Honda Accord: Reasons for the Success of the Best-Selling Sedan

The sedan is a vehicle type that has been around for almost as long as the automotive industry itself. Naturally, there have been a large number of different sedan models throughout the years, from the Kia Optima to the Honda Civic. That said, there is one model of sedan that has built the sedan from the ground up and led the model type into modernity. The best-selling Honda Accord is still a sedan that is seen commonly on the road today.* But before you visit a used Honda Accord dealer, here is a little bit about why the Honda Accord is one of the best-selling sedans on the market today.

The Sedan’s Influence

Generally speaking, the sedan as a concept effectively came into existence with the introduction of the French-designed Renault Voiturette Type B in 1899. However, the first sedan to be called a sedan was the Speedwell in 1911. Regardless of the start of the vehicle type, it is clear that the sedan has been at the center of the automobile industry for more than a century. Furthermore, it can be said that the sedan is of great importance to the development of almost every vehicle type after the fact, minus maybe trucks.

After all, passenger vehicles like coupes and hatchbacks have direct links to the sedan design or were developed in tandem with the sedan making influences between each other. Even larger vehicles like the SUV were designed by installing a lot of the design features of a sedan on a truck chassis. All in all, there may not be a more influential vehicle design than that of the sedan, and its lengthy history proves that fact.

Why The Honda Accord?

All of this is great, but what does this history lesson have to do with why the Honda Accord is a great sedan? Well, there are many reasons why the Honda Accord has been at the top of the sedan industry, but for such a diverse group, the best-seller would need to have something truly model-shaking. The Honda Accord does this by redefining the design choices and abilities of the modern sedan. Expert dimensions that increase comfort and powerful performance have made the model one of the most reliable options throughout the years.

Perfect Size for a Sedan

One of the key features of the sedan that sets it apart from other vehicle types is its size. Generally speaking, the modern-day sedan is a type of vehicle that is perfect for the city and suburban driver. It’s overall small size is perfect for getting between cars and squeezing into parking spots. But being small has its repercussions. Being small means having to sacrifice personal space and comfort with every inch lost in the main cabin. That said, a perfect sedan would be a sedan that can offer the most personal space in cabin size while still maintaining the vehicle’s small size.

This is something that the Honda Accord has done perfectly. Honda has designed a model that can balance comfort and size into a desirable package that drivers actually want to buy. Previous to the model’s conception in the 1970s, sedan models had focused extensively on maintaining the minimum possible size in the sedan. Even another modern favorite, the Honda Civic, had the downside of sacrificing too heavily in interior leg and headspace.

However, with the introduction of the Honda Accord in 1976, the world was given a much larger sedan than it had seen from the company previously. This proved consequential, as the 1976 Honda Accord was incredibly spacious in the interior, giving the driver just enough stretching space to destress after a long day’s work or lounge in comfort during a long drive. Honda has largely continued this trend in more current iterations of the model, with the 1990 Honda Accord offering yet another size increase in the new generation, being labeled as a mid-size sedan.

In the end, this means that the Honda Accord has set the standard for sedan dimensions. The Accord is a best-seller because it has been the face of the sedan’s development, and this all started with ingenious designs to optimize comfort by balancing size on the inside and out. That said, size is one thing, but models are developed with a variety of different factors, so what else does the Honda Accord offer?

Powerful and Reliable Performance

Of course, size can only account for so much. Yes, size increases are significant in terms of comfort in a sedan, but there exist people that prefer the smallest sedan available. Performance, on the other hand, is a feature area that everybody can agree with. Nobody is looking for an underperforming sedan unless they’re looking for nostalgic value, so it is clear that the best performing sedans are going to be the best-selling. The Honda Accord is the type of sedan that is constantly setting the bar in vehicle type performance.

The smallest engine you will find on a new or used Honda Accord has ever had is a 1.6-liter I-4. While the 68 horsepower definitely seems low by the standards of today, back then, it was on par with some of the better performing vehicles. Since 1976, the engines found in the Honda Accord have been constantly improving, with engine size going up to 3.5-liter V-6 territory by 2008. As far as engine performance is concerned, the Honda Accord has been largely above the market average for a long time, and this reliability is a major part of why the model has been a best-seller for so long.

Gone was the narrow-minded sedan that could only perform in certain, clear weather conditions. The Honda Accord sold well in performance simply because it could outperform nearly every vehicle on the road. Certainly not an off-road master, but the Accord is undoubtedly able to hold its own when the occasion called for a dirt road or a little bit of snow. The Honda Accord successfully transformed the performance capabilities of an everyday sedan in a way that was desirable for drivers and families alike.

The Accord Experience

The last reason why the Honda Accord is different than any other sedan is a little bit hard to put into words, primarily because it is largely a feeling that is more individual and personal than objective. We can make statements about performance and comfort every day, but there is a certain experience that can only be felt when you drive a Honda Accord. The model is sporty, smooth even for a sedan, and above all else, it is nostalgic. After all, this is a sedan that has been around for decades at this point; a sedan that has been the first car for many drivers on the road today.

Part of this is due to the Honda Accord’s blend of nostalgic design and enhanced standards. Every generation offers something better in comfort, performance, and safety with larger engines and increases in technology. Yet, the model’s iconic style creates mobility and flair that has lasted throughout the ages. With a vehicle that has changed so much over time, this makes the sedan a best-seller by design, especially in the used car market. There is always going to be something that somebody can love in a Honda Accord.

It’s Time to Try a Honda Accord

Choosing from a category as diverse as the sedan can be a daunting task. There are sedans everywhere on the road, many offering a lot that others cannot. That said, throughout the years, the Honda Accord has been a crowd-favorite that has redefined the very makeup of the modern-day sedan. Plus, with the legendary Honda reliability and longevity to back it up, you know that a used Honda Accord will last you for many miles to come. There is no better time to try a used Honda Accord and see why this best-selling sedan has earned the hearts of so many drivers. Visit us today to get behind the wheel of a Honda Accord or another used car for sale and see what you have been missing.

*Based on data from Wards, U.S. total new vehicle registrations of Accord Sedans from 1976 through June 2020.