In case you missed it: The Accord turned 50 this year, as the sedan first hit the market way back in 1976.
Together with Honda’s , it’s a milestone that had some expecting the model would be getting a meaningful facelift. As it is, the timing is about right with the eleventh-generation Accord having launched in 2023.
Unfortunately, though, it appears that Honda will be leaving things largely unchanged for now. The automaker revealed the 2027 Accord in Japan, and the updates are… few and far between.
Feeling Accord déjà vu
Honestly, they’re more than a little underwhelming. You’d have to be a pretty diehard Accord devotee to spot the differences. Even then, the changes aren’t likely to jump out.
Yet, they are there. If you look closely, you’ll see Honda has changed the headlight surround to match the body color and swapped the orange side markers for clear ones.
Moreover, the lower garnishes around the front, sides and rear are also now painted to match the rest of the sheet metal. Previously they were plastic, and the change is supposed to create a more ‘premium’ vibe.
To that end, Honda made a few minor tweaks in the case of the flagship e:HEV Honda Sensing 360+ trim. In addition to a body-colored grille, its roof-mounted shark gets the paint treatment.
Otherwise, though, things just carry over year to year. Honda kept the powertrain the same, with all Japanese Accords receiving the 2.0-liter four-cylinder dual-motor hybrid with an eCVT.
A complicated roll-out
Assuming this is what we’re to expect in the United States, it’s not an easy pill to swallow. At least for the time being.
After all, these changes would seem insignificant, regardless of the occasion. However, seeing as the Accord has celebrated 50 years on the road, Honda owed it to the model to do something.
If not an outright special edition, even a few choice design tweaks here and there could have given the model more life.
On the other hand, though, it’s pretty on-brand for Honda to stay conservative with its changes year over year. What’s more, the automaker will reportedly be introducing a radically different Accord in the second half of 2027.
Considering there are even ,it’s only natural that Honda would want to play things safe in the interim. Remember, the brand is still coming to grips with recording its first-ever loss.
Availability and pricing
Honda’s 2027 Accord is available in Japan starting at 5,951,000 yen (~$37,000). Though the automaker hasn’t yet announced its stateside availability, it should debut in the coming months.