2003 Honda Accord – US 2.4 i-VTEC 5MT (160 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Honda introduced the seventh generation of the Accord in the U.S. in 2002 for the 2003 model year, and besides the regular four-door sedan, customers could also get a coupe version of it.

Unlike some of its predecessors, the 2003 Honda Accord Coupe looked significantly different from its four-door sedan sibling. However, since both vehicles shared the same platform, they had more common underpinnings, which was good. The Accord already had a proven record for reliability, so customers interested in buying a dependable, sporty-looking vehicle could have one. Furthermore, the automaker offered the vehicle with plenty of options, which were available at extra cost on other brands. But not on Hondas. The Japanese car manufacturer tried to offer more than its competitors, and that’s one of the reasons why the car had a tremendous success. Even though the coupe was not a sales champion, it helped with the brand’s image.

At the front of the 2003 Honda Accord Coupe, the only parts that it shared with the sedan were the triangular headlights. These were swept back on the sides and emphasized the vehicle’s dynamic character. Furthermore, the main grille between them was slim and, depending on the grade, adorned by a black or chromed slat. At the same time, the lower side of the bumper had a center air intake flanked by a pair of scoops that made it look more aggressive.

Honda’s design team penned the 2003 Accord Coupe with organic lines combined in sharp angles. These elements were part of the new-edge design era, which was still trendy in the early 2000s. The low-slung greenhouse started with a panoramic windshield and was continued by an arched roof. It was continued at the back by a sloped rear window and a short deck. The ascending beltline enhanced the dynamic look of the car. It underlined the window line that was available with black or chromed trims around it. Vehicles fitted with the V6 engine sported a lip spoiler on the trunk’s lid and featured dual exhausts under the bumper.

Inside, only the dashboard was carried over from the four-door sibling of the 2003 Honda Accord Coupe. The automaker tried to create a vehicle packed with technology. As a result, the car was available with a color display placed in the middle of the dashboard for the infotainment system that could be controlled via several buttons on the center stack. While the plethora of buttons looked dazzling at first sight, they were logically arranged and just required some time to understand the system. The front bucket seats featured higher bolstered areas than the four-door sedan Accord, albeit they were far from being called sports seats. They also could tilt forward to make way for easier ingress and egress for those seated in the back on the split-folding (60/40) bench seat.

Since the 2003 Honda Accord Coupe shared its underpinnings with its four-door sibling, it also carried over the engine lineup. The automaker offered it with either a 2.4-liter four-banger or a 3.0-liter V6. The former was available with a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission, while the latter came standard with the automatic gearbox.