New Honda Accord Saloon and Tourer review
Author: David Miles
Published: 16 April 2008
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
If bold, muscular good looks, sharp styling lines, sculptured body panels, a wide stance, all wrapped around a stiffer body and with more fuel and CO2 efficient engines really add value, then perhaps Honda UK can justify the average eight per cent price increase over the outgoing range.But increasing the price and making the car more visually impressive does not guarantee premium status being achieved against the likes of the new Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class offerings.Saloon prices start from £19,260 and Tourer from £20,560. Those wanting the new 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel engine will pay a steep £1,800 more for this engine option over the 2.0-litre petrol unit.UK corporate and business customers - who will buy 60 per cent of new Accord models - will see the new Saloon variants appearing in UK showrooms ready for sale from June. Estate car buyers who prefer the better looking Tourer models will have to wait until September.
New Honda Accord i-DTEC engine debuted
Making its debut in the new Accord is Honda’s second-generation diesel engine – the i-DTEC – which builds on the recognised refinement of the award-winning i-CTDi unit. Not only is the new diesel more powerful – offering 147 bhp at 4,000 rpm – it also offers cleaner emissions and is smoother to drive.Like its predecessor, the new i-DTEC engine is compact, lightweight, refined and quiet in operation. It employs the latest piezoelectric multi-stage fuel injection technology, more efficient exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter for significantly reduced emissions. Peak torque is now 258 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm.Second of the three engine options is the 2.0-litre petrol i-VTEC which offers 153 bhp at 6,300 rpm, and also improves on its fuel economy. Key technological changes include increased diameter intake valves, further optimised valve lift and timing and increased inlet and exhaust air flow volumes.The third engine option is the 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine which is also more powerful, delivering a respectable 200 PS at 7,000 rpm and peak torque of 187 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. Behind the figures are a compression ratio increased from 10.5 to 11.0:1, larger valves, revised valve timing, and reduced exhaust system pressures.All three engines are matched to a 6-speed manual transmission, while both petrol engines have the option of a 5-speed automatic. An automatic gearbox for the i-DTEC engine will be launched in early 2009.Manual models feature a Shift Indicator Light which appears in the centre of the rev counter. ‘UP’ or ‘DOWN’ graphics are displayed to advise the driver of the optimum point, in terms of best fuel economy, at which to change gear. Honda says tests have demonstrated fuel savings of as much as five per cent by following these commands.To create a more involving, communicative drive, the Accord development team used the highly-rated BMW 3 Series as a benchmark and Honda says enthusiastic drivers will appreciate the new and larger Accord’s greater agility. A lowered centre of gravity, a wider track and the all-new front double wishbone and rear multi-link suspension with variable rate dampers, plus greater body rigidity should mean the Accord more readily reacts to driver input. Handling is sharper and more responsive, body roll is still evident but has been reduced over the previous Accord, and the ride is much softer than the BMW 3 Series.Speed sensitive electric power steering is standard on all models and a quicker steering ratio has also been adopted but the feedback is still muted for enthusiastic driver’s who prefer sharper reactions to their input.New Honda Accord boasts interior style and substance
Inside the new Accord has a more driver-focused cabin, with a dashboard that extends from the centre console to sweep around the front seats, creating a cockpit-like design. The added width of the car has allowed this without intruding on driver or passenger space, thus maximising comfort levels.The dash itself features ‘floating’ backlit instruments, with an LCD multi-information display contained within the centre of the speedometer face. Controls positioned on the steering wheel allow the driver to cycle the display through multiple screens of information. A new feature is a service reminder that presents the driver with either the distance or days remaining to a required service, with an enlarged warning symbol appearing when the due date is imminent.The three spoke steering wheel follows a similar design to recent Honda models, and holds a complete suite of controls – including audio, cruise control and mobile telephone control. It is fully adjustable for reach and rake, with an extra 10 degrees of tilt adjustment compared to the previous Accord.The new front seats are stylish and more supportive with larger bolsters and they have a new internal structure designed to reduce any transmission of vibration. The rear row of seats offers plenty of width for three adult passengers. The Tourer estate models have a reasonable load area although the wheel arches intrude too far into the car limited load carrying width. However would-be Accord Tourer buyers will enjoy the rear end styling of the new model, very Audi Avant with its wide track and muscular wheel arches.Clever storage solutions ensure the car is as practical as ever, including two centre console side pockets; a lidded storage area to the side of the steering wheel; large front door pockets able to hold bottles and maps; bottle holders in the rear door panels, and a large centre console box.The Accord’s passive safety features include front seatbelt pre-tensioners and load limiters, dual stage front, driver and front passenger side and full-length curtain airbags and ISOFIX fittings and tether anchor points for secure child seat fixture on all models. There's also front seat active headrests which are triggered when the occupant is pushed into the seat in the event of a rear impact, so causing a rigid plate to activate a link to the headrest which pushes it forward to support the head.New Honda Accord puts safety first
As well as a host of passive safety features, the new Accord has a comprehensive array of dynamic systems delivering even greater security. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is standard across the range and is designed to assist the driver in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres by applying braking to the right or left hand wheels as necessary and modulating the engine torque output as required.The new Accord also features an innovative system that utilises both VSA and the car’s Electric Power Steering. Called Motion Adaptive EPS, it detects instability in slippery conditions both during cornering and under braking and automatically initiates steering inputs aimed to prompt the driver to steer in the correct direction.The input is barely noticeable and control of the steering remains with the driver at all times. But this supporting steering torque is enough to prompt the driver to act intuitively and the driver’s reaction as a result is enough to regain stability or to shorten braking distances, allowing control to be maintained.Another important feature of Honda’s VSA is Trailer Stability Assist which ensures, by using a combination of reduced engine torque and selective braking, that the vehicle is slowed to a safe and stable speed if snaking should occur while towing.Honda continues to bring its latest safety technology to more drivers by offering an updated version of ADAS (Advanced Driving Assist System) as an option – and for the first time this will feature CMBS (Collision Mitigation Braking System).So from is new nose to its new tail via is much larger and more impressive muscular body the latest Honda Accord has moved up in class and quality as well as price. In addition, being a Honda, you know it is well put together but I’m not totally convinced all the top quality ingredients are going to guarantee it a huge slice of the premium D-segment cake. It’s a worthy effort though.MILESTONES:Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC Saloon ES GT £21,910. (Likely best selling model)Engine: 2.2-litre, four-cylinder, DOHC 16-valve, all aluminium turbo diesel unit with exhaust gas recirculation and integrated diesel particulate filter, Euro V compliant, 147 bhp, 258 lb-ft of torque from 2,000rpm.Performance: 1341mph, 0-62mph9.6 seconds, 50.4mpg average, (51.6mpg actual) CO2 148g/km, VED Band C £120, Benefit in Kind tax 20%.Insurance group: 10E/11E.Dimensions: 4,726mm long, 1,840mm wide, 1,440mm high. Boot capacity: 460-litres.For: Honda build quality and technical engineering, new muscular looks, more interior space, new strong and quiet diesel engine, lower servicing/parts costs, improved residual values.Against: Significant increase in purchase price, comfort handling, some cheap looking finishes to interior trim, too much wheel arch intrusion in the Tourer load area.
advertisement
The ‘Tumbler’ Batmobile – as seen in The Dark Knight - is always cause for much discussion amongst Bat fans. Some though go that much further, by making their own Batmobile. These people often carry American passports. | 21/08/2008
The Trident Iceni two-seater sports car can hit 62mph in under four seconds, top out at 200mph and record 100mpg at a constant 30mph, according to its makers - Trident Performance Vehicles. | 21/08/2008
Is this the fastest MINI in the world? At 650bhp from the 1.6-litre engine we certainly hope so. | 21/08/2008
The new MINI John Cooper Works has already claimed the title of Best Hot Hatch 2008, awarded by Auto Express, despite only having been ons ale for a month. | 21/08/2008
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been crowned Best Luxury Car at the Auto Express New Car Honours for the third consecutive year. | 21/08/2008
|18/08/2008
The new seven-seater Nissan Qashqai+2 will go on sale in mid-September, costing from £17,199.
|18/08/2008
Our third batch of Supercar exotica from the last decade comes in the futuristic form of the Lamborghini Reventon.
|18/08/2008
Peugeot has revised the 407 saloon, SW and coupe for 2009, with the new model going on sale in September with exterior and interior enhancements and new low-CO2 diesel engine.
|18/08/2008
New Dodge Journey 5+2 SUV Crossover targets families on its August launch, by adding a couple more seats, extra storage and rear conversation mirrors. All from £17K.
|18/08/2008
UK motorists risk custodial sentences for driving whilst distracted, as new powers to imprison drivers using mobiles and programming sat nav handed down to courts.
|20/11/2007
Around 400 people a day risk damaging their car by misfuelling, and filling up with gas is a mistake that could cost thousands. So what do you do if you´ve filled up your diesel car with unleaded petrol?
|06/12/2007
Fuel protests similar to those that brought the UK to a halt in 2000 are being planned by a breakaway group of disaffected hauliers, according to press reports.
|28/03/2008
Volkswagen has been forced to issue a statement on the Polo singing dog advert after complaints that the dog was mistreated. VW says the animal was not harmed.
|16/10/2007
Top Gear in hot water again over smoking ban breach after Clarkson and May spark up Porsche ´911´ pipes.
|14/07/2008
If looks alone guaranteed success for any car, the Mazda RX-8 would be a sellout. The 1.3-litre rotary engine with 229bhp is a big plus too.
Search Motortorque:
No readers comments
Be the first to write a comment on this article