The 1996 Honda Accord classifies as a midsize car manufactured by Honda. The Accord belongs to the popular Accord series of compact, midsize, and full-size vehicles produced by the Japanese automaker since 1976 and sold in several automotive markets across the world. The Accord launched in 1978 in the Japanese domestic market. It represents the first car by a Japanese automobile manufacturer to be produced in the U.S. coming from Honda’s plant in Marysville, Ohio.
The 1996 Honda Accord serves as part of the fifth generation, which has the distinction of being the first generation with two distinct models. One sells in the North American and Japanese market, and the other sells in the European market.
The Range
Body Styles: two-door coupe, sedan, five-door station wagon
Engines: 2.2-liter I-4, 2.7-liter V-6
Transmissions: four-speed automatic, five-speed manual
Models: Honda Accord DX, Honda Accord 25th Anniversary, Honda Accord LX, Honda Accord EX, Honda Accord LX V6, Honda Accord EX V6
What's New
All models of the 1996 Honda Accord get revised styling, new taillights, and new bumper covers. The wagon version of the Accord gets a new roof rack as well, and the sedan adds a new pass-through ski sack.
Exterior
The 1996 Accord receives a revised exterior treatment. The bumper covers and taillights look new, and the grille treatment has also been revised with a fresh look. The 1996 Honda Accord sits on a wheelbase of 106.9 inches and has a width of 70.1 inches. The length of the Accord varies from 185.6 inches for the coupe and sedan to 188.4 inches for the wagon and V-6 sedan.
Interior
The 1996 Honda Accord now measures three inches wider than before. This increases the space significantly from previous generations. Legroom seems great in the front and the back, but the headroom remains only adequate at best. The driver enjoys a good view of the road in all directions, thanks to the low cowl and thin pillars.
The wider trunk opening also makes it easier to load bulky items. Moreover, the rear seatback also folds down for boosting the trunk space, but it does not fold flat fully.
Performance & Handling
The 1996 Accord gets two versions of a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine. One puts out 130 horsepower and the other delivers 145 horsepower. These two engines reach their full potential only with the five-speed manual transmission. When combined with the automatic transmission, both engines feel lethargic, especially when they require acceleration.
The 2.7-liter V-6 serves as the more powerful engine, delivering 170 horsepower. The difference in acceleration between the V-6 and the more powerful straight-four engine does not seem extreme, but the V-6 remains much smoother and quieter. The V-6 also adds a punch that drivers need in certain passing situations.
In any engine choice, the automatic transmission lacks the shift quality present in other rivals of the 1996 Honda Accord. The Accord steers firmly and stably, and it tracks effortlessly.
Safety
The 1996 Honda Accord gets a four-star rating for driver safety and a three-star rating for passenger safety in frontal-impact tests conducted by the NHTSA.
EPA Fuel Economy
Honda Accord 2.7-liter V-6, automatic: 19/25 mpg city/highway
You'll Like
- Powerful and smooth V-6
- Lots of passenger and cargo space
- Comfortable ride
- Stable steering and handling
You Won't Like
- Noisy and unrefined I-4
- Excessive road noise
Sum Up
One of the best cars on the road.
If You Like This Vehicle
- Hyundai Sonata
- Infiniti G20
- Mazda 626