- Sporty, driver-oriented character
- Comfortable seats
- Lots of standard safety equipment and good crash test scores
- Voice-activated navigation/radio/climate controls
- Excellent reliability and resale values
- Overly-complex stereo and A/C controls (only with optional nav system)
- Folding rear seats reveal laughably tiny trunk pass-through
- Very limited factory options list; dealer-installed add-ons are expensive
- Dull styling
- Available as a 2-door mid-size coupe and 4-door mid-size sedan
- $27,850 base (EX-V6), $29,850 as tested
- 3.0 liter V6, 244 hp @ 6250 RPM, 211 lb-ft @ 5000 RPM, 6-speed manual
- Front-wheel-drive
- EPA estimated fuel economy: 21 MPG city, 30 MPG highway
- Also available with a 5-speed automatic and 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine (manual or automatic)
- Built in US, Mexico and Japan
- Best rivals: Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima
My top-of-the-line EX tester had a V6 engine, leather seats and satellite navigation system. Standard EX safety equipment includes antilock brakes, electronic stability control, and airbags all around. Crash test stores are excellent.
V6 Accords used to be automatic-only, but a 6-speed manual is now optional, a darn good one with a sporty shifter feel and light, traffic-friendly clutch. It definitely cranked up the Accord's fun-to-drive factor, and we averaged about 24 MPG, decent for a car this fast and roomy. The Accord is also available with a 4-cylinder engine that offers plenty of power and even better economy.
The navigation system includes a big color touch screen. Navigation is great but many climate and stereo controls can only be accessed via the same touch screen, requiring too much attention diverted from the road. That said, a new voice recognition system helps. To turn down the fan, press a button on the steering wheel, say "Fan speed one", and the car complies. Just like Star Trek.
By the end of test week Robin and I had put nearly twice as many miles on the Accord as we do most test cars. The Accord was so enjoyable that we just kept reaching for the keys.
