1994-1997 Honda Accord Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Honda Accord. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Honda Accord.

1994-1997 Honda Accord Review

A bigger interior, dual airbags, and more power were added in 1994. Sedan, coupe, and wagon models returned, riding about the same wheelbase as before. Overall length was down 1.2 inches, while width grew by a full three inches.Coupes and sedans were once again available in DX, LX, and EX trim, while the 4-door wagon only came equipped as either an LX or EX. Antilock brakes were optional on DX and LX, standard on EX. Two 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engines were available. Both DX and LX models featured a 130-horsepower unit, while EX buyers enjoyed a 145-horsepower engine.

Year to Year Changes

1995 Honda Accord: Honda's breadwinner, the front-drive Accord, finally pulls abreast of its midsize competitors by adding its first V6 engine. The 24-valve, 2.7-liter unit is an updated version of the engine originally used in the Acura Legend. Accords equipped with the bulkier V6 feature a longer nose and different grille.

1996 Honda Accord: Several appearance and equipment changes are added for 1996. Among the styling changes are larger front and rear bumpers, new parking lamps, new chrome grilles for 4-cylinder models, and new taillights. Also, the trunk opening has been enlarged on the coupe and sedan and a rear-seat pass-through feature was added.

1997 Honda Accord: Anticipating an all-new Accord for '98, the popular midsize Honda was unchanged for '97.

1994-1997 Honda Accord Road Test

Pros	Cons

Acceleration (V6)	Acceleration (4-cylinder)

Passenger and cargo room	Road noise

Ride	Antilock brakes (limited availability)

Steering/handling

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

The 1994 to '96 models feel much more substantial than their predecessor. Four-cylinder performance is adequate for most driving needs, but the V6's added punch comes in quite handy in passing situations. The automatic transmission still lags behind the competition in shift quality, but it's now at least acceptable. Steering is firm and the car tracks effortlessly. There's also less wind noise than before, though tires whine at expressway speeds. The body, now three inches wider than before, significantly increases the interior's feeling of spaciousness. Leg room is good both front and rear, but head room is only average at best. The driver's seat provides a commanding view of the road, thanks to thin pillars and a low cowl. A wider trunk opening is also greatly appreciated. And while the rear seatback drops forward to allow the transport of large and bulky objects, it does not fold fully flat.

Value for the Money
Overall, the Accord continues to be a fine, solid-feeling family car with a refined, sporty manner. In fact, this was the best Accord to date. The new V6 was most welcome, but long overdue. There was much stronger competition among midsize family sedans today than ever before, with Honda's rivals making noticeable strides in the areas of styling, powertrain sophistication, chassis dynamics, ergonomics, and creature comforts. Yet, Accord came through in fine fashion.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Honda Accord EX 2.7-liter	Rating

Performance	5

Fuel Economy	5

Ride Quality	6

Steering/Handling/Braking	5

Quietness	5

Controls/Materials	5

Interior Room	6

Room/Comfort (rear)	4

Cargo Capacity	4

Value within Class	8

Total:	53

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

1994-1997 Honda Accord Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Audio system: If the CD changer in the trunk will not eject, the company will exchange the CD magazines with a redesigned one. (All)

Automatic transmission: Cars with high mileage may begin to shift more harshly, which may be corrected by adding a bottle of Lubeguard conditioner to the automatic transmission fluid. (1994-96)

Blower motor: Blower motor overheats, blows the fuse and may melt the fan because motor cooling hose becomes clogged. (1990-04)

Brakes: The parking brake may not fully release because a rivet on the brake rod is too tight. (1994)

Dashboard lights: The heater control panel lights do not glow when the switch is pressed because of breaks in the circuit board solder joints. (1994-95)

Engine noise: The gasket for the mid-exhaust pipe sticks, causing a buzzing noise. (1994-95)

Fuel gauge: The fuel gauge may not read full even though the tank is filled due to excessive resistance in the sending unit in the tank. (1994-95)

