Are the Spirior and Inspire the same car?
3 Answers
The Spirior and Inspire are not the same car. 1. The Spirior's lineage is more derived from the Acura TL, while the Inspire is purely of Accord lineage, being a model on the Accord platform that accommodates high-performance engines. 2. Early Accords were adapted to cater to the North American market's demand for powerful engines, leading Honda to gradually incorporate larger displacement engine configurations into the Accord platform. The prototype of the 7th-generation Accord did not originally feature a 3.0L displacement; it was only after its introduction to the North American market that the 3.0V6 powertrain was added to the Accord platform. By convention, this model should have been named Accord 3.0V6, but Honda directly named it Inspire. Due to the unique demands of the North American market, which required distinguishing high-displacement models to compete with rivals, the Accord's extended name, Inspire, was born. Subsequent models introduced to the Chinese and European markets did not require such differentiation, and in China, it was still called Accord 3.0V6. The 3.5V6 Inspire on the 8th-generation Accord followed the same logic. Therefore, the Inspire is essentially just a high-performance version of the Accord platform, not a sibling model. From a lineage perspective, the 4S dealerships' self-proclaimed title of 'Accord King' for the Inspire is somewhat credible. The current generation model released by Dongfeng Honda under the Inspire name feels somewhat incongruous. Perhaps the exclusive use of the 2.0T engine in future models will be the true moment to establish the Inspire's reputation.
I remember first noticing this car at a car club event, where an older guy drove a Spirior and a younger guy had an Inspire. The two almost got into an argument over it. Later, after checking some information, I learned that the Spirior was a sports sedan Honda launched early in the Chinese market, which was discontinued in 2017. The Inspire can be considered its successor, released in 2018, using a similar chassis setup but with a slightly longer body. To be honest, they do drive quite similarly—both equipped with Honda’s 1.5T and CVT powertrain, and both have a sporty steering feel. At our repair shop, we often see both models, and many parts like spark plugs and suspension bushings are interchangeable. Nowadays, if you want a new car, the Inspire is the only option, while the Spirior has become a nostalgic choice in the used car market, with prices even rising a bit.
Last time I accompanied a friend to look at cars, I encountered this confusion. The salesperson said the Inspire is the successor to the Spirior. In reality, the Spirior was in production for nearly a decade before being discontinued, known for its handling but criticized for its cramped space. The Inspire features a larger fastback design with a wheelbase extended by 5 cm, making the rear seats much more comfortable. Both cars use the Earth Dreams L15B series engines and share similar fault points, such as carbon buildup issues. However, the Inspire has significantly upgraded smart features, including standard active braking and adaptive cruise control, which the old Spirior lacked. I see them as having a father-son relationship, inheriting Honda's sporty DNA, but the new generation better understands family needs.
