HONDA ACCORD HAS CLASS

Elegant styling is a feature of the latest edition of the Honda Accord

The all-new Honda Accord is an impressive piece of automotive engineering that’s aimed at those who realise it provides close to the same quality as the big German marques, but without their high price tags. Image is important to many car buyers, but the new Accord is worth serious consideration even if you can afford something more expensive.

With the four-cylinder version of the Accord starting at just $31,490 you get a lot of car for a minimal outlay. The topline V6 Accord L is loaded with many upmarket features often only found in very expensive European cars and has a recommended retail of $51,990. On-road costs have to be factored in.

Seating is comfortable in these spacious cars with good legroom in the rear even when a tall person is driving. Headroom is reduced when a sunroof is installed, but remains acceptable.

There’s a strong emphasis on luxury, even in the rear compartment, and this big Honda could be regarded as a limo, a role it performs in many Asian countries.

An impressive feature is the use of noise cancelling technology. Small microphones ‘listen’ to the interior noise and generate sound waves to cancel out, or at least minimise, unwanted sounds. This results in a very quiet cabin that’s most pleasant to ride in.

Accord has two large, easy to read, screens for the driving and infotainment systems that we found quick and intuitive to use, and creating a minimum of distraction. Interior stowage space is limited; the door pockets are too small as are the centre console boxes. Thus you may find yourself driving with too many items on the passenger seat, resulting in inconvenience as they wander about during cornering and braking.

Boot space in the all-new Honda Accord is good, but it has lost depth as it has been modified to take a full-size spare wheel/tyre for the Australian market. A space saver would make much more sense in a car that’s unlikely to ever be taken deep into outback Oz.

Our test Honda Accord had a four-cylinder 2.4-litre petrol engine that puts out 129 kW of power and 225 Nm of torque. This engine is impressively responsive and we loved the spritely feel it gave off the line. Our car had an automatic transmission that was a little rough in its changes at times. Other than that it reacted quickly to driver input through the throttle and was generally in the right gear on all occasions.

Fuel consumption was usually in the range of seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres in the country and about nine to ten around town.

There’s also the option of a V6 displacing 3.5 litres, for 206 kW and 339 Nm. Our experience at the launch of the car a few months ago on hilly country in New Zealand showed it too has strong torque and fast reactions.

There’s a strong emphasis on the safety provided by crash avoidance and/or mitigation features in the Accord. These include radar cruise control, lane keeping assistance, automatic braking, blind spot warning and reversing cameras. Not all items are standard in every model, so check with your dealer or Honda’s head office for details.

Honda Accord has received maximum five-star ratings in crash testing.

The all-new Honda Accord is softer in its suspension and steering than its competitors, but this is a deliberate move to push comfort ahead of other aspects. If smoothness, luxury and near silence inside a car is your thing then the new Honda Accord should sit high on your short list. And in any case Honda continues to import the model it calls the Accord Euro for those who do like to pedal along a bit harder. This is smaller than the Accord we drove and its design is getting on in years.

AT A GLANCE

MODEL RANGE
VTi 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $31,490 (automatic)
VTi-S 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $33,990 (automatic)
VTi-L 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $41,490 (automatic)
VTi-L ADAS 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $44,990 (automatic)
V6L 3.5-litre four-door sedan: $51,990 (automatic)
Euro 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $30,340 (manual), $32,640 (automatic)
Euro Luxury 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $37,840 (manual), $40,140 (automatic)
Euro Luxury Navigation 2.4-litre four-door sedan: $43,140 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include government or dealer delivery charges. Contact your local Honda dealer for driveaway prices.

FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in all models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in all models
Cruise Control: Standard in all models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in all models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in all models
Electronic Stability Program: Standard in all models
Rear Parking Sensors: Not offered in VTi or Euro, standard in all other models
Reversing Camera: Not offered in Euro or Euro Luxury, standard in all other models
USB/Auxiliary Audio Inputs: Standard in all models
Bluetooth: Standard in all models
Steering Wheel Mounted Controls: Standard in all models

SPECIFICATIONS (Honda Accord VTi 2.4-litre four-door sedan)

ENGINE:
Capacity: 2.356 litres
Configuration: Four cylinders in line
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Bore and Stroke: 87.0 x 99.1 mm
Compression Ratio: 10.0:1
Maximum Power: 129 kW @ 6200 rpm
Maximum Torque: 225 Nm @ 4000 rpm

DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Front
Manual Transmission: Not offered
Automatic Transmission: Five-speed
Final Drive Ratio: Not supplied

DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4885 mm
Wheelbase: 2775 mm
Width: 1850 mm
Height: 1465 mm
Turning Circle: 10.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1510 kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65 litres
Boot Capacity: 461 litres
Towing Ability: 500 kg (1600 kg with braked trailer)

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: MacPherson struts
Rear Suspension: Multi-link
Front Brakes: Ventilated disc
Rear Brakes: Disc

FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 91RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/02): 7.9 L/100km

GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 6.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 6.5/10

STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/100,000 km