We review the power, performance, and reliability of the Honda Accord’s engines, particularly the 2003-2021 models, to find the best options available.
The Honda Accord is among America’s most loved sedans, offering midsize sedan shoppers a combination of performance, refinement, technology, and value that has made it the winner of dozens of awards and accolades since its introduction, including 2018 North American Car of the Year.
More recently, the 10th-generation Accord was called “America’s Best Sedan” by Car and Driver, and the Accord is the all-time leader in the magazine’s “10 Best” awards with 33 appearances on the coveted list.
However, despite the accolades, no vehicle is immune from recalls and random issues that can surface over the life of a model.
If you’re considering buying a used Accord, it’s fair to wonder how well its engines hold up over time. After doing some research on the Accord generations that you’re most likely to find for sale on the used car market, particularly the 2003-2021 models, we consider the power, performance, and reliability of the Honda Accord’s engines.
Here’s how they rate…
Honda Accord Seventh Generation (2003-2007)
When the seventh generation of the Accord debuted in 2002 for the 2003 model year, Honda had re-engineered what’s under the hood, offering both a new 160-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine as well as a new 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 engine.
The four-cylinder engine’s power increased seven percent from the year before, and the V6’s power rose 20 percent.
They were paired with a five-speed manual or automatic transmissions, although a six-speed manual was offered on the Accord Coupe EX V6.
The four-cylinder engine features all-aluminum construction, twin balance shafts, chain-driven dual-overhead camshafts, and Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) with Variable Timing Control (VTC).
The V6 also features all-aluminum construction and a number of changes, including revisions to the induction system; intake manifold, and VTEC system; an increased compression ratio; larger intake valves; and the addition of a knock sensor.
The EPA rates the four-cylinder 2003 Accord coupe and sedan at 26 mpg city and 34 mpg highway with the manual, and 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway with the automatic. With the V6, the EPA rates the 2003 Accord Coupe at 20 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with the six-speed manual, and at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with the automatic.
The 2003 Accord sedan with the V6 is rated at 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway.
While the engines prove reliable, automatic transmission failures and recalls are a common problem, and the subject of an April 2004 recall, with another issued in 2011 for 2005-2010 Accords. This may not be an issue if you’re shifting for yourself, however, and the problem seems most acute on 2003 and 2004 models.
Owners also report the porous engine block casting can result in oil leaks. Honda issued a service bulletin for this issue, which includes the 2003 model year, and affects cars with at least 155,000 miles.
Honda Accord Eighth Generation (2008-2012)
Completely redesigned for the 2008 model year, the eighth-generation Honda Accord had a 2.4-liter, double-overhead-cam VTEC four-cylinder engine rated at 177 horsepower and mated to a five-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission that was standard in the sedan.
A 3.5-liter, single-overhead-cam, VTEC V6 engine was also offered, generating 268 horsepower through a five-speed automatic transmission that was offered in the sedan and coupe. As before, buyers could get the V6 mated to a six-speed manual in the coupe.
The EPA rates the four-cylinder Accord Sedans at 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission and 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the five-speed automatic. Those figures drop to 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with the V6 and five-speed automatic transmission.
For the four-cylinder Accord coupe, expect fuel economy of 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission, and 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway with the five-speed automatic.
Those figures drop to 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway with the V6 and six-speed manual transmission, and 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with the V6 and five-speed automatic. Both engines use regular unleaded fuel.
Once again, the biggest issue facing 2008-2011 Honda Accords is the V6 engine’s excessive oil consumption, which was the subject of a Honda Technical Service Bulletin. There have also been reports of erratic idling and stalling.
Honda Accord Ninth Generation (2013-2017)
An all-new Honda Accord sedan and coupe arrived in 2012 for the 2013 model year, with updated drivelines, including the Accord’s first hybrid powertrain.
As before, most Accords came with a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder with direct injection, a first for Honda in North America. They were matched with a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable automatic transmission.
