Honda Honors the 50-Year-Old Accord with Merch for Fans Like Us
Key takeaways
- In Japan, at least, Car and Driver's unofficial mascot and iconic family sedan gets a museum display and special merchandise items.
- As a car, it's practical, efficient, and comfortable.
- This year, the Accord rolls past a major milestone.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
In Japan, at least, Car and Driver's unofficial mascot and iconic family sedan gets a museum display and special merchandise items.
Michael Simari|Car and Driver. The first Honda Accord hit the road in 1976, and the fantastic family sedan hasn't looked back, even as it turns 50 years old this year.With the 2026 Accord making Car and Driver's annual 10Best list for an unprecedented 40 straight years, it's basically our unofficial mascot.Longtime Accord fans like us who live in or visit Japan can appreciate the legendary sedan at Honda's museum display or with special merchandise items It's no secret that Car and Driver has been a longtime fan of the Honda Accord, and for good reason. As a car, it's practical, efficient, and comfortable. If you're a driver, it's long been a little bit more interesting from behind the wheel than you'd expect from a mid-size family sedan. As of late last year, it made our 10Best list for the 40th year in a row.
This year, the Accord rolls past a major milestone. Introduced in May of 1976 as an upscale big brother to the Civic, the Accord nameplate is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary. It may not be the sales-chart titan it was at its pre-SUV peak popularity, but that isn't stopping Honda from throwing the Accord a birthday party.