UPDATE: 2026/07/02 04:20 EST BY BELINDA ANDERSON
Price Trends And Depreciation: V6 Honda Accord
We’ve provided more context and graphical representation of price trends on used models to show why these cars are such high-value purchases. We also look at depreciation figures to support the “future classic” claim.
The last Honda Accord V6 Coupe with a manual transmission died a while ago. Known largely for offering a thrilling, three-pedal, all-motor V6 experience that held fast among an emerging breed of turbocharged and hybrid-powered competitors, the now-retired model stacks up as a compelling used car buy known for reliability and sleeper performance.
In a world where engines are being downsized, and the new Prelude is not available with a manual, the final V6 Accord Coupe may be the drivers’ car you’re looking for.
A Brilliant, Reliable, And Desirable Coupe For $20,000
2017 Honda Accord Coupe exteriorHonda
If you’re shopping, the sweet spot here is going to be model years 2013 to 2017. That’s the ninth (and final) generation Accord Coupe with the latest safety and connectivity tech, alongside the 278-horsepower version of the 3.5-liter V6. There’s no AWD available, and all units drive the front wheels. If you live in a Nordic climate, you’ll definitely want some quality winter tires. This generation Accord Coupe was slightly more compact than its predecessor, though still managed improvements to interior space.
2013 Honda Accord V6 ManualHonda
Note the engine configuration: when paired with the manual transmission, the V6 engine in the Accord doesn’t include the potentially problematic Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system used on versions with the automatic transmission. As a shopper, this eliminates a potential source of headaches from your ownership experience. It also runs on regular-grade gas, helping keep fuel costs down. The V6 engine in this generation Accord Coupe also got the latest enhancements, including a new intake port design, internal friction reduction, an updated VTEC system, and 3.5 pounds of weight reduction enabled by a redesigned cylinder head.
On your test-drive, assume the vehicle you’re considering needs a new clutch, tires, and brakes until you’ve got proof to the contrary. Where appropriate, full throttle acceleration at low revs up a steep hill can coax slippage from a badly-worn clutch, which will need to be replaced. Having your used Accord Coupe checked over by a qualified technician before you buy, and examining all maintenance and service records extensively, can help start ownership off on the right foot. According to data from repairpal.com, owners can expect a measly $316 annual average repair and maintenance bill.
2015 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe V6Honda
According to data, the lowest-mileage Accord V6 Manual coupes from this generation on the road today tend to have 40,000 to 60,000 miles on their odometers and an asking price of $18,000 to $20,000. Some very low-mileage examples with 35,000 miles or fewer push pricing towards $30,000, and the highest-mileage copies with a 100,000-mile odometer reading can see pricing dip down to the mid-teens. Selection is very limited, and it seems like many owners are holding onto their Accord V6 Coupes, so plan to shop patiently.
Price Trends And Depreciation
2017 Honda Accord Coupe rear close-up of badgeHonda
The V6 Accord Coupe on the used market shows interesting volatility in price trends, especially in its final model year. You could pick up a model for as little as $10k, but good, clean examples could also cost you as much as $27k, as seen in the graph below:
According to CarEdge, Honda Accord models tend to hold their value really well, with five-year old examples retaining approximately 71% of their value after five years of ownership. Buying a 2017 Accord Coupe means that depreciation effects have already been felt by the previous owners, while you retain most of the current market value. If you looked after it really well, you aren’t likely to lose an unreasonable amount of money should you wish to sell it again. But, given the rarity of V6 coupes of this vintage, this is a car you’re going to want to keep.
Screaming All-Motor Experience
2013 Honda Accord V6 ManualHonda
2017 Honda Accord V6 Coupe EX-L Specifications
Engine
3.5-liter V6 gas NA
Valvetrain
24-valve SOHC i-VTEC
Power
278 hp @ 6,200 RPM
Torque
252 lb-ft @ 5,300 RPM
Drive
FWD
Transmission
6-speed manual
0-60 mph (approx)
5.6 seconds
The very awesome thing about driving one of the last Accord Coupes with a V6 engine and six-speed stick was that it was sensible enough to slip past your apprehensive significant other, but also a secret hot-rod. This was a screaming all-motor experience with a surging power curve and distinct soundtrack in an era where turbocharging and hybrid tech were rapidly changing engines in front of our eyes. If you grew up loving the surging, snarling, high-rev thrust of an all-motor VTEC engine, this was one of the best ways to take it in.
2017 Honda Accord Coupe interiorHonda
This configuration of the J-Series V6 revved hard right into its limiter, and shifting was refreshingly light and quick– making it easy for enthusiast drivers to light the tires up on a fast second-gear shift, and even get a chirp into third if they liked. It was set up for flexible performance, willing to calmly glide around town when an orderly drive was required, but also capable of flooding the enthusiast driver’s brain with euphoric stimuli during full-throttle browsing of the gears.
Bear in mind, this is one of the toughest and most mass-produced V6 engines around, and its block design has been used in sports cars, racing cars, and millions of sedans and SUVs. In the Accord Coupe, this engine never felt like it minded getting a good flog on an empty road.
Here’s Why You Want A Coupe
2017 Honda Accord Coupe exteriorHonda
Honda first offered Accord Coupe shoppers a V6 engine in 1995. This was a 2.7-liter SOHC V6 with 170 horsepower and 165 lb-ft of torque, versus 145 horsepower and 147 lb-ft from the 2.2-liter four-cylinder. If you wanted three pedals, you had to choose the four-cylinder engine. In fact, the Accord Coupe’s V6 engine wouldn’t be joined by a manual gearbox for nearly another 10 years.
2015 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe V6 interiorHonda
The first manual-equipped Accord Coupe with a V6 engine arrived in 2003, with a 3-liter, 244-horsepower V6. In 2006 and 2007, a few Accord Sedans were built with the V6 engine and six-speed manual combination, but you’d have better luck finding a unicorn. In 2008, Honda punched the V6 engine out to 3.5 liters displacement, bumping horsepower to 268 while maintaining the three-pedal option on the Accord Coupe of the day. Nine years later, in 2017, the recipe remained: the 3.5-liter V6 now generated 10 more horsepower (278 if you’re counting), and coupes could still be equipped with 3 pedals– but the end was near.
The Car Honda Tried to Kill Twice — And Couldn’t
2015 Honda Accord EX-L Coupe V6 side 3/4Honda
Let’s set up a timeline for context. In 1978, Honda debuted the first-generation Prelude. The Honda Accord had already been kicking around since 1976, but it was a three-door hatchback. The Accord Sedan first arrived in 1979, one year after the Prelude hit the market. It’d be another decade, 1988 to be exact, before the Honda Accord Coupe would first arrive.
The Accord Coupe and Prelude go on to sell side by side until Honda retired the Prelude after 2001. From this point onwards, it was now the job of the Accord model range to carry the torch as Honda’s top coupe, which it would do for another 16 years after the Prelude’s passing. The Accord Coupe was ultimately dropped as well, after the 2017 model year. May we remember these two-door legends not with sadness, but with gratitude.
Popular Honda Accord Coupe Competitors
- Toyota Camry
- Ford Mustang
- Infiniti Q60
- Dodge Challenger
- Nissan Altima
Throughout its history, the Prelude was a special car defined by innovation, built on a dedicated platform, and powered by an exclusive engine. When it was retired, a groundbreaking new Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS) front differential was bolted between the wheels, giving the Prelude front-drive handling superpowers. Fun fact: a variation of this technology would go on to power the first-generation SH-AWD system from Acura, although in the rear axle, a few years later.
2017 Honda Accord Coupe interiorHonda
By comparison, the Accord Coupe’s more mainstream engines and sedan-derived platforms and styling weren’t as exciting or exclusive or special. The Accord sold mainly because of things like safety scores and dependability, not sporty innovations and racy looks.
Related
Honda Accord Generations: Everything You Need To Know In One Place
One of the most popular sedans in the US, the Honda Accord has morphed into a near-full-size car with premium finishes and a hybrid-heavy lineup.
Sources: Honda, CarEdge
