Are The Accord And The Corolla Simply Past Their Prime?

Toyota Corolla and Honda Accord are icons of the Japanese automakers’ rise to US market dominance over the last generation — reliable performers on the road, steady draws in the showroom, dependably lauded by public and press alike. And the OEMs have just produced a new generation of each venerable model.

But the long, long run of success could be nearing an end for both Accord and Corolla. Year-to-date sales are off for each nameplate more than for each OEM overall. Proliferating competition — some from sibling models — is squeezing them. Consumer consideration of Corolla or Accord doesn’t translate as predictably as before into purchase. High gasoline prices and a shaky economy have roiled the picture still further.

And it could just be that, well, Americans are tiring of vehicles that have been around since 1966, in the case of Corolla, and since 1976 in the case of Accord. Some Detroit Three nameplates have been retired and then resuscitated in that time span.

“They may just have been around too long,” said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, an industry think tank in Ann Arbor, Mich. “It’s too early to tell a definitive story about them, but it’s pretty clear that something is going on.”



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lexusrox123 - 3/31/2008 1:54:17 PM

+4 Boost

does anybody care??????????

Homer008 - 3/31/2008 2:11:00 PM

+4 Boost

Honda Accord has been on the top 10 best car lists on the C&D for incredible 22 years straight..that's morethan any other car that even comes close! Not to mention Honda Accord configured into a wagon just won a DOT award in bias crazed Germany. Having said that, name a single make and a brand that could even come close to these two cars? Answer: NONE b/c some may have similar features but it totally goofs on the reliability test which is the most important criteria for the majority of the people around the world and yes that includes Europeans too if not more. Now, if VW can get their head out of their fat lazy asses and start building some real car that'll last a few years with out falling apart into little pieces..then VW might actually might give a Chevrolet a challenge. But I doubt it. VW don't even have a hybrid..chevy does and technology is basically leaps and bounds beyond any european ancient engineering and designs of the 80's and 90's i.e. Audi sad to say.

bigmotov - 3/31/2008 2:30:19 PM

+5 Boost

"It's pretty clear that something is going on." A lot can contribute to the so-called off sales figures. You could probably see declines in most vehicles. I'd like to see how other cars with this much history have done in comparison to the Accord & Camry over this same period of time. For the sake of argument, you could also argue that this why they are so popular is because of their long history.

S4cabriofoxone - 3/31/2008 2:33:10 PM

+4 Boost

I don't think it has anything to do with their nameplates, but with the cars themselves.

They are simply not enough improved over their predecessors to remain relevant in this cutthroat market.

The time is ripe for Ford to bring its sexy Mondeo across the pond!

S4cabriofoxone - 3/31/2008 2:35:21 PM

+2 Boost

BTW, this article is talking about the Toyota Corolla.

mini22 - 3/31/2008 2:50:16 PM

0 Boost

I think the new Malibu is just as good as the 2 makes from Toyota and Honda. In addition the interior is more appealing. The Fusion is not bad but it's not quite there yet. I think part of the reason is as S4cabriofoxone said. They(Honda Accord and Toyota Camry) are not significantly improved over predessesors.In fact some have said the previous Accord was a better drivers car.The Camry is nice but frankly a bit stale in terms of style and driving dynamics. The new Corolla has a powerful new engine but the interior is no nicer then the previous one and not up to the design of the Mazda 3. In addition the Mazda 3 has a far superior suspension then the new Corolla.Toyota sticks to the same old formula for these cars. It has worked well for them but perhaps people are starting to need some more diversity.

NItePhire - 3/31/2008 3:02:03 PM

+2 Boost

With the Accord styling going from boring to fugly might be one reason for the decline. Also I think people just want something different and not just a another Camry or Accord. Also the Civic is about 4/5ths the size of the last generation Accord, and if I have a Civic that is about 8 years old I might not need a car the size of the new Accord at all.

JUGNU - 3/31/2008 3:05:07 PM

+3 Boost

"They are simply not enough improved over their predecessors to remain relevant in this cutthroat market."

so u think if 1966 corolla was a corolla then the 2008 should have been improved and become a LS460.

