As Kelley Blue Book sought out the winner of the 2021 Midsize Car Best Buy Award, many had their eyes on last year’s winner, the Honda Accord. The competition was stiff this year, with a number of well-performing front-runners, but ultimately the Honda Accord once again took first place, being named KBB’s Midsize Car Best Buy for the second year in a row.

What’s new in the 2021 Honda Accord

Far from being one of Honda’s least reliable vehicles, the 2021 Honda Accord has minor upgrades and changes that have shifted it to the front of the pack once again for Midsize Car Best Buy of 2021. A new front grille means better integration of the radar unit, and upper trim levels have new LED lights and alloy wheel designs. The 8-inch infotainment screen is standard on all levels, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, making it friendly for both iPhone and Android users.

Plus, with a new Sport Special Edition that features leather upholstery, heated front seats, and more, buyers can customize their Honda Accord to their liking, with trim levels designed for a wide range of prospective purchasers.

The Honda Accord has a reliable foundation

It wasn’t just the upgrades and new edition that bumped the Honda Accord back up to the top of KBB’s Best Buy Award list. After all, the Honda Accord did win the award last year as well, and it did so with a notably stylistic exterior, a roomy cabin, a large trunk, and advanced powertrains. Even without having a complete makeover to the model since 2018, the Honda Accord has just the right amount of functionality and uniqueness to continue to stand out in its field of midsize cars.

With the look and feel of a luxury car, at a price that’s affordable and a historically high resale value, the Honda Accord is a standout choice for winning this coveted award two years in a row. Kelley Blue Book stated that “what continues to impress us about the Accord is the roominess of the cabin. The front bucket seats are comfortable and supportive, while the rear-seat legroom is exceptional,” meaning the Accord has something that many midsize sedans lack: the ability to be comfortable and have a good amount of room without having to upgrade to an SUV.

This Honda has stiff competition

KBB also noted some of the Accord’s most prominent competition, including the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5. The recent makeover of the Hyundai Sonata certainly stood out and gave Hyundai a leg up in the competition, but ultimately wasn’t enough to take home first place. With a lower profile, wider base, and re-imagined exterior, the Sonata certainly stood out, but going up against last year’s winner proved to be too tough for it to handle.

The newly named Kia K5 was another noteworthy entry into the competition this year, with upgrades designed to make a midsize car look stunning while handling the road and offering a smooth, easy ride. These changes weren’t enough to beat out the reliability of the Honda Accord, giving Hyundai and Kia a backseat to the amazing work that Honda has done with the 2021 Accord.

Versatility mixed with tradition

The Honda Accord has long held one of the highest resale values on the market, and the 2021 model is no different in that regard. Playing off of what the Accord is known for and introducing a hybrid option that gets 48 mpg, as well as new trim levels, Honda knows what it’s doing here and has once again won KBB’s most coveted award for midsize cars for the second year in a row. Keeping up with this momentum, it’s hard to see what could possibly eke out a win against the Honda Accord in 2022.