Should the Honda Accord make a comeback in PH?

The Honda Accord has always been part of the Japanese automaker’s Philippine lineup. It wasn’t as popular as its main rival, the Toyota Camry, but it was always there for midsize sedan buyers who wanted something sportier and more unique. This made it known as the midsize sedan you drive as most people who bought it would drive themselves.

Sadly, good things always come to an end and that was the case for the Honda Accord as Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) officially discontinued the model for the local market last year as crossovers and SUVs remain the priority for the market while midsize sedans have lost popularity.

Things are different though in other markets where the Honda Accord remains strong and now even has a new generation. We were able to get to see it for ourselves during the recent 2023 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition, more popularly known as Auto Shanghai, and wow we are definitely missing-out.

For its eleventh generation, the Honda Accord gets a sleeker yet more mature appearance giving it a very executive car-like appearance with a hint of sportiness. You’ll also notice how much larger it is with its longer overhands which was done to accommodate the new hybrid powertrains which we’ll talk about in a bit. As for its interior, it adapts similar styling to that of the Civic and CR-V, giving it a cleaner layout and more simple appearance.

And for the powertrains, new is a 2.0-liter gasoline engine paired with dual electric motors allowing it to produce 207 horsepower and 335 Nm of torque. It is also available with a carry-over 1.5-liter VTEC Turbo making 195 horsepower and 260 Nm. For China, a PHEV version is also available. Of course, Honda SENSING is already standard.

Sadly, there is no word on the local introduction of the all-new Honda Accord. We did try to ask the people behind HCPI but did not get an answer. It might work out though if HCPI would introduce the hybrid version to compete directly with the Toyota Camry which saw increased success upon the introduction of its hybrid powertrain.