No— the 1997 Honda Accord did not come with VTEC. Its powertrains were non-VTEC, offered as a 2.2-liter inline-4 or an optional 3.0-liter V6.
To understand why and where VTEC appeared in Honda's lineup, it's helpful to look at the model's generation, available engines in that year, and how Honda's VTEC technology progressed across other models.
Engine options in the 1997 Accord
The two main engines offered in the 1997 Accord were:
- 2.2-liter inline-4 engine (non-VTEC) available on base DX/LX trims
- 3.0-liter V6 engine (non-VTEC) available on higher-trim models
In short, neither of these engines employed VTEC in that model year.
Understanding VTEC in Honda models of that era
VTEC stands for variable valve timing and lift electronic control, Honda's technology to optimize valve timing for performance and efficiency. While some Honda models in the 1990s used VTEC, the 1997 Accord did not. VTEC would appear in other Hondas during the late 1990s and also in later Accord generations via i-VTEC.
Examples of Honda models with VTEC in that era
Models commonly equipped with VTEC around that time included:
- Civic with VTEC engines (such as the B-series B16A/B18C)
- Integra GS-R / Type R (B18C variants)
- Prelude with VTEC (e.g., H22A VTEC in certain trims)
These examples show how VTEC was present in the broader Honda lineup, even though the 1997 Accord did not feature it.
Summary
Bottom line: The 1997 Honda Accord did not come with VTEC. If you want a VTEC-equipped Honda from that era, consider models like the Civic, Integra, or Prelude, or look to later Accords that incorporated i-VTEC.