As the second-best-selling car in the U.S., Honda’s Accord promises to be one of the most significant introductions of the 2008 model year. In typical Honda style, the automaker is letting the product do the talking, foregoing a formal auto show introduction before the Accord hits dealerships in September. Honda’s best-selling model gets an extensive redesign that includes all-new styling inside and out, a spacious rear seat for the sedan, more standard safety features and more-powerful engines, including an optional V-6 with advanced fuel-saving technology.
The finished product is a sport-oriented car that is better than its predecessor — a model that was already near the top of its segment. It’s not without some weaknesses, to be sure, but overall, the positive attributes far outweigh the negative ones.
Exterior & Styling
Offered in sedan and coupe body styles, the two Accord styles are now more distinct than ever; they share no body panels or glass. The coupe has a chiseled look that’s highlighted in front by a narrow mesh grille and bulging front fenders. Both have a more upright front end than the previous-generation Accord, which featured a pointy nose.
The sedan, meanwhile, is a bit anonymous from certain angles. It’s as assertive as the coupe when viewed head-on, with a bit of previous-generation Nissan Altima in its grille and headlights, but it loses some presence as you move around to the sides and rear. The rear-quarter of the car has a remarkable resemblance to BMW’s 5 Series, what with the kink in the C-pillar and taillights that wrap around the side of the car. The base LX sedan has standard steel wheels with hubcaps, while the LX-P trim comes with 16-inch alloy rims. If you step up to any of the EX sedans, 17-inch alloy wheels are installed. The base LX-S coupe starts off with 17-inch alloy wheels, but choosing a V-6-powered two-door brings 18-inchers.
Ride & Handling
The new Accord’s ride quality is an improvement over the outgoing model because it offers softer tuning that should appeal to more family-sedan buyers while still delivering the sporty driving feel the car is known for. Honda has found the sweet spot here, with a driving experience that rivals the sporty characteristics of the Nissan Altima, without the Altima’s stiff ride on rough surfaces, while equaling the Toyota Camry’s ride smoothness, without its floaty, unsure responses on winding roads.
The Accord’s four-wheel independent suspension features a double-wishbone design in front and a new multilink setup in back. On the road, the Accord is taut without being punishing, and the sedan recovers quickly without any extra bobbing after hitting a bump or dip in the road. Even though there’s noticeable body roll on twisty roads, it’s by no means excessive and is counteracted by a sense of stability when driving the car aggressively. The sedan is equally at home on the highway, where the compliant suspension tuning and supportive — though slightly lumpy — leather front bucket seats make for low-fatigue driving.
Going & Stopping
The Accord can have either of two four-cylinder engines or a new 3.5-liter V-6. When paired with the automatic transmission, the V-6 comes with Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management, a fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation technology that’s in use on versions of the company’s Odyssey minivan. The performance-oriented V-6 coupe with the manual transmission doesn’t get VCM.
VCM has been enhanced in the new Accord, with a new four-cylinder mode in addition to the three- and six-cylinder modes. According to Honda, this new mode allows the Accord V-6 to cruise on four cylinders at highway speeds. Three-cylinder mode, meanwhile, is used for city cruising, while six-cylinder mode is activated when full power is needed.
In both the coupe and sedan, the four-cylinder engines can team with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 sedan is only available with a five-speed automatic, but the V-6 coupe can have a six-speed manual instead of the automatic. I tested four-cylinder- and V-6-powered EX sedans.
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