| Honda Accord Seventh generation (CL7-9/CM1-3/CN1-2) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Also called | Honda Accord Euro (Australia and New Zealand) Acura TSX (North America) |
| Production | 2002–2008 |
| Assembly | Japan: Sayama, Saitama (Honda Sayama plant) United Kingdom: Swindon (HUKM) |
| Designer | Kunihiko Tachibana, Hiroshi Ishibani (2000) [1] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size/Large family car (D) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan (CL7-9 & CN1) 5-door wagon (CM1-3 & CN2) |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive Front-engine, four-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm (105.1 in) |
| Length | Sedan: 4,665 mm (183.7 in) Wagon: 4,750 mm (187.0 in) |
| Width | 1,760 mm (69.3 in) |
| Height | Sedan: 1,445 mm (56.9 in) Wagon: 1,495 mm (58.9 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Honda Accord (Japan sixth generation) CF3/4/5/CL2/3 Honda Accord (Europe sixth generation) CG7/8/9/CH5/6/7/8 Honda Torneo (Japan) |
| Successor | Honda Accord (Japan and Europe eighth generation) |
The seventh-generation Honda Accord for the European and Japanese markets is a mid-size car that was available as a four-door sedan or a five-door station wagon and was produced by Honda from October 2002 (for the 2003 model year) to 2008. It won the 2002-03 Japan Car of the Year upon its launch. [2]
Contents
- AWD variant (CL8 & CM3)
- Performance Variant: Euro R (CL7)
- Engines
- Japan
- Europe, Australia and New Zealand
- Gallery
- Marketing
- References
For this generation, the European and Japanese Accords, previously separate models, were consolidated into a single version designed to be more competitive in the European market. It became a top seller in its class in Australia, where over 45,000 sedans were sold between 2003 and 2008.[ citation needed ] The car was also exported to the United States and Canada, where it was sold as the Acura TSX. Outside North America the first Honda-built diesel engine was offered. In the Japanese market, the Accord was merged into the Torneo range to compete against the Mazda Atenza and Subaru Legacy.
The consolidation of the Japanese and European models was met with some skepticism in Japan at the time, with journalists suggesting Honda was abandoning the Japanese platform in favor of prioritizing foreign markets. Honda suggested that delivering a vehicle achieving that of a "European standard" was in line with what prospective Accord owners in Japan were expecting, compared to buyers of kei or compact vehicles. [3]
Unlike the previous generation, the sedan and wagon variants were simultaneously designed and released alongside each other, with everything behind the B-pillar for the wagon being independently designed by another designer. This allowed greater flexibility with core design elements in the wagon, instead of just lengthening the roof and boot space. [3]
A variant of the larger North American Accord was sold in Japan as the Honda Inspire to compete in the entry-level luxury sedan class. [4] In markets where both versions of the Accord are sold, such as in New Zealand and Australia, the smaller Japan/Europe-type car is called Accord Euro to distinguish it from the larger North American model.
