Accord had an even bigger selling point — it could achieve a remarkable 46 MPG.
Three years later, Honda released the 4-door Accord sedan. By this point, over 100,000 Accords were on the road, the engine had been upgraded to 72 HP, and the car received an oil cooler and power steering as standard features.
The 80s got off to a rocking start with the release of the Accord SE trim. Decked out with luxury features like leather seats, alloy wheels, and a stereo with a cassette player, demand grew so high that dealers had trouble keeping the cars in stock. The following year, the second generation of Accord was released. Not only was it redesigned inside and out, but it was also now manufactured in the U.S., at a plant in Marysville, Ohio, where Honda still produces cars today.
This was also the first year the Accord became the best-selling Japanese nameplate in the U.S., a distinction it would continue to hold for 15 years. As the years went on, the Accord would continue to grow in both size and popularity. By the time the fifth generation debuted in 1994, the Accord was lauded for its superior safety, improved handling, and sporty styling.
Last year, Honda Accord celebrated its 40th birthday, with over 12.7 million sold. It’s once again the top-selling car in the country, with no signs of slowing down. You can see the latest version of the Accord at Asheboro Honda, along with our complete Honda lineup.