What do the star ratings mean?
I’ve got champagne taste and a beer budget. I think Honda read my mind when they packaged the 2009 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan. I don’t need a fully-loaded sedan with the biggest engine and all the options, but I do want some luxuries. With a base price of $27,805 ($28,475 as tested), the 2009 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan arrives with a 3 year/36,000 miles basic warranty, a 5 year/60,000 miles powertrain warranty and EPA fuel economy estimates of 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway. Let’s drive.
First Glance: Class vs. flair
Larger photos: Front - rear - all photos
Accord has been the flagship of the Honda lineup since it was first introduced as a 1976 model. The eighth generation Accord hit our shores as a 2008 model, and has been widely praised. Aaron Gold, About.com’s Guide to Cars, was somewhat skeptical when he reviewed the new edition last year, concluding that "The new Accord will definitely appeal to Honda loyalists; whether it will rise to rule the market remains to be seen."
I’ve never been a Honda loyalist, but I do appreciate the brand’s reputation for quality and efficiency. Beauty being in the eye of the beholder and all, I have never been struck dumb by a glance in the direction of Accord. I had to sit down and study Accord’s exterior carefully to figure out why it left me unmoved. The big Japanese competition, Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, inspire a reaction from me. Camry shocks me, and Altima invigorates me. There’s nothing wrong with Accord – its controlled, elegant lines flow calmly from end to end. No sharp angles disturb the serenity. The sloped windshield and swooping greenhouse seem formed by the wind, and the intersection of roof and trunk bring to mind the modest deconstruction of the BMW 5-series. Unlike the BMW, or Camry or Altima, though, Accord is a bit slab-sided, lacking crisp detail and visually enhancing bends. Accord is just a little boring, to my eye.
Luckily, fit and finish are exemplary, adding a real sense of class to the vehicle. Class over flair – hmm, tough choice. I choose flair 9 times out of 10, though I tend to regret it later.
In the Driver’s Seat: Sweet spot
The EX-L Nav trim level really hits a sweet spot for me in Accord. The list of included luxury features includes leather trimmed seats (link goes to photo), heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat, a one-touch power moonroof, and a 270-watt 6-disc in-dash audio system with 7 speakers (including a subwoofer). The dash-mounted Honda Navigation System with Voice Recognition is simple to use, and easy to access with redundant steering wheel-mounted controls. The system also includes Bluetooth connection for compatible mobile devices. The one downside to all that technology is that the center stack is jammed full of buttons and knobs – I counted 39 of them, and there are probably more. The array makes sense, but never became intuitive for me during my week of driving.
As with the exterior, execution in some ways exceeds design inside Accord, as fit and finish are just great. Material choices feel richer than the car’s price, and that classy feeling pervades.
Jumping into the back seat, I found the accommodations to be better than adequate. I’d be comfortable riding back there during short rides, like during a carpool to work. Driving coast to coast would be another story, as the seat is a little flat for long-distance comfort, and Accord’s 14.0 cubic feet of trunk space lags behind Camry (15.0 cubic feet) and Altima (15.3 cubic feet).
On the Road: An unexpected bit of fun
Here is where Accord EX-L is right on the mark. My test vehicle had a 2.4 liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 190 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque – with a five-speed manual transmission! Wahoo! The conservative Accord just won me over by letting me have a little bit of fun. It’s like I got a look under that conservative business suit and found a thong. The slick transmission and buttery clutch allow you to wring decent performance out of the Honda engine. I didn’t even mind that I didn’t have access to the available V6 engine’s additional 81 horsepower, because the V6 only comes hitched to a five-speed automatic, no manual transmission available. The smaller engine/manual transmission combination allows Accord to deliver a great EPA highway rating of 31 mpg, and if you drive conservatively, you can even achieve it.
Accord’s chassis and suspension are surprisingly supple. Body roll is very controlled, and Accord can be quite fun do drive through a twisting course. Accord will never be mistaken for a sports car, but it does a credible job of delivering a decent driving experience.
A full array of safety features come crammed into Accord as standard equipment, including 6 air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, vehicle stability control with traction control, tire pressure monitoring, LATCH connectors on outboard rear seats and child-proof rear door locks. Good stuff for a family hauler.
Journey’s End: A matter of taste and budget
If I were going to buy an Accord, I believe that the EX-L Nav model that I drove would be right up my alley. The near-luxury features combined with the small, efficient, fun engine really caught me by surprise. I was a little sad to see the $28,475 price tag on my tester, but I realized that the 4-cylinder would save about $3,100 over choosing the V6, quite a substantial hit. If I were going to buy an Accord, I would definitely explore my options.
The mid-size sedan market is crowded with excellent choices. First among equals is the Toyota Camry, the sales leader. Nissan’s Altima is the fun leader, in my opinion. Both Camry and Altima are available with 6-speed manual transmissions mated to inline 4-cylinder engines. The Mazda6 is also a great choice, bringing a different solution to the equation. Don’t overlook the American sedans, Chevrolet Malibu and Impala, Ford Taurus and Dodge Avenger. Okay, maybe you can overlook the Avenger.
I have to agree with Aaron, though. For a Honda loyalist, there’s little doubt that Accord fits the bill. For everybody else, it will be more a matter of taste and budget. Perhaps you’ll find the sweet spot between Dom Perignon and Budweiser with the Accord. -- Jason Fogelson
