The 2021 Honda Accord rolls in the new year with a distinctive mid-cycle refresh to compete against its arch-nemesis, the 2021 Toyota Camry. The Camry also has gone through its own refreshed redesign lately. The Accord sets the bar for all midsize sedans with its light exterior refreshment and an updated feature list with new technology and safety equipment. The hybrid variant looks set for a good outing in the market with its powertrain tweaks. Can the 2021 Honda Accord win over the audience with its new persona? Find out as we discuss all the new modifications to the 2021 Honda Accord below.
New changes to the trim lineup
The base LX trim is a value-for-money proposition with the whole Honda Sensing safety suite, LED headlights, automatic climate control, and the perks of the Accord’s excellent handling dynamics. For all Accords, the snappy 8-inch touchscreen display is now a standard gizmo to play around with. This trim has a base price of $25725.
The Sport SE trim is an all-new addition to the lineup for 2021. This trim replaces the old EX trim and sits in between the Sport and EX-L trims. This trim brings forth an aggressive styling kit. This trim looks bold with its 19-inch wheels, full LED headlights, paddle shifters, and chrome exhaust tips. A 180-watt sound system, leather seats with heating functionality, remote engine start, and a 4-way power front passenger seat can all be yours for $29675.
Other trims retain almost the same set of safety features and equipment as the previous year’s model.
Other trims pricing-
Sport- $28185
EX-L- $32865
Sport 2.0T- $32865
Touring- $37655
Hybrid trims pricing–
Base- $27325
EX Hybrid- $31275
EX-L Hybrid- $33645
Touring Hybrid- $37195
Manual transmission out- End of an Era?
Of all the Accord fans out there, a small majority of the audience were the fans of the Accord’s manual gearbox. Unfortunately, they have to bid goodbye to the Accord manual this year, as Honda bids adios to the classic 6-speed manual transmission because of the declining number of sales. A bittersweet goodbye for the stick-shift lovers.
The Accord has a new face
Although the Accord’s new style changes are hard to spot from a first glimpse, on a closer look you may notice a wider grille. The wider grille has helped Honda to integrate its radar sensor unit for its Honda Sensing System. The fog lamps have also made way for smaller and rounder lights. Honda also adds a touch to the LED headlights upon higher models for more efficiency. Overall, the front fascia looks similar to the outgoing model. But there is a new sense of elegance and class to the Accord’s redesigned chrome grille.
Even the rear end looks unchanged, albeit to some new visual lines along with the rear bumper. The most significant exterior change is the new alloy wheel design. Honda also equips an exclusive wheel design for each trim level, ranging from 17-inch to 19-inch wheels.
A more spirited Accord Hybrid
The 2021 Accord carries forward the same engine lineup as its predecessor model. Honda did implement some tweaks to the Engine Management Units for a more spirited acceleration and throttle response. The impact of this change can be easily felt in the hybrid variant. The Accord Hybrid’s 2-liter inline-4 i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle engine promotes the flow of electrons through an electric motor. Thus, when you press the throttle, the engine instantly feeds power to the wheels for a livelier acceleration.
Power output for the Accord Hybrid is rated 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, with its combined power plant of two electric motors and an inline-4 engine. Fuel economy remains the same as the outgoing model. The Accord Hybrid can spin around for an MPG of 48 in the city and 47 on the highway, and an equivalent combined MPG of 48.
New tech to the table
Honda makes its intuitive 8-inch touchscreen standard on all Accord trims. Previously, this display was only reserved for higher-end Accord trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration has also become a standard privilege for most Accord trims. Now, seamlessly connect your smartphone to your infotainment interface without the hassles of cables or wires.
The USB ports now have a new location, in front of the center console for easier access and more connectivity. The higher-end trims add two more USB ports to aid rear passengers’ connectivity. Honda spares a share of the cutting-edge technology for higher-end trims, like wireless charging, moonroof, and a 450 W audio system.
New safety tech for the 2021 Accord
Honda integrates new safety features into the suite like a new Low-Speed Braking Control and Lane Keeping Assist system. Honda updates the Adaptive Cruise Control for 2021 for a more intuitive driving experience. This new cruise control tech has been tweaked to apply the brakes more smoothly. The lane-keeping mechanism responds better than before thanks to a more natural lane centering.
Other safety features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a rear-seat belt reminder remain standard across higher trims.
The Honda Sensing safety suite is bigger than before with the addition of these new safety features. This helped the Accord to earn a 5-star safety rating from NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ accolade to add to its trophy cabinet.
Conclusion
The exclusion of the manual gearbox remains the talking point of the town for the 2021 Honda Accord. Rest assured, the mid-cycle refresh of this bestselling sedan further stamps its authority as the industry leader. The new aesthetic changes may seem minimalistic, but surely make a world of difference in how we perceive the Accord now.
The Accord Hybrid relishes the new tweaks to its engine management software, as it strolls around at a brisk pace around the city. The addition of new standard tech like the 8-inch touchscreen is also a welcome change. Overall, the 2021 Honda Accord looks set to attract a new wave of fans with its all-round package, despite losing a small percentage of the old-school car purists.