A 278-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with cylinder deactivation was available as well, fitted with a six-speed automatic transmission, or a six-speed manual on Accord coupes.
The V6’s cylinder-deactivation (dubbed Variable Cylinder Management, or VCM, by Honda) helps boost fuel efficiency by allowing the engine to operate on three or six cylinders, depending on driving conditions. All Accords can run on regular unleaded fuel.
All of this technology noticeably improved the Accord’s EPA ratings.
Four-cylinder sedans are rated at 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 28 mpg combined with the six-speed manual. Those figures rise to 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined with the CVT automatic, one mpg less in all cycles on the Sport sedan with the CVT.
Four-door Accords with the V6 return 21 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 25 mpg with the six-speed automatic.
When it comes to the coupe, four-cylinder engines are EPA rated at 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, and 28 mpg in combined driving with the six-speed manual, increasing to 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined with the CVT.
Six-cylinder models are thirstier, rated at 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined with the six-speed manual. It rises to 21 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined with the six-speed automatic.
For 2014, Honda added the Accord plug-in hybrid sedan, which uses a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine mated to a 6.7-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and a 124-kilowatt electric motor to achieve an all-electric range of up to 13 miles.
Recharging the battery takes less than one hour using a 240-volt charger. Honda also produced a standard hybrid model as well. The system generates 196 horsepower, which increased to 212 horsepower in 2017.
The EPA rates the Accord Hybrid at 49 mpg city, 45 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined. The Accord Plug-in Hybrid is 46 mpg in combined city/highway driving when in hybrid mode, and 115 MPGe when running solely on electric.
As in previous-generation Accords, excessive oil consumption continues to be an issue with owners, and there are some recalls. For 2014-15 Accords, a recall was issued due to improperly torqued connecting rod bolts, which can cause the four-cylinder engine to lose power or leak oil.
Another recall was issued for fuel pumps on 2015-17 Accords with the V6 engines, which could cause the vehicle to stall. This widespread recall affects far more vehicles than the connecting rod bolt recall, which affects a handful of Accords. Another trouble spot is the Variable Cylinder Management’s rocker arms, which can stick, causing engine misfiring on 2013-15 models.
Finally, the 2014-2015 hybrid was recalled for electrical interference in the hybrid system that could cause it to stall.
Honda Accord 10th Generation (2018-2021)
Offered only as a sedan, 10th-generation Honda Accord received drastically revamped drivelines as engines were reduced in size. But Honda made up for it by adding turbocharging.
The base engine is a new 16-valve double-overhead-cam, direct-injected turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Timing Control and VTEC that generates 192 horsepower, and pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission or a six-speed manual.
The upper-level engine is a new 16-valve double-overhead-cam, direct-injected turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with dual Variable Timing Control and VTEC that produces 252 horsepower through a standard 10-speed automatic.
Joining the two new turbocharged engines is the third-generation Hybrid, with a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle four-cylinder engine and a battery, and a 124-kilowatt electric motor that produces 212 horsepower through a continuously variable automatic transmission.
The EPA rates the base Accord engine at 30 mpg city, 38 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined with the CVT transmission. Opting for the six-speed manual returns 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg.
The 2.0-liter engine is rated at 23 mpg city, 34 mpg highway and 27 mpg combine with the 10-speed automatic, 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combine with the six-speed manual.
The 2.0T Sport and Touring models are rated at 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combine with the 10-speed automatic. The Accord Hybrid is rated at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined. All Accords run in regular unleaded.
Being the newest model in the line-up, the 10th-generation Accord has far fewer issues than its older counterparts. Being that its engines are different from those that came before, common Honda maladies, such as excessive oil consumption, haven’t been a problem.
However, there is a recall affecting 2018-19 models concerning a fuel pump failure, a recall that affected more than 135,000 Accords.
Honda Accords have a sterling reputation for reliability. Yet as they age, excessive oil consumption appears to be the biggest problem, as other problems are few. This makes a Honda Accord engine a good bet.
Photos: Honda
