Gently striking Accord

It’s big, it’s bold, it’s American. Well, technically it’s Japanese. But you’d be forgiven if you didn’t recognize it at first: It’s Honda’s 9th generation Accord. After much consideration, Honda decided that we’d get the Accord built for the North American market, which is styled differently, and larger. However, it is not as large as the Accord on American showroom floors, yet it is bigger than previous European models, which were sold in South Africa. The Accord is a whole 16cm longer than its predecessor, and in the US, it competes with the likes of the Toyota Camry. The Accord is quite the success story, especially in the US. It was the best-selling Japanese car from 1982 to 1997, and by 2001, ten million vehicles had been sold. The Accord is rated as one of the most reliable vehicles. Ever.

Level-headed & logical

The Honda Accord is best described as a mid-sized, executive saloon. Those words immediately conjure up a picture of the typical driver of this car: an educated, spectacled, professional, middle-aged sort of guy in a freshly laundered suit, who reads the paper at the breakfast table every morning and tucks the kids in with a bedtime story at night. He never gets drunk at parties, or he offers to be the designated driver. Perhaps not terribly exciting, but a normal, sensible chap you can count on, with good values. Actually, he shares a lot of character traits with the latest Honda Accord. It is safe and reliable. It’s nothing flashy, and it can carry all of your baggage, as well as warn you if you’re about to do something stupid. Can the Accord do this? It sure can.

Austere Accord

The Accord’s exterior styling is not particularly eye-catching, but it’s certainly not unattractive. I think the previous Accord had more presence, and I am sad to see it go. I was a big fan of the wagon variant, the Honda Accord Tourer (with a six-speed manual gearbox) but it was discontinued. If you look on our website, a 2010 Honda Accord Tourer (with an auto gearbox) will set you back around 140K.

Tech & plenty more spec

The new Accord’s interior is neat, organized, solidly built and functional. It just lacks a bit of character where its competitors (such as the BMW 520i) have cabins that look more interesting and stylish. But let’s consider the price tag: R587 600 is a premium price to pay, but bear in mind all the optional kit (in the Germans) that is almost semi-compulsory to specify. In the Accord, there’s a lengthy list of standard high-tech gadgetry that makes your life easier, and less risky. Hence my reference to a car that will warn you if you’re about to do something stupid, such as fall asleep at the wheel or drive into the back of someone else, whilst fiddling with the radio, or sending a Whatsapp!

Honda was one of the first manufacturers to implement Lane Keeping Assist, which will physically keep the car in the confines of its lane and actually steer the car for a few seconds – I was surprised when I encountered this a few years ago already, in the abovementioned Accord wagon, the Tourer. This forms part of Honda’s ADAS system, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control and a Collision Mitigation Braking System, which will activate the brakes if there’s a danger of colliding with the car in front (ADAS is standard in the 3.5 V6 variant I tested). There’s an endless list of standard (across all variants) safety features to get excited about, even if the Accord’s styling doesn’t set your heart aflutter. It includes Hill Start Assist, trailer stability assist and stability control. The higher-end models get LED headlights, High Beam Support and Active Cornering Lights. Then there’s Lane watch Blindspot Display (in the flagship model) which assists the driver in noticing traffic and pedestrians on the left side of the car, upon activating the left indicator. For the person who regularly scratches their rims, it is a godsend (as long as you park on the left side of the road). You can see the sidewalk as clear as crystal in the upper display screen.

Commodious cabin

The Accord is very spacious in the back, so if you lost your house keys or the wife threw you out, it would make a cosy and comfortable place to sleep. And if you were a very bad boy and had to move into a hotel, the Accord’s ample 453 litre boot will swallow your luggage/golf clubs with ease. But if you had to drive it to work and back, take it on family vacations and drive it in the city, is the Accord worth considering?

Frolicsome, yet Frugal
The Accord’s cure for bouts of narcolepsy most definitely lies under its hood. The feisty 3.5 litre V6 engine will prevent you from getting bored, if you choose to drive it with sporty intentions. For this, there are also ‘flappy paddles’ attached to the steering wheel. This is the type of engine I’d like to have mated with a manual gearbox - I’ve never been a fan of noisy Continuous Variable Transmission. It always sounds as though it’s working too hard, especially on sudden acceleration. That said, the exhaust note on the V6 engine sounds lovely. In keeping with the Honda tradition, it is naturally aspirated, so driving it at the coast will translate to a bit more ‘oomph’ than in Johannesburg, for example.

As for fuel economy: whether I drove the Accord around town or on the R44 en route to Cape Town, my trip computer never showed more than 9.9 litres per 100 km. Rather good for a 207kW engine, isn’t it? The steering is a little too light for my taste, with a lot of play around the centre, especially when going around long bends. But the guy who buys this car probably couldn’t care less about steering feedback. Ride quality is good, and the Accord’s suspension is gentle on the spine. This is a car that is highly comfortable at all times.

The final say
The Honda Accord is a good buy - it certainly gives one a feeling of sophistication and luxury. Although a little plain when placed next to its competitors, it may sell on reputation alone. Hopefully those sensible folks will see below skin depth.

Facts & Figures

Price	: R587 600
Engine	: 3.5-litre, V6 petrol
Gearbox	: Six-speed automatic
Power	: 207kW @ 6200rpm
Torque	: 339Nm @ 4900rpm
0-100km/h	: 7.2 seconds
Top speed	: 200km/h
Realistic fuel consumption	: 9.2 - 10 litres per 100km
Warranty	: Three-year/100 000km, Five-year/100 000km service plan.
Also consider	: BMW 520i (135kW/270Nm) - R601 449