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Comparison review: eight midsize sedans (Sixth place)
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The Honda Accord is both spacious and fun to drive, but it lacks the refinement and
luxury demanded by its high price tag.
The Honda Accord, long one of the best-selling cars in the U.S., is typically portrayed the sportier-driving alternative to the Toyota Camry, the rival that always outsells it. The Accord was always a bit smaller than the Camry but attracted buyers who preferred its tighter ride over the Camry’s smoother, quieter ride.
But last year, Honda decided it wanted more of the Camry’s customers. When it redesigned the Accord for 2008, the car grew significantly to become one of the largest midsize sedans. Rear seat space saw the biggest gain, leaving the new Accord with as much leg room as anything else in its class.
But what Honda forgot was the refinement. It forgot that Camry buyers don’t like a firm ride that can be harsh over bumps and that they don’t like a lot of noise. Yet at the same time, by enlarging the car, it forgot that its loyal buyers want it to be lighter and more agile.
So what Honda has with the Accord is a more practical yet still relatively fun-to-drive that’s lacking in ride comfort and noise suppression and costs some $2,500 more than most of the others here.
That’s not to say that the Accord isn’t a solid car overall. It’s a big step up from the seventh-place Nissan Altima, running neck-and-neck with two other nice but flawed cars. The Accord will still satisfy those who want a midsize sedan that drives well, thanks to its sharp steering and quick moves. The Accord’s big, but doesn’t feel huge on a twisty road, a feat the Altima could not manage even with less size to deal with.
But while the Accord’s fun factor is above the class average, it’s not the automatic choice for someone who’d like a mixture of fun and practicality. There are competitors with even better handling.
And while the Accord’s interior space is above the class average, it’s certainly not necessarily a great choice as a family sedan. The suspension is tuned for handling more than most competitors, leaving the Accord steady on smooth surfaces but not keeping bumps a secret.
The 2.4-liter engine with 190 horsepower is standard on EX models and makes plenty of power while delivering 21 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway, about average among these eight. The engine isn’t exactly quiet, but it sounds pleasant. (Another review said the smaller engine in cheaper Accords has a harsher note.) However, no such argument can be made to support the excess road noise, which is often a complaint about Hondas. You might expect the priciest car in its class to deliver refinement; the Accord does not.
Inside the car, you’re also missing a sense of luxury. Quality is excellent; there aren’t misaligned interior panels or sharp edges, and no cloth or plastic feels cheap. But aside from the excellent front seats, which are slightly lower but more supportive than the midsize sedan norm, everything feels more like basic done well than upscale. That only works at more basic-level prices. On the safety front, the Accord is the only car in this only one of these eight to earn the IIHS “Top Safety Pick” designation for crash test performance and safety features. However, it is also the only one of the eight to earn less than four out of five stars in any test conducted by NHTSA – its rear-passenger side-impact rating is just three stars out of five, low for any current car.
All of the above ignores two things many Honda owners swear by: reliability and depreciation. But while the Accord has done well in reliability surveys by TrueDelta.com and Consumer Reports, it’s so far been above-average but not outstanding. There are only slight differences in the reliability results among most of these eight, but the Accord isn’t the best of them.
And while the Accord does well in depreciation ratings – the Automotive Lease Guide gives it a high four out of five stars – that rating is based on how much cars are worth used based on their sticker price. A car that has more discounts when bought new than the Accord – which Edmunds.com estimates you can haggle down to about $2,300 below the MSRP – has a lower depreciation ratings, but the savings are still yours.
And there’s plenty of savings to be had if you buy an Accord’s competitor. The next-priciest comparably equipped competitor is nearly $1,000 less, and the rest of these eight offer an even greater difference.The Accord is a nice car for someone who wants both decent handling and lots of interior space. However, people buying a family car might appreciate the extra ride smoothness and quietness offered in some competitors. And everyone can appreciate another car’s lower price tag.
With higher levels of luxury and refinement, or a more concerted focus on driving dynamics, the Accord could do a better job at justifying its high price tag. But “nice enough” doesn’t cut it for the most expensive car.
Overall grade: B-
Vehicle tested: 2009 Honda Accord EX
Vehicle base price (MSRP): $20,905
Vehicle price as tested (MSRP): $24,925
Estimated transaction price as tested: $22,735
Estimated transaction price as comparable:* $22,735
Test vehicle provided by: Ken Dixon Honda, of Waldorf, Md.
For more info:
http://automobiles.honda.com/accord/
http://automobiles.honda.com/accord/
Coming up tomorrow: Fifth Place
Sunday, Feb. 8:
Introduction
Monday, Feb. 9:
Eighth Place
Tuesday, Feb. 10: Seventh Place
Wednesday, Feb. 11: Sixth Place
Friday, Feb. 13:
Fourth Place
Saturday, Feb. 14: Third Place
Sunday, Feb. 15:
Second Place
Monday, Feb. 16:
First Place
Tuesday, Feb 17:
Conclusion
*Note on pricing: when possible, the cars tested for this review were comparably equipped. It wasn't always possible. All are 4-cylinder sedans with automatic transmissions, but some have more options than others, which inflate the price tag.
The target for these eight was to have a power driver's seat and a sunroof. Four of them hit this accurately, one had more accessories, and three