Honda Is Done With The Accord In Europe, Leaves Midsize Sedan Segment

shirazhyder84

Read this today on a motoring website - carscoops.com

" While it's consistently one of the best-selling nameplates in North America, Honda is officially giving up on the Accord in Europe.

One of Honda's U.K. executives said recently the company is running out the current model and, "will not return to the segment," according to AutoNews Europe. The Accord was first introduced in Europe in 1977, though the model has been substantially different from the Accords sold in North America since the late 1990s.

While it's been widely suspected the current European-market Accord wouldn't be replaced, the words of Honda U.K. exec Leon Brannan are perhaps the strongest yet towards the way the company is refocusing its European lineup.

Unable to compete in a contracting market where even top-sellers like the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo are struggling against the BMW 3-series and Audi A4, Honda believes its future in Europe is in crossovers like the upcoming HR-V and the facelifted 2015 CR-V, its best-selling model there. Just as in the U.S., sales of crossovers have surged in Europe.

While the last European Accord was an immensely competent car, much like its North American twin the Acura TSX, it didn't stand out enough to make an impression on the market. But banking on the booming SUV segment might be a better place to put development funds than trying to crack an unstable market. So long, Europe Accord."

HandsomeDan

Overpriced. Fizzy anemic engines. Silvered plastic explosion interiors. Accord is the definition of underwhelming.

bazz26

Old news really as this Honda announced this well before Christmas, the last model was too expensive in the end and quickly outgunned by the competition.

Gael23

Nothing new about this. Accord was overpriced with needlessly large engines that don't have a place in Europe

BigEejit

Old news indeed. As mentioned just too damn expensive and the fuel economy is just not good enough.... The 2.2 idtec gets 45mpg which is nowhere near its competition.

Saying that, they are reliable cars and can be picked up for less than the competition second hand.

ba_barabus

ryanf1 wrote: »

Accord was overpriced

I believe Honda makes a lose on everyone sold due to exchange rates. There was no point in making them more competitively priced as it would increase the loses. Also I believe the marketing costs involved in challenging the Germans who occupied the market segment effectively were calculated as being too costly for the possible return.

ryanf1 wrote: »

with needlessly large engines that don't have a place in Europe

A pity really but as their market share was dwindling would it really be worth the investment?

Honda used to have a great range of cars but their current offerings are poor. I can't think of one car that I'd like to have or advise someone to buy over any of the competition. Their engineering and build quality is second to none IMHO.

Atlantic Dawn

The current model was way too overpriced, you were buying something that was seen as competition to an Avensis, Mondeo, Passat but were paying A4 or 3 Series prices for.

Tea 1000

It's a shame really, It was always a better offering than most of the competition, although it was too dear. It's a competitive segment, which as was said is dwindling anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if the Avensis was next on the chopping board. It's shít. Quite why Toyota and Subaru don't get together to work on a new Avensis/Legacy with a Subaru platform is beyond me. They both could do with the help. Subaru in terms of sales and volume, and Toyota in terms of making the Avensis unshít.

Tea 1000

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

The current model was way too overpriced, you were buying something that was seen as competition to an Avensis, Mondeo, Passat but were paying A4 or 3 Series prices for.

You weren't really. An Accord was only around 2k more than an Avensis, or similar in price as a Comfortline 2 litre 140 Passat, but people perceived it to be more expensive than that. The Executive which was fully kitted was up on 39k alright, which is A4/3-series money, but so was a Passat Highline.
Besides, the Accord was a better car than the standard FWD A4. There's overpriced mediocrity for ya!

ba_barabus

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I wouldn't be surprised if the Avensis was next on the chopping board.

I think after the next one there are no plans to continue making it in it's current form. Sales are already dropping off quickly. I understand Toyota are currently looking at making it a world car like the Mondeo to reduce production and development costs but I haven't seen any official word on that. I do the next may be a reworked Camry of sorts but again there has been no official word.

Chris_Heilong

aw, thats a shame, the last gen accord was a lovely looking motor.

Gael23

ba_barabus wrote: »

I believe Honda makes a lose on everyone sold due to exchange rates. There was no point in making them more competitively priced as it would increase the loses. Also I believe the marketing costs involved in challenging the Germans who occupied the market segment effectively were calculated as being too costly for the possible return.

I dont argue with what you say about their margins but its a case of it was too expensive for its market segment. I'd buy a Passat or Insignia over an Accord any day

Honda used to have a great range of cars but their current offerings are poor. I can't think of one car that I'd like to have or advise someone to buy over any of the competition. Their engineering and build quality is second to none IMHO.

The new Civic is quite impressive in my view. I went to look at one with my grandparents 2 years ago and we were all really impressed.It wasn't suitable for numerous reasons, lack of automatic transmission being one, but otherwise a very impressive car.