Honda unveiled the 2021 Accord with a few styling tweaks, more technology, and a new Sport Special Edition trim recently. The minor changes will help ensure that the few consumers that want a midsize sedan still have good options to choose from. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Honda use the Sport Special Edition name for the Accord – the last time we saw the trim was for the 2017 model year. For 2021, the Sport Special Edition marks the return of the name in an athletic, well-equipped package as a way of helping consumers forget about discontinuing the manual transmission.
For 2021, the new Sport Special Edition replaces last year’s EX 1.5T. Building off of the Sport 1.5T, the Sport Special Edition adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, a 12-way power driver’s seat, and a four-way power passenger seat. Additionally, the trim comes with heated exterior mirrors, remote keyless entry, and remote engine start.
The “Sport” part of the name comes from a rear trunk lid spoiler, special 19-inch wheels, LED fog lights, a chrome exhaust outlet, and a dark chrome grille. In the lineup, the Sport SE sits in between the Sport and EX-L with a starting price of $29,675 including destination, representing an increase of $1,490 over the Sport trim.
Over last year’s EX 1.5T trim, the new Sport Special Edition is $650 more. The two trims come with similar features, though the Sport Special Edition has the few sporty design elements and ditches the power moonroof. We wouldn’t say it’s a better value option over the old EX trim, as some consumers may not be interested in the aesthetic touches the Sport Special Edition adds. But for consumers that want something with a little pizzaz and a decent list of standard equipment, the Sport Special Edition certainly stands out. In Honda’s lineup, the Accord is the only model to be available in the Sport Special Edition trim.
Power for the Sport Special Edition will come from a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that’s rated at 192 horsepower. Front-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) are also standard. Higher trim levels can be fitted with the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 252 hp. That engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Other changes for the Accord for 2021 include an 8-inch touchscreen as standard with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, while a rear-seat reminder system is now standard. The EX-L and Touring trims come with wireless smartphone compatibility as standard. Pricing for the 2021 Accord starts at $25,725, $500 more than last year. The 2021 Accord is currently on sale at the time of writing.
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