They have certainly improved over their predecessors like most other cars. Toyota corolla and Honda Accord are very competitive in their respective classes. In fact both all new for 2008 are currently the best in their classes.

btw so what if in US Corolla and Accord sales are going down. In other countries especially Asia these cars are selling better than ever or atleast as good as before. Not to mention expecially Corolla nameplate carries a lot of Trust.

People will just never stop buying Corollas.

JUGNU

07G35J - 3/31/2008 4:54:22 PM

+3 Boost

I agree.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/1/2008 1:09:57 AM

+1 Boost

"They have certainly improved over their predecessors like most other cars. Toyota corolla and Honda Accord are very competitive in their respective classes. In fact both all new for 2008 are currently the best in their clas"

You don't understand.

OBVIOUSLY the new Corolla is better than the one that came out in 1966. It's a very good car. However, it isn't enough improved over the LAST gen. There have been new small cars that have come onto the scene since then, such as the Mazda3, VW Rabbit and Honda Civic. All of those cars are arguably better than the Corolla.

You say it's the "leader" in its class? Let's see. In two magazines I got this month, there were comparisons of the small sedans.

Car & Driver

1. VW Rabbit S
2. Subaru Impreza 2.5i
3. Toyota Corolla
4. Saturn Astra XR
5. Mitsubishi Lancer GTS
6. Suzuki SX4 Sport
7. Scion xD
8. Ford Focus SE (fully deserved)

I don't know why the Civic was left out.

Motor Trend

1. Mazda3 S Grand Touring
2. Honda Civic EX
3. Subaru Impreza 2.5i Premium
4. Toyota Corolla XRS

As for the Accord. It's a really good car, but now I think I would actually buy a Malibu over it.

EL34 - 3/31/2008 3:39:28 PM

-4 Boost

Yes.

M35MT - 3/31/2008 4:34:04 PM

+5 Boost

That's like saying people will stop buying the 3 series.

So, no.

S4cabriofoxone - 4/1/2008 1:11:14 AM

+1 Boost

Except, the 3 Series is still the leader in its class, while the Corolla isn't.

0to60 - 3/31/2008 5:19:58 PM

+1 Boost

They just need better styling. Make the corolla a lil bigger and a lil more solid and you might have a winner there. The accord is just ugly. Every design engineer for Honda needs to be fired and the new ones need to go back to the drawing board on every car in their portfolio. They need to fix it now while they are still close to the top.

no1listensanyway - 3/31/2008 5:27:38 PM

+4 Boost

The corolla and accord have depeneded on functionality and survivors of everyday transportation. Today, you can have those attributes in much more stylish packages. Instead of an accord, you can get a sporty Altima or a good looking Malibu or Aura. Instead of a plain jane Corolla, get a Mazda 3,or a V-dub. I know personally, 5 ppl who have accords and that have NO interest in the new one.

Homer008 - 4/1/2008 2:55:29 AM

+1 Boost

Oldsmobile's aura *sp. is now defunct.

dbrebel - 4/1/2008 10:05:55 AM

+1 Boost

Oldsmobile's *Aurora* is defunct. Saturn's Aura is a current production model.

jt716 - 3/31/2008 6:46:12 PM

+1 Boost

I have seen the new accord and I actually like it a lot! It definitely looks better in person than in pictures. The Corolla is also pretty good better than the pervious model people will still buy both models because they are reliable and very familiar. A lot of people here still think all American cars are gas guzzlers.

lexusrox123 - 3/31/2008 7:11:09 PM

+2 Boost

it'll be a while before the malibu, aura, the like (from america) will win the respect of consumers. hard to rise from a bad (gas guzzling, cheap int.) reputation.
time will tell.

supermoto - 3/31/2008 7:08:19 PM

+1 Boost

Yup. The epitome of the word 'appliance'

Htay7500 - 4/1/2008 8:36:55 AM

+4 Boost

I guess people who drive a nice german car aren't supporting the industries as well? no one gives a damn about the car industry. thats the companies fault.