Every Honda Model Powered By The K24A Engine

Honda is an automaker that captures the attention of both regular car buyers and automotive enthusiasts. It's a company with an exceptional motorsport heritage that also makes some of the most reliable and efficient family cars available. Crucially, Honda has always strived toward engineering excellence in a compact package. Thus, it has become synonymous with reliable and powerful low-capacity engines, like the coveted K24A  –  one of the best K-series Honda engines out there.

The 2.4-liter four-cylinder K24A, with its dual overhead camshaft design and aluminum block, has found its way into numerous Honda vehicles. Once, it was the bread-and-butter engine of the Japanese automaker, together with the smaller K20. Today, it is known for being among the most reliable four-cylinder JDM engines ever and the K24A is also popular for engine swaps. Following Honda's ethos of producing cars for everyone, the K24A has been a staple among its economy vehicles too, like crossovers and minivans.

But which cars have been powered by the K24A engine? Whether you need one for your project car or just want to be informed, this article will give you the answer. It will include models from various markets and different versions of the engine. Still, each engine will belong to the K24A family, meaning the K24Z, K24Y, K24W, and K24V won't be covered. With that out of the way, let's have a closer look at all of the K24A-powered cars!

While North American buyers could enjoy a more powerful and torquier K24A1 in the 2002-2008 CR-V, Honda treated its Japanese and European customers to the much more interesting K24A2 engine. This 2.4-liter unit was a higher-output version of the same engine, producing 190 hp @6,800 rpm and 162 lb-ft @4,500 rpm. The car that received this engine was the Honda Accord Type-S — sold as the Acura TSX in North America.

The overseas Accord was a sedan with sporty aspirations, and that was especially true for the Type-S model. Although not a full-fledged Type-R variant, it was a capable car in the right hands. It was more a "Si" version of the Accord, rather than something like the more enthusiast-oriented Acura Integra Type S sold today. As such, the Accord Type-S was a very enjoyable car to drive, with balanced handling, a slick-shifting six-speed manual, and a four-cylinder engine that liked to be revved — just like any other Honda from the 2000s. It was also quick in a straight line; the 0-62 mph sprint took 7.9 seconds, with the top speed being 141 mph.

Crucially, the 2002-2008 Honda Accord Type-S was also designed for transporting families. It boasted a spacious interior and a 16 cubic foot cargo area, which made it a good buy among enthusiast parents. Its pointy nose and sharp body lines also looked very chic. No wonder it was named the 2002 Japanese Car of the Year.

Australians and New Zealanders have always enjoyed some great JDM cars, most of which never arrive on U.S. shores. One such vehicle is the Honda Accord Euro, which was similar to the Accord Type-S for the Japanese and European markets, albeit with slightly less power. Namely, the K24A3 unit in the Accord Euro was good for 188 hp and 164 lb-ft of torque and had a 7,200 rpm redline.

Like the Accord Type-S, the Euro was designed to offer the driver a more spirited experience, but without damaging the comfort bits. Even so, the slick Honda shifter and balanced chassis made the Accord Euro enjoyable on twisty roads, of course, accompanied by that high-revving K24A3 engine. Inside, Honda also equipped its sporty sedan with Recaro seats, which added to the experience.

Of course, like any Honda with a K24A engine, the Accord Euro enjoys good aftermarket support and can be easily tuned past 200 hp. Naturally-aspirated builds are more popular, but you could also go the forced-induction route for maximum power gains. Either way, the K24A3 is a solid starting point. Still, the 220-hp Accord Euro-R is an even more attractive proposition, as it is one of the most affordable yet powerful JDM cars.

Honda had no shortage of quirky cars, particularly for its domestic market. However, in 2003, the company decided to use some of that special JDM sauce in an eccentric compact SUV called the Element. People were baffled by the design, and many even hated the Honda Element. Still, there was a method to this madness — it was all for practicality.

Namely, the Element has one of the most functional interiors of any vehicle ever made, period. You could, for example, lay down all the seats and create two sleeping positions. The seats could also fold to the side to give you a long, flat floor resistant to scratching, thanks to the thermoplastic polyolefin material. Heck, the seats were even dressed up in stain-resistant fabric. Oh, and you could even remove all seats and use the Element as a cargo van. The possibilities were endless.

The engine that powered this peculiar vehicle was the K24A4, the same as the North American Accord. Here, though, the 2.4-liter unit was paired to a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual and either an FWD or 4WD system. The 4WD model was designed to be a lifestyle SUV that can take you anywhere; think of it as a surfer vehicle or a compact overlander, and you won't be far off.

For the 2006 model year, Honda refreshed the Accord with upgraded exterior styling that included changes in the front bumper and grille, rear bumper, and new LED taillights. It was still not enough to make it attractive, but the 2006-2007 Accord at least looked more polished.

The engines got massaged, too, with the 2.4-liter unit now producing 166 hp @5,800 rpm and 160 lb-ft of torque @4,000 rpm. Now coded K24A8, the improved engine had Drive-by-Wire throttle control and high-performance intake and exhaust timing. As a result, it was fairly economical, rated at 24/34 mpg city/highway. The V6 option was also more potent, producing 244 hp, and from 2005, there was also a V6 hybrid with 253 hp on tap.

Although the engines were more powerful, they didn't magically turn the North American Accord into a driver's car. Instead of chasing agility and stability, Honda doubled down on comfort, adding more sound-deadening materials and new seat fabrics. Most models, apart from the V6 Accord Coupe, also featured a five-speed automatic, which wasn't designed with sportiness in mind. So, yes, the 2006-2007 Accord is still a forgettable car, but its K24A8 engine is at least a good project-car platform.

Much like in its North American Accord and Element models, Honda used the improved K24A8 engine in the all-new, fourth-gen Odyssey minivan in Japan. Fortunately, Honda continued to offer the Absolute model with the K24A2 engine, producing 203 hp @7,000 rpm and 171 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the regular model was rated at 171 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque.

Like its predecessor, the 2008 Odyssey was offered in FWD and 4WD trims, with the former paired to a torque-converted CVT and the latter to a five-speed automatic. A manual would've been a brilliant addition to the Odyssey Absolute, but Honda probably thought buyers wouldn't want to bother with shifting gears.

The Odyssey received improvements in crucial areas. For instance, the fourth-gen model had an even lower center of gravity, ensuring better driving dynamics without sacrificing ride quality. There was also less noise in the cabin, thanks to a more rigid chassis and strategically placed vibration-absorbing materials.

Moreover, passengers could now enjoy more legroom (40 millimeters more in the second row, and 20 millimeters more in the third row), and the V-shaped seat configuration allowed all travelers a clear view forward. Thanks to a thinner tailgate, the fourth-gen Odyssey had a larger cargo area, too. And, dare we say, it looks very dynamic, leaving a bullet train impression!