Honda Accord: the return of one of Honda’s most iconic cars

Some cars come and go without leaving much of a memory behind. The Honda Accord is not one of them. For decades, it was one of the reference points among Japanese family cars, especially for anyone who wanted something comfortable, well built and capable of covering a lot of miles without too much drama.

Today, things are quite different. The Accord no longer has the same presence in Europe, but it is still alive in other markets. And Honda still keeps the model in its international line-up. For 2026, the new Honda Accord is still available in the United States, now with petrol and hybrid versions, reaching 204 hp in the hybrid configuration.

The interesting thing is that while the new model gets attention for its technology and design, in Portugal it is the used Accord that still has real appeal for many buyers.

And this is where the most interesting part of the story begins.

The new Honda Accord 2026 is quite different

If we look at the Honda Accord 2026, it quickly becomes clear that this is a car designed for a different kind of market.

Honda has kept the family sedan formula, but given it a much more modern look. The body has very clean lines, a wide front end and a rear with that slightly fastback shape that we now see on many models.

It is not a car trying to look like an SUV.

And that alone already makes it different.

In the United States, the new Accord can be chosen with a 192 hp turbo engine or a 204 hp hybrid system. On the hybrid versions, Honda uses a two-motor system and offers different driving modes.

There are also better-equipped versions, such as the Touring Hybrid, which gets a Head-Up Display, Bose sound system, Google built-in and heated and ventilated front seats.

In other words, that simple and almost discreet Honda Accord that many people associate with the name no longer completely represents what the Accord is today.

But there is a problem for anyone in Portugal

And here is an important detail.

The new Honda Accord 2026 officially presented by Honda is aimed at the North American market. On Honda’s Portuguese website, the current car range does not include the Accord as a new model available to buy in Portugal.

This means that for someone in Portugal searching for “Honda Accord 2026”, the situation is quite different from what they would find on an American website.

You can see the car, check out the versions, engines and all the equipment, but that does not mean you can simply walk into a Honda dealership in Portugal and order a new Accord.

That is exactly why the used-car market is still so important when we talk about this model in Portugal.

Used Honda Accord: is it still worth it?

This is where the answer gets much more interesting.

The Honda Accord has been through several generations, and some of them arrived in Portugal with engines that are still quite sought after today.

There are currently used Honda Accords for sale on the Portuguese market, although the choice is fairly small. On our platform, for example, we currently find two cars: a 2010 Accord 2.2 i-DTEC with 150 hp and a 2009 Accord, also with the 150 hp 2.2 i-DTEC engine.

The prices also show quite well how the Accord has aged.

A 2010 Honda Accord can appear at around €12,000, while 2009 cars can be below €10,000, depending on condition, mileage and equipment.

Used Honda Accord in Portugal

And this is where the Accord starts to make sense for someone looking for a used car. We are not just talking about buying a cheap Honda. We are talking about finding a relatively large, comfortable and well-equipped family car, often for less money than some newer small cars.

Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi: the diesel that defined a generation

When people talk about Accord diesel engines, the famous 2.2 i-CTDi quickly comes up.

It was one of the engines that helped change Honda’s image among European buyers. Until then, the brand was strongly associated with petrol engines, naturally aspirated engines and high revs.

With the 2.2 i-CTDi, the conversation changed.

It was a diesel made for people who covered a lot of miles and wanted a car capable of travelling for hours without turning every trip into a battle against fuel consumption.

It is also one of the reasons why you can still find old Honda Accords with very high mileage.

And that matters.

An Accord with 200,000 or 250,000 kilometres should not automatically be ruled out. The number on the odometer is only part of the story. The actual condition of the car, its maintenance history and the way it has been used tell you much more.

And what about the Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC?

If diesel is not your thing, there are other options.

The Honda Accord also became known for its petrol engines, including the 2.4 i-VTEC. It is a very different option from the diesel, especially in the way it delivers its power and the way the engine likes to work.

For someone who does relatively few miles each year and prefers petrol, it can be an interesting alternative.

The problem is that in Portugal, finding certain versions and engines can be much harder than in other markets.

And that brings us to another interesting thing about the Accord: there are versions that are relatively common in other countries but can be genuinely rare over here.

Honda Accord Type R: the version that completely changes the conversation

When we talk about the Honda Accord Type R, we are no longer simply talking about a comfortable family car.

Honda has used the Type R name on versions that were much more focused on driving. And for anyone who knows the history of the brand, the Type R name carries some serious weight.

The idea behind these versions was pretty simple: take a relatively normal car and give it a much more serious personality.

A more interesting engine, more focused suspension, brakes, differential and a setup designed for someone who genuinely enjoys driving.

That is exactly why a Honda Accord Type R should not be confused with a normal Accord fitted with a few extras.

It is a different philosophy.

And today, finding one of these in good condition can be much more difficult than simply looking for an Accord on a used-car website.

Honda Accord Type S: less extreme, but still interesting

Between a normal Accord and a much sportier version, there was also the Honda Accord Type S.

Here, the recipe was a little different.

The idea was to keep the comfort and everyday usability, but give the car a more aggressive look and slightly more interesting driving experience.

For anyone looking for a used Accord who finds a well-kept Type S, it can be a very appealing configuration.

Especially because you do not have to turn the car into a sports project just to give it a different personality.

So, new Honda Accord or used Honda Accord?

For anyone in Portugal, the choice is simpler than it might seem.

The Honda Accord 2026 is an interesting, modern car and quite different from the Accord many Portuguese drivers know. Honda still sells the model in the United States, including 204 hp hybrid versions and several equipment levels. But if the idea is to buy an Accord in Portugal, you will probably end up in the used-car market. And there are several possibilities there.

You can look for a Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi for covering lots of miles, a petrol 2.4 i-VTEC, a Type S version, a rare Type R or even an Accord Tourer if you need more space.

The important thing is not to look only at the year or the price. Look at the condition of the car, its history, mileage, maintenance and version. Because a good used Accord can still be a very interesting car even many years after it originally left the dealership.

And maybe that is the best quality of this model. The new Honda Accord may be more modern, more technological and more efficient. But the old Accord still has something that many new cars have already lost: a personality of its own.

And for anyone looking for used cars, that can be worth more than it seems.

If you want to compare other models from the brand, you can also check the used Honda cars available in Portugal, where you can find several models and versions from the brand. And the Honda Accord Tourer? Another version worth paying attention to is the Honda Accord Tourer. For anyone living in Portugal who needs space, this is probably one of the most interesting configurations in the model’s history. The Honda Accord Tourer combines exactly what many people want from a used car: space, comfort and a body shape that still looks quite elegant even many years later.

It does not have the driving height of an SUV, it does not try to look like an adventure vehicle and it does not need to. It is simply a family estate. And maybe that is exactly why it still has its fans. Honda Accord 2004, 2007, 2008 or 2010? Once you start looking for used Honda Accords, different generations and model years quickly start appearing. A Honda Accord 2004 already belongs to a much older generation, but it can still be interesting for someone looking for a cheap car who is not worried about having the latest technology.

A Honda Accord 2007 or Honda Accord 2008 can offer a different balance between price, age and equipment.

Then there is the Honda Accord 2010, which is particularly interesting for someone who wants a newer used car without getting into modern-car prices. But there is no magic year. A very well looked-after 2008 car can be a much better buy than a 2010 car that has gone years without proper maintenance. That is a rule that applies to any used car.

What should you check before buying a used Honda Accord?

Here, it is worth avoiding the trap of thinking, “it’s a Honda, so it won’t have problems.”

No brand is completely free of problems. On a used Accord, the first thing should always be the maintenance history. After that, it is worth checking the condition of the clutch, gearbox, suspension, brakes and steering system. With older diesels, it is especially important to understand how the car was used.

A car that has covered a lot of kilometres on open roads can be in better mechanical condition than another one with much lower mileage that spent its entire life doing five or ten-minute trips. It is also worth looking at the tyres. Uneven wear can point to alignment, suspension or steering problems. And if all four tyres are from completely different brands, it does not automatically mean there is a problem, but it is a good reason to ask the seller what happened.

On a car that is already many years old, the bodywork also deserves attention.

Small marks are normal. Big differences in paint colour, strange panel gaps or signs of badly done repairs are another story.

Why did the Accord disappear from many European markets?

This is probably one of the most interesting parts. The Honda Accord is still alive in the American market, but Honda stopped pushing it in Europe in the same way. And you only have to look at today’s market to understand why.

European buyers increasingly moved towards SUVs, crossovers and smaller, electrified models.

The space once occupied by large family sedans became much smaller. Today, someone looking for a new Honda in Portugal will find models such as the Civic, HR-V and CR-V, while the Accord has practically become a reference from the past for European buyers.

That is also why the new Honda Accord 2026 feels so far removed from the Portuguese market. Not because the model has disappeared. Simply because Honda is selling it in places where there is still enough demand for this kind of car.

Is the new Accord better than the old one?

When it comes to technology, there is probably not much to argue about.

The new model has driver-assistance systems, bigger screens, modern connectivity, hybrid versions and an amount of equipment that a 2004 Accord simply cannot match.

The current hybrid version reaches 204 hp and can include a 12.3-inch central display, Google built-in, wireless charging and several safety systems. But a car is not just a list of equipment. And this is where an older Honda Accord can still make a case for itself. The simplicity. The mechanical feel. The fact that you can buy a Japanese sedan with quite a few years behind it for a fraction of the price of a new car. And for some people, that means a lot.