The last year Honda Accord offered a V6 engine in the United States was the 2017 model year. Since 2018, all Accords sold in the U.S. have used turbocharged four-cylinder engines.
To understand the history, this article traces the Accord’s powertrain options across generations and explains why Honda moved away from a V6 in favor of smaller, efficient turbo fours.
A brief history of the Accord's V6 engines
Across its generations, the Accord used V6 power in two distinct phases: an early 3.0-liter V6 in the mid-2000s, followed by a larger 3.5-liter V6 that remained available until the V6 was dropped after 2017.
- 2003–2007: 3.0-liter V6 (J-series family) offered in several trims of the Accord.
- 2008–2017: 3.5-liter V6 (J35 family) widely available on upper trims.
The shift away from V6 began with the 2018 model year, when Honda introduced the 10th-generation Accord with only turbocharged four-cylinder engines and no V6 option.
The end of the V6 era in the U.S. Accord
Why did Honda discontinue the V6 in the Accord? The move aligned with broader fuel economy and emission targets and the availability of high-torque turbocharged fours that could match or exceed the V6’s output while improving efficiency.
Why the era ended
Key factors in the transition include:
- Emissions and fuel-economy considerations pushing automakers toward smaller, turbocharged engines.
- Packaging and cost advantages of four-cylinder turbo powertrains versus a V6.
- Consumer demand for strong performance from smaller engines, aided by modern turbo tech and improved transmissions.
As a result, Honda shifted the Accord lineup to turbocharged four-cylinder engines, with the 2018 model year onward offering only four-cylinder options in U.S. markets.
Summary
The last U.S. Honda Accord to offer a V6 engine was the 2017 model year, with a 3.5-liter V6 available on higher trims. From 2018 onward, Honda replaced the V6 with turbocharged four-cylinder options (1.5T or 2.0T), marking the end of the V6 era in the Accord in North America. The broader engine history does show V6 usage in earlier generations (notably 3.0L in the 2003–2007 era and 3.5L from 2008–2017), but the final year in common U.S. production was 2017.