2022 Honda Accord

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Review

There’s no denying that the D-segment sedan market has shrunk a considerable amount over the last decade or so, as consumers move towards crossovers and SUVs, or aim for more upmarket offerings. That being said, the Honda Accord remains a stalwart choice among the offerings that are still available, cementing Honda’s position in this arguably coveted segment.

For a model line that spans ten generations dating back to 1976, the Accord has come a long way. Like most of Honda’s lineup, it started life as a hatchback and eventually transitioned to a sedan form (as well as a coupe and wagon in some markets), and it is the sedan that has been maintained as the primary body style from the fourth generation onwards.

The current generation Accord was released globally back in 2017, and made its way to our region at the end of 2018. Sadly, Malaysians were only able to get their hands on the Accord by the beginning of 2020, so it is a relatively fresh model in our market despite being roughly a third of the way through its lifespan.

There are just two variants of the Honda Accord on offer in Malaysia, both packing the turbocharged 1.5-litre powertrain that was mode popular by the Honda Civic and Honda CR-V. In past generations of the Accord, a large-displacement V6 engine functioned as the top-level variant – this was only briefly made available locally, and in that same vein the turbocharged 2.0-litre powertrain that replaced it in other markets is also not available for Malaysia.  

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Specifications

While it is a little sad that the Malaysian version of the Honda Accord doesn’t get the most potent turbocharged 2.0-litre engine out of the Honda Civic Type R, the engine that it does have happens to be the most potent variant across the Honda range. It is a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that hails from the same family as those in the Honda Civic and Honda CR-V, though it makes more power with 201 PS and 260 Nm of torque on tap.

All of that performance gets dealt to the front wheels alone through a CVT-type automatic transmission. There are paddle shifters for both variants of the Honda Accord, which means that there is a manual override and virtual gear ratios for your driving pleasure. On that note, the chassis of the Honda Accord is no longer all-round double wishbone as Accords of old were, instead being a MacPherson Strut front end and a multi-link rear end.

In terms of overall dimensions, the length of the Honda Accord stretches out at 4,901 mm, with a width of 1,862 mm. The wheelbase is 2,830 mm to provide as much room between the wheels as possible – a necessity in a car like the Honda Accord. This also happens to just about be the longest in class amongst its direct rivals in Malaysia.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Exterior

If you truly want to soak in and understand the Honda Accord, the best view is from the side. You can really get an understanding of just how long the vehicle is, with its tapering roofline being a pretty wild departure from the more typical three-box shape of previous Accords. The designers of the Accord clearly wished to elevate it, although you need the 18-inch wheels of the 1.5 TC-P variant to really complete the look, over the modest 17-inch wheels that you get with the 1.5 TC.

Beyond this difference in wheels, however, the exterior elements are fairly flat across the two variants. Both models get LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, and LED front fog lights. Honda was also nice enough to add hydrophilic side mirrors and twin tail pipes finished in chrome as part of the package – but really what you pay for is the bold styling.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Interior

It’s hard to describe the interior of the Honda Accord as being typically Honda, as it doesn’t quite have the amount of storage space and cubby holes that are present in some of their other vehicles. This is because the Accord isn’t designed to be as family-oriented as something like the Honda CR-V, but there is instead a bigger emphasis on design and styling.

The dashboard design looks like it could have come straight out of a European model, although the choice of material inlay for the dashboard is slightly out of place compared to the darker, flatter soft-touch materials around the cabin. The head unit is of a floating design above the central air conditioning vents – an eight inch unit that is common across both variants of the Accord.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Safety Features

As is the case with the Honda CR-V, the Honda Accord’s active safety features are limited to the 1.5 TC-P variant. These features are lumped under the Honda SENSING package – items like Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, and Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow.

What is common in terms of safety functionality are vehicle stability assist (electronic stability control), agile handling assist, ABS with EBD and brake assist, auto brake hold, and hill start assist. The Honda LaneWatch Camera system that shows you your blind spot on turning on the indicator is also present for both variants. There are dual front airbags, side airbags, and side curtain airbags for both variants as well.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Strengths and Weaknesses

Great interior space, great refinement, and excellent handling dynamics – these are the things you would purchase a Honda Accord for, and it delivers in spades. As a whole package, the Honda Accord just works – whether you’re the one behind the wheel, or sitting in the back seat being ferried around. It also happens to be priced relatively competitively when you see that rivals are nearing or breaching the RM 200,000 mark.

So what then, is the weakness of the Honda Accord? Perhaps the biggest existential threat to the Honda Accord comes from another Honda model – the CR-V. The issue is as we explained at the very beginning of this summary – consumers have started to move towards SUVs and crossovers for the family-friendly aspect at this price point, while those seeking more executive models will go for more expensive offerings.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Price

Being the highest-end model in the line-up, pricing for the Honda Accord starts fairly high up at RM 178,203.00 for the Accord 1.5 TC, and RM 187,390.73 for the Accord 1.5 TC-P. This is inclusive of all fees, excluding insurance, and reflective of the current sales tax exemptions in place. The Platinum White Pearl paint option is an additional RM 363.64 surcharge regardless of which variant you choose.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Features

Despite the price difference between the two variants of the Honda Accord, the feature list is fairly flat. Both variants get remote engine start, alongside keyless entry and start. Both models get paddle shifters and cruise control, both get a seven-inch TFT meter and dual zone automatic climate control. Eight-way adjustable powered driver’s seats and a four-way adjustable powered passenger seat are standard as well. On the entertainment side, a ten-speaker setup will pipe music throughout the cabin, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Connectivity being the bridge between your smart device and the head unit.

Honda Accord 2021-2022 Fuel Consumption

The manufacturer quoted fuel consumption for the Honda Accord is the same for both variants, and stands at 6.3 litres per 100 kilometres. This translates to 15.9 kilometres per litre – and of course, like all turbocharged cars you can expect this figure to change quite drastically depending on the way you drive and the conditions in which you drive.