Manual transmission: If the transmission grinds when shifting into fifth gear, the fork, sleeve set, and mainshaft gear must be replaced. (1994-95)

Oil leak: Sudden oil loss and resultant severe engine damage could be the result of front balance shaft oil plug popping out. (1994-96)

Vehicle noise: A noise coming from the passenger footwell is most likely due to the air conditioning high pressure line vibrating against the power steering fluid line. (1995)

Vehicle noise: Air conditioning hose hitting the power steering line likely causes knocking noise from the passenger floor during light acceleration. (1995)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$530

Alternator	$380

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$1,055

Brakes	$250

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$550

Constant Velocity Joints	$670

Exhaust System	$540

Radiator	$485

Shocks and/or Struts	$545

Timing Chain or Belt	$350

NHTSA Recall History

1994: Some tire valve stems were damaged during assembly, resulting in sudden loss of air pressure and/or loss of control.

1995: Some supplemental restraint system electronic control units can cause unexpected airbag deployment.

1995-97 except DC and V6 models: Improperly routed wire harness for factory-installed air conditioner can allow wires to rub against each other, which can eventually cause short circuit that may lead to overheating, smoke, and possible fire.

1997: Certain ball joints can wear out prematurely and, in worst case, would separate, causing front suspension to collapse.

1994-1997 Honda Accord Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

1994
Accord	$1,700-2,400	$1,100-1,600	$300-400
Accord EX	$2,400-3,000	$1,700-2,200	$500-600

1995
Accord	$2,000-2,900	$1,400-2,000	$300-500
Accord EX	$2,600-3,300	$1,900-2,400	$500-700

1996
Accord	$2,400-3,400	$1,700-2,400	$500-700
Accord EX	$3,100-4,000	$2,400-3,100	$700-1,000

1997
Accord	$2,800-4,200	$2,100-3,200	$600-900
Accord EX	$3,800-4,800	$3,100-3,900	$1,200-1,500

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

1994-1997 Honda Accord Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	2-door coupe	4-door sedan	4-door wagon

Wheelbase, in.	106.9	106.9	106.9

Overall Length, in.	185.6	185.6	188.4

Overall Width, in.	70.1	70.1	70.1

Overall Height, in.	54.7	55.1	55.9

Curb Weight, lbs.	2855	2855	3053

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	13.0	13.0	25.7

Standard Payload, lbs.	--	--	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	17.0	17.0	17.0

Seating Capacity	5	5	5

Front Head Room, in.	39.4	39.4	39.8

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.9	42.7	42.7

Rear Head Room, in.	36.4	37.6	39.0

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	31.3	34.3	34.1

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

The new generation of 4-cylinder Accord engine, both the 130- and 145-horsepower units, feel smooth and refined. But naturally, their sporty manners are only fully realized when mated to the 5-speed manual. The automatic tends to feel lethargic when a burst of acceleration is needed. It tends to pause longer than necessary before downshifting and occasionally changes gears with a shudder. But the most important powertrain change in Accord history occurred in 1995 with the addition of a 24-valve, 2.7-liter V6 engine. Although there is not a huge difference in acceleration between the 4-cylinder and V6 models, the V6 is noticeably quieter smoother. Consumer Guide editors clocked the V6 Accord at 8.9 seconds to 60 mph, compared to 9.6 seconds for an EX equipped with the 145--horsepower 4 cylinder equipped with an automatic. There is ample passing power with the V6.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohc I4	2.2 / 132	130	139	5-speed manual: 25/32 4-speed automatic: 23/31	5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: --

ohc I4	2.2 / 132	145	147	5-speed manual: 25/31 4-speed automatic: 23/29	5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 23.3

ohc V6	2.7 / 163	170	165	4-speed automatic: 19/25	4-speed automatic: 21

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Test	1997 Accord	1997 Accord

Front Impact, Driver	4	4

Front Impact, Passenger	3	3

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: Japan, USA

Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive

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Honda Accord Road Test

Honda Accord Reliability

Honda Accord Prices

Honda Accord Specs & Safety

Honda Accord Photos

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