There is talk that Honda may be looking to put a contemporary spin on an old concept. A fresh report has the automaker mulling over a lifted take on its next-generation Accord, one that would present a wagon-style option as an alternative to the run-of-the-mill SUV.
Automotive News says the “Accord SUV,” as it is known within the company, is under consideration though not yet given the production nod by Honda.
Should the project get the go-ahead, the lifted Accord would make its appearance in 2029 or so, alongisde the new Accord sedan due as a 2030 model. Both are slated to run on the latest iteration of Honda’s hybrid system.
Older Honda enthusiasts will have a sense of déjà vu; the Accord Crosstour was much the same proposition when it came out in 2010. It was an effort to marry the comfort of a sedan with an SUV’s versatility by way of a hatchback form and more ground clearance. In the end the Crosstour did not attract the numbers it needed and was done in after 2015.
But the landscape is different today. There is a vogue for wagon-type crossovers and lifted hatchbacks among those who want utility without the heft of a conventional vehicle, and the success of the Subaru Outback is proof of the demand for such car-based machines.
A move to put a lifted Accord on the road would set the brand apart from the multitude of compact and midsize SUVs and give it something of a niche in a segment that is seeing a revival. For the moment, however, Honda has made no announcement of an Accord-based wagon or crossover to confirm the report. If the plan is approved, expect to see more on it as work heads toward the 2029 timeline.
