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2021 Honda Model Year Changes
  
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Accord

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid2021 Honda Accord Hybrid courtesy Honda Auto News

1.5T, 2.0T and Hybrid models are all refreshed. A new grille, new, smaller lower fog light openings and multi-unit LED headlights (Sport and above) are the primary changes in front. LX, EX-L and Touring get new wheel designs. The headlights are intended to increase Accord's rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to "Top Safety Pick Plus."

The changes to the front result in almost four inches more overall length and up to almost twenty pounds curb weight without any improvement to the interior dimensions.

peculatingThe 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and HondaLink is now standard on all models. EX Hybrid, EX-L, and Touring models get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Lighted vanity mirrors are now standard. Wireless phone charging is expanded, now on EX Hybrid, EX-L, Sport 2.0T and Touring. EX-L no longer offers navigation, which is only available and standard on Touring.

The manual transmission versions are all discontinued, leaving only a CVT or a ten-speed automatic. Idle-Stop is now standard on 1.5T, but if it annoys you, the 2.0T's engine keeps peculating at traffic lights.

Accord Hybrid is retuned to improve throttle feel and give more immediate acceleration from a stop. Hybrid Touring now gets a separate EPA rating, a lower 44 city and 41 highway. In the meantime other models (base, EX and EX-L) gain 1 MPG highway, now rated 48 city/48 highway.

Accord Hybrid Touring now uses the larger 235/40R19 tires of the 2.0T Touring, accounting for the lower fuel mileage of that model.

A new Rear Seat Reminder is standard; it takes note is a rear door was opened immediately before or during the present trip and then warns the driver to check the back seat. A rear seatbelt reminder system is also added. Touring models get standard Low Speed Braking Control, a system which uses the ultrasonic parking sensors to detect objects while parking and then automatically applies the brakes before striking an obstacle. The standard adaptive cruise control has been tweaked to allow for smoother braking. EX-L models now have the front and rear parking sensors, but without the automatic braking function.

A new Accord Sport SE with the 1.5 turbo engine is introduced, it basically takes the place of the Accord EX with that engine, which is discontinued, but with leather seats and 19-inch wheels.

Civic

2021 Honda Civic Hatchback stock photo

No more Civic coupe. This applies to the Civic Si as well. Also, the sedan loses its third pedal (#SavetheManuals), so only the Hatchback Sport and Sport Touring still offers a manual transmission.

Hatchback no longer offers an EX-L trim.

Civic Type R

2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition courtesy Honda Auto News

Civic Type R Limited Edition amps up performance by dropping 46 pounds. Forged wheels and less sound deadening materials account for part of the reduced mass, the rest by eliminating the rear wiper and rear seat heater ducts. Higher performance Michelin Cup 2 tires retuned steering rack and retuned adaptive damping suspension enhance handling and take advantage of the reduced unsprung weight. The Limited Edition is an honest name, only 600 will be made, each with a numbered plaque and painted "Phoenix Yellow." You'll pay $6500 for the privilege.

CR-V

2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid stock photo

The Honda CR-V Hybrid LX is discontinued, so the hybrid line starts with the EX, now. The standard turbo engined version still starts with LX. This means automatic one-touch front passenger window, illuminated visor mirrors, dual zone air conditioning, variable intermittent front wipers, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, 12-way power memory driver's seat, Blind Spot Information System, rear Cross Traffic Monitor, power moonroof, security system, HondaLink smartphone integration, satellite radio, and rear privacy glass are therefore standard now on CR-V Hybrid.

Clarity

2021 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell stock photo

The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Fuel Cell are unchanged for 2021. There was no 2020 Clarity Electric and no sign it will return for 2021.

Fit

Gone.

HR-V

2021 Honda HR-V

The HR-V Touring is discontinued, leaving the EX-L as the top model; as such, navigation, power driver's seat, LED headlights and Homelink garage door opener are no longer offered. Sport, EX and EX-L wheel designs are new. HR-V Sport now has rear privacy glass.

Odyssey

2021 Honda Odyssey

2021 Honda Odyssey, courtesy Honda Auto News

Honda's minivan gets a refresh, with new, standard LED headlights, a new grille, bumpers and lower side air intakes. Overall length is up by two inches; sadly, none of it increases interior room or cargo space.

New safety equipment includes a standard Rear Seat Reminder which on higher models can show a camera view, pedestrian detection added to the forward collision warning and Collision Mitigation Braking System, and Traffic Sign Recognition. With Honda Sensing® now standard on all trims, Odyssey LX gains Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigating Braking System, Lane Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Automatic High Beams and Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane-Keeping. The Adaptive Cruise Control now includes Low Speed Follow, to help with traffic jams. 

Elite models get new automatic dimming side-view mirrors in addition to the interior auto dimming rearview mirror.

The Odyssey Touring now shares the Elite's 235/55R19 tires with 19-inch wheels; it also gains the Rear Seat Entertainment system and 120-volt rear seat outlet. Other models still have 235/60R18. The Touring model loses the hands-free tailgate feature and wireless phone charger, though, balancing things out.

Passport

2021 Honda Passport

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is now standard on all models, including Sport. The large 8-inch touch screen audio screen is also now standard on all Passports.

Pilot

2021 Honda Pilot Special Edition

The 9-speed automatic is now standard on all models, resulting in better fuel mileage for lower trims. The 6-speed is discontinued.

A Special Edition is now offered; built on the EX-L trim, it adds 20-inch black wheels, black roof rails, black grille and front and rear lower bumper covers. Additional equipment includes a hands-free foot operated tailgate and a wireless phone charger.

Dual-zone automatic climate control is now standard on Pilot LX.

Ridgeline

2021 Honda Ridgeline

2021 Honda Ridgeline, courtesy Honda Auto News

The Ridgeline gets a significant refresh with all new front-clip sheet metal, including front fenders, hood, grille lights and bumpers. LED headlights are now standard. New wheel designs still sport 18-inches, but the track width is increased almost an inch, leading to greater stability.

On the inside a redesigned infotainment screen boasts a physical volume knob. A new wireless phone charger is standard on RTL-E and Black Edition.

The 280-horsepower V6 and 9-speed automatic remain the same, but the all-wheel drive system is again standard.

An auto dimming rearview mirror, memory driver's seat, Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor are both now also standard on RTL. The clever, but sometimes annoying blind spot monitoring system is no longer offered.

Remote engine start is now standard on all models.

 
 

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