The Accord nameplate has been applied to a variety of vehicles worldwide, including coupes, station wagons, hatchbacks and a Honda Crosstour crossover.

However, the tenth-generation Accord sedan, with similar exterior dimensions, returned to full-size car status with its combined interior space of 123 cubic feet (3.5 m3); the coupe was discontinued in 2017.

The Accord has achieved considerable success, especially in the United States, where it was the best-selling Japanese car for sixteen years (1982–97), topping its class in sales in 1991 and 2001, with around ten million vehicles sold.

[9] Occupying a size niche between mini cars and compact sedans, the Civic offered a combination of economy and practicality with its space-efficient design that had immediate appeal.

[12] The body design of the new model was finalised in the fall of 1973, as reported in the December 1975 issue of Motor Trend magazine,[14] which suggests that work under Project 671 had been advancing in the months prior.

[14] The first-generation Honda Accord was launched on 7 May 1976, as a three-door hatchback with 80 PS (59 kW) JIS (similar to SAE Gross), a 2,380 mm (93.7 in) wheelbase, and a weight of about 900 kg (2,000 lb).

[21] The roof was a bit taller so as to provide more interior comfort, and the Accord Sedan was the first Honda in Japan to be offered with typically Japanese middle-class extras such as ornate hubcaps and lace seat covers.

The shifter was redesigned to have a stronger spring to prevent unintentional engagement of reverse, replacing the spring-loaded shift knob of the 1976 to 1980 model year cars.

Vehicles with a manual transmission and the CVCC carburetor earned 13.6 km/L (38 mpg‑imp; 32 mpg‑US) based on Japanese Government emissions tests using 10 different modes of scenario standards, and 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp), and 23 km/L (65 mpg‑imp; 54 mpg‑US) with consistently maintained speeds at 60 km/h.

[29] In November 1982, Honda made a fully four-speed automatic available with the 1.8-litre engine, a major improvement over the earlier, three-speed semi-automatic "Hondamatic" transmission.

The 1984 sedan was available in four exterior colours, Greek White and three metallic options: Columbus Gray, Regency Red (burgundy), and Stratos Blue (steel).

Vehicles with PGM-FI (ES3 series engine) earned 13.2 km/L (37 mpg‑imp; 31 mpg‑US) based on Japanese Government emissions tests using 10 different modes of scenario standards, with 130 PS (95.6 kW; 128.2 bhp), and 22 km/L (62 mpg‑imp; 52 mpg‑US) with consistently maintained speeds at 60 km/h (37.3 mph).

Like the previous SE trim in 1983, the SE-i featured Novillo leather seating, power moonroof, bronze-tinted glass, a premium sound system with cassette, and 13-inch alloy wheels.

The retractable headlamps of the third generation Accord sedan were in Japan, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, KY region (Arabian countries), and on cars in Taiwan that were imported from the United States.

On Accord 1986 model year engine block was marked as BS and BT in the United States, BS1 and BT1 in Canada, these cars had chassis code BA.

North American and Australian Accords were not available with many of these options, particularly in the US because Honda was seen as a builder of economy cars, and not to cannibalise sales from the recently introduced (1986) Acura line.

In addition, speed-sensitive power steering is included, which gives the car easy turning assistance at speeds below 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) during operation, such as parallel parking.

All cars sold in North America came with a completely new all-aluminum 2.2-litre 16-valve electronic fuel-injected engine as standard, replacing the previous 2.0-litre 12-valve unit from the past generation.

Some new dealer-installed accessories were now offered including a single-disc in-dash CD player or boot-mounted 6-disc CD changer, stereo equaliser, fog lights, security system, rear wing spoiler, boot lip spoiler, luggage rack, full and half nose mask, center armrest, window visors, sunroof visor, car cover, and a cockpit cover.

Because of tightening auto safety regulations from the NHTSA, all 1990 and 1991 model year Accords sold in the United States came equipped with motorised shoulder belts for front passengers to comply with passive restraint mandates.

For the 1992 and 1993 model years, the motorised shoulder belt system was replaced with a standard driver-side airbag and conventional shoulder/seatbelt arrangement for all but the center rear passenger.

The upgrades included ABS, 4-wheel disc brakes, 15-inch EX coupe six-spoke alloy wheels, body-coloured side moldings, chin spoiler, and standard automatic transmission.

More rounded bumpers, a slightly modified front fascia (which was originally exclusive in the V6 models in 1995) with new signal lights and rear taillamps gave the Accord a softer look.

The Special Edition received a factory-installed security system with keyless entry, single-disc CD player, body-coloured side molding, distinctive alloy wheels, and a sunroof.

Some features that distinguish it are the Recaro seats, the body kit, a MOMO steering wheel, lightweight 17-inch alloys, and a special aluminum gear knob found only in Honda's Type R variants.

This coupe came with 17-inch wheels (that varied between the 03-05 and 06-07 models), a strut tower bar, perforated leather seating, carbon fiber dash pieces, and an upgraded 180-watt stereo system.

A base 1.5-litre VTEC turbo four-cylinder engine with available active grille shutters produces 143 kW (192 hp; 195 PS) and 260 N⋅m (192 lbf⋅ft) of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT).

[81][82] The tenth-generation Accord debuted for the Japanese domestic market at the 46th Tokyo Motor Show through October to November 2019 and went on sale in Japan on 21 February 2020 and was imported from Thailand.

In 2020 for the 2021 model year, the Accord receives a minor facelift, including a revised grille, new wheel designs on LX, EX-L, & Touring trims, and brighter LED headlights.

In the World Touring Car Championship, the Accord Euro R won the Race of Europe at Imola in 2008, despite being only entered by privateer teams in the series.