The Bottom Line
What do the Guide Rating stars mean?
2008 brought the introduction of a new Honda Accord in both coupe and sedan form. The Accord coupe has always been a bit underrated and overlooked, but with the Honda Accord's new-found interior room and new-found emphasis on driver appeal, the two-door Accord would seem to have a lot more to offer. Does it? Read on.
Larger photos: Front - rear - interior - more photos
Pros
- Great looks
- Strong V6 engine
- Big back seat and trunk
- Excellent handling
Cons
- Fussy controls
- Oddly shaped trunk
Description
- Clean-sheet redesign for 2008
- Price range $22,495 - $31,145
- Model/price tested: Accord EX-L V6 coupe, $28,945
- EPA fuel economy estimates: 17-22 MPG city, 25-31 MPG highway
Guide Review - 2008 Honda Accord Coupe
I didn't expect to like the new Accord Coupe anywhere near as much as I did. I was lukewarm towards the Accord in sedan form; I admired all the room and really liked the way it drove, but I was put off by the fussy climate, stereo and navigation controls with their forest of buttons and dials. But when it comes to judging a coupe, I have an entirely different set of criteria -- and the Honda Accord Coupe exceeds them all.
Criteria #1: A coupe has to be good looking. The Accord's got that one nailed. It may not be a jaw-dropper at first glance the way the Nissan Altima coupe is, but the beauty is in the details -- the handsome face, the rakish lines, and the boat-like bulge of the trunk.
Criteria #2: A coupe has to be fun to drive. I gave the Accord coupe a hard run on the About.com Cars Top Secret Curvy Test Road, and it was hard to believe that the car I was driving was based on a humble front-wheel-drive family sedan. It's good enough to put a smile on the face of the most discriminating German car fan. I tested an EX-L model with the 268 hp V6 (link goes to photo) and six-speed manual transmission; it goes like stink, sounds great, and does it all on regular gas, not premium.
One thing that isn't on my criteria list is practicality, and yet the Accord has that in spades, with a big (if oddly shaped) trunk and adult-sized back seat that's way roomier and much easier to get into and out of than the Nissan Altima's.
And what of those complex controls? Yep, the Accord coupe has 'em, and no, I still don't like 'em. But the Accord coupe isn't facing nearly as big a group of worthy competitors as the sedan is -- and when you consider how well the Accord coupe compares to its rivals on style, space and price, the interior faux pas can be forgiven. To put it succinctly: As a sedan, the Accord is good -- but as a coupe, it's brilliant. -- Aaron Gold
