Very few car companies go through as much tweaking, modifying, and upgrading their engines as Honda does. If you want a car in which you absolutely know that the engine is going to have the latest technology expertise thrown at it, the Honda Accord engine should be near the top of your list.
What engine does the Honda Accord use?
Throughout its entire history, the Honda Accord has used inline-four (I4) engines in every model and trim. The peppy engines are being constantly upgraded by Honda to make the best I4 possible. The 2020 Accord offers two different I4 engine versions, depending on which trim level you buy.
Honda’s engine in the Accord has been through 39 different versions in the 45 years that it’s been on the roads. That’s far too many engines to cover meaningfully in a single article.
Therefore, we’ll mainly be looking at the specs and details of the 2020 Honda Accord engines in this article.
History of the Honda Accord Engine
The Accord was an ugly little three-door hatchback when it debuted in Japan in 1976 and the U.S. a year later. Fortunately, it was the 1970s so no one noticed. What owners did notice was the wimpy little four-cylinder engine that achieved a whopping 72 horsepower. (Why is everyone laughing all of a sudden?)
Honda’s engineers were trying to make cars that could meet two different challenges in Japan: A Road Tax for engine displacement, combined with increasing emissions controls that the Japanese government started imposing in the 1970s. This has led to nearly 50 years of upgrading, tinkering with, and refining Honda engines.
Starting in 1994, Honda always offered at least one trim level in a V6 configuration. While this was fairly popular, Honda phased its V6 Accords out completely starting in 2018. The company had finally achieved comparable power in its I4 engines that it felt it could ditch the V6 (although many owners complained that it’s just not the same).
As mentioned above, the Honda Accord has been upgraded through 39 different versions of the company’s I4 engine. Now in its tenth generation, the Honda Accord’s sales figures have been lagging significantly as U.S. car buyers have started shifting more toward the compact SUV market.
2020 Honda Accord Engine Types
Kelley Blue Book ranked the 2020 Honda Accord as the #1 Mid-Sized Car in America for the year, giving it 4.8 out of 5.0 stars. Our owners ranked it #6 in the same category, with a score of 4.61 out of 5.0 stars. The 2020 Accord also has a five-star crash rating from the NHTSA.
The type of engine a 2020 Honda Accord has in it will depend on the trim level.
The LT 1.5T, Sport 1.5T, EX 1.5T, and EX-L 1.5T trims all have a 2.0-liter I4 16-valve turbocharged engine. It achieves 192 horsepower while delivering 30 miles per gallon in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway.
The Sport 2.0T, EX-L 2.0T, and Touring 2.0T trims all have a 1.5-liter I4 16-valve turbocharged engine. It ramps the horsepower up to 252 while delivering 22 miles per gallon in city driving and 32 mpg on the highway.
Both versions feature Honda’s VTEC technology. ****Crosslink to the VTEC article I wrote?**** VTEC stands for Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control. This complex engine configuration uses multiple camshafts, controlled by hydraulics, to adjust fuel economy and performance between low and high rpms.
Having a VTEC engine means the Honda Accord gets better gas mileage when the engine is at low rpms, and better performance at high rpms. Like the I4 engine itself, Honda has been refining and upgrading its VTEC engine technology since it debuted in the 1980s.
People Also Ask
How long does a Honda Accord engine last?
With proper maintenance, regular oil changes and so on, a Honda Accord engine is expected to last between 250,000 and 300,000 miles. Part of the reason why the 2020 Honda Accord received such high marks from expert review teams was because they believe the engine will be extremely reliable over its lifetime.
Which is better: Toyota Camry or Honda Accord?
The 2020 Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were really neck-and-neck depending on which expert review team looked at the cars. The Camry’s engine gets a little bit higher horsepower, while the Accord gets better gas mileage, has a nicer interior and more trunk space.
The Accord is probably a slightly better car, as long as you don’t expect to win a race against a Camry in it.
Why did Honda stop making V6 Accords?
The short answer: Turbocharging the I4 engine, starting in the tenth generation of the Accord (2018 to present). Honda’s V6 was a naturally aspirated engine. By adding a direct induction turbocharging system to their engines, Honda felt that they finally had a comparable four-cylinder.
Are Honda Accord VTEC engines good?
VTEC engines are a highly creative little package, developed from years of engineering know-how. They put out tons of power for being so small, and without sacrificing on gas mileage. And like most Honda engines, they run “forever” with proper maintenance.
