2024 Honda Accord: Hybrid-only Camry rival returns to Japan, no closer to Australia

UPDATE January 2024: Honda confirms Accord hybrid for Australia!

Our original story, below, continues unchanged.

September 2023: The 2024 Honda Accord has debuted in right-hand drive form in Japan, but Honda’s local arm cannot confirm if it’ll sell the 11th-generation medium sedan here.

First unveiled in the United States in November 2022, the latest Accord – the 11th version since 1976, excluding the smaller Accord Euro sold in the 2000s – remains unclear for Australia due to a different product cycle.

“Honda Australia cannot confirm the arrival of the new model Accord to the Australian market at this time,” a spokesperson for the brand said this week.

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The current 10th-generation Accord, sourced from Thailand, launched in late 2019, around 18 months after the North American version. It remains in production for Australia despite slow sales, with 105 units sold year-to-date – less than the Ferrari range.

In addition to low demand, another issue that could affect the all-new Accord’s local prospects is that it could be built in China.

Honda Japan has yet to confirm where the right-hand-drive Accord is built. Japan’s Odyssey people mover and the latest ZR-V and CR-V SUVs sold in the United Kingdom are all produced in China – and this Accord appears identical to the Chinese-market version.

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“We also do not currently source any vehicles from Honda factories in China and have no plans for this to change in the near future,” said the Honda Australia spokesperson.

The ZR-V sold in Australia is made in Japan, while the latest CR-V due imminently continues to be sourced from Thailand.

Due to launch in Japan between March and May 2024, with pre-orders commencing this December, the hybrid-only Accord returns to its home market after Thai imports of the current model ceased in mid-2022.

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As detailed here, the latest Accord rides on an updated version of Honda’s Global Architecture with a new fourth-generation E:HEV hybrid system, and a longer body at 4971mm (+70mm) with an unchanged 2830mm wheelbase.

Inside, it features a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Google built-in, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, an 11.5-inch head-up display and, similar to the new Skoda Superb, an ‘experience selection dial’ to operate multiple vehicle functions with a single control.

Under the bonnet, the Japanese-market Accord has a 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle petrol-electric hybrid system from the current model, the Civic, ZR-V and CR-V.

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Power details are unclear, but the American model has a 152kW and 335Nm total system output – up 20Nm over the current Accord VTi LX Hybrid available in Australia at $61,900 drive-away.

The 2024 Honda Accord will arrive in Japan in the first half of next year, competing against the Toyota Crown Crossover, Mazda 6 and Lexus ES.

The Accord’s arch-rival, the Toyota Camry, has been axed in Japan after a 43-year run due to low sales, but production will continue for export markets – including Australia.

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In October 2022, a Honda Australia spokesperson said the Thai-built Accord for Asia-Pacific markets “operates on a separate model lifecycle to the [North American] version".

“Accord remains an important global nameplate for Honda, with a very loyal and valued customer base here in Australia, but it is too early for us to confirm any details about plans for the next generation model.

“The current model will continue in Australia for some time yet and it continues to perform strongly as a supporting model in the line-up.”

Below: The current 2023 Honda Accord VTi LX Hybrid

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