2002 Honda Accord Sedan – US 3.0 V6 5AT (240 HP)

Vehicle Overview

While it didn’t match the same sales results as its predecessor on the U.S. market, the seventh generation of the Accord continued to be one of the best-selling mid-size sedans on the North American continent.

It was challenging for Honda to create a vehicle as successful as the sixth generation of the Accord, which dominated sales in the mid-size segment. However, the Japanese automaker knew it had to change its strategy and create a car for a different generation. As a result, the 2003 Honda Accord Sedan for the U.S. market came with a completely new styling oriented to a younger audience. Furthermore, the car manufacturer packed the vehicle with advanced technologies for those times, including an anti-lock braking system fitted across the range, in an era when other more expensive brands offered it only as an option.

Honda looked like it completely changed its styling center. The 2003 Honda Accord Sedan came with a shape dominated by organic lines. At the front, the triangular headlights and the curved surfaces made the vehicle look. They flanked a clean-looking upper grille where the brand’s badge took center stage. There were no additional horizontal slats, as on its predecessors. Furthermore, the lower bumper sported a rectangular broad air intake and no additional fuzzy-looking scoops.

The automaker said that it tried to make the seventh generation of the Accord “muscular, vital, and agile” in its looks. Even though it looked plain and simple at first sight, the details made a significant difference. The swept-back headlights were continued by a sculptured line over the fenders, which continued all the way to the back of the vehicle, at the base of the C-pillars. A chromed trim surrounded the window line, while the door grab handles followed an ascending line. For the DX trim level, the lowest, the car came equipped with 15-inch steel wheels and 195/65 tires. At the other end of the scale, the EX ran on 205/60 R16 tires, which proved effective, especially for the higher-powered version of the car. At the back, the short deck emphasized the dynamic character of the 2003 Honda Accord Sedan, while the wide and tall taillights created an elegant look for the vehicle.

Inside, things became even more complicated. The instrument panel was completely dark until the door was opened, and then it was discretely illuminated by LEDs, a feature previously reserved for upscale vehicles. The large speedometer took center stage and was flanked by the rev counter on the left and the fuel level and temperature gauges on the right. In addition, a small LCD showed the odometer and other information gathered by the car’s onboard computer. Depending on the grade and options, the center stack housed a CD Stereo with two speakers for the DX. At the same time, the rest had a six-speaker sound system with an available six-disc in-dash CD changer. Furthermore, a touchscreen infotainment unit was available at extra cost for specific grades. The front bucket seats provided better side support than the previous car generation, confirming the vehicle’s sporty orientation. The cloth upholstery was standard, with available leather seats and door cards.

Since most customers bought the previous generation of the Accord with an inline-four engine, Honda decided to improve it with the i-VTEC (intelligent variable valve timing system) that boosted power and lowered fuel consumption. In addition, the 3.0-liter V6 unit provided 40 more ponies than the sixth generation of the car, reaching 240 hp (243 PS). Power went to the front wheels via a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission.