Why does the Regal look smaller than the Accord?

[Elliana]

Because the Regal is a coupe-style car, its four corners are more rounded in appearance, and the front-end height is not particularly high, making it appear smaller overall. Below are the differences between the 2021 Regal and Accord: Power: The Regal is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder LSY engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Accord is equipped with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated 4-cylinder LFB11 engine, paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission. Chassis: The Regal measures 4913mm in length, 1863mm in width, and 1462mm in height. The Accord measures 4893mm in length, 1862mm in width, and 1449mm in height.

[Alessandra]

To be honest, I've studied the data of many cars, and the actual dimensions of the Regal and Accord differ by less than 5 cm, but the visual effect is quite different. It's mainly due to the styling design. The Regal has a high waistline, a fastback roof, and a sharply tapered rear end—just like how high-waisted pants make legs look longer. The Accord plays with horizontal lines, with a chrome strip running across the entire front fascia and flat tail lights, visually stretching the car wider. Wheel size also matters—the Regal's 18-inch wheels look smaller with thick tire walls, while the Accord's thin-spoke wheels appear larger. Color plays a role too. Notice how the Regal is often displayed in black in showrooms, while the Accord uses Starry White. Dark colors naturally make things look slimmer!

[Sara]

At the 4S dealership, I compared the actual cars and noticed that Buick tends to favor sculptural body designs. For example, the Regal's pronounced wheel arch muscle lines look sharp but visually segment the body area. Honda, on the other hand, is quite clever—the Accord's hood is deliberately lowered, and the A-pillars are pushed forward to create a longer front-end proportion, making the side profile appear sleeker. The rear design is even more telling: the Regal's license plate frame is recessed into the bumper, while the Accord places it directly on the trunk lid, raising the visual center of gravity. Even the side mirror placement is deliberate—the Regal mounts them near the door's triangular window, whereas the Accord shifts them to the upper edge of the door panel, a subtle detail that makes the car's side profile look flatter. In reality, I measured the rear legroom of both cars myself, and the difference is just about two fingers' width.