With the new Accord Honda has taken the best parts of both previous Accords – the Accord V6’s plush ride and the Accord Euro’s sharp handling – and combined them to make a thoroughly convincing package.
It has its flaws, but the new Accord truly is one of the most impressive cars to come from Honda in quite some time.
Outside
Likes: Handsome and sculpted nose, distinctly Honda. While it is not the most exciting car in the world initially, its sleek looks grow on you quickly and you begins to appreciate the remarkable subtlety in its design.
Dislikes: Could be brand new, could be ten years old. Somewhat generic.
Inside
Likes: Nicely laid out in a traditional way. Again, distinctly Honda. Two screens are brilliant in practice, despite seeming a bit odd and excessive to begin with. Very ergonomically sensible. Good quality materials. Left hand mirror-mounted camera is genius. Packed with tech.
Dislikes: Seats look great, but are flat and unsupportive, and clearly made for larger (probably American) girths.
Under the bonnet
Likes: 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine has a nice muted growl. Good down low and has a revvy nature that loves the top end. Five speed auto transmission is smooth.
Dislikes: But only five speeds? Come on, Honda… While the engine has good grunt down low and plenty more up high, there is a massive torque hole in the mid-range between 3,000 and 5,000rpm. A good, tighter-spaced six-speed trans would hide a lot of this…
On the road
Likes: Ride is on the firm side, but comfortable with it. Turns in sharply and responsively. Nimble chassis is delightfully chuckable. Although light and over-assisted, the steering offers a degree of information and feedback. Feels like a smaller car than it is.
Dislikes: Lack of ratios and mid-range torque spoil a lot of the fun that the chassis promises.
Verdict
As mentioned at the start, the new Accord uses the best bits of both previous Accords – the Accord V6’s plush ride and the Accord Euro’s sharp handling – and combined them to make a thoroughly convincing package.
While neither quite as sharp as the Euro or as plush as the V6, the new Accord makes for a better all-rounder than the other two.
Well-built, with a quality interior and a compliant chassis, the Accord ticks a lot of the right boxes, but mainly it appeals because what it does right, it does very right, while what it does wrong aren’t massive issues.
The biggest of these wrongs, of course, is the way the transmission highlights the lack of mid-range torque. Around town everything plays together nicely, but out on the open road, it becomes obvious.
Not being on the cutting edge is one thing, but remaining seemingly wilfully several steps behind the competition is quite another. The mid-range torque hole is a long-time Honda characteristic and a decent, closer ratio six-speed auto would solve it nicely… shame.
Still, despite this, the Accord 2.4 is a convincing all-round package. Comfortable, nimble and well-made, it is one of the best things Honda have done for some time now.
For a Quick Drive of the Honda Accord V6 click here.
Price: $55,000
Engine: 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder petrol
Power/torque: 129kW/225Nm
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
0-100km/h: n/a
Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km
CO2 emissions: 192g/km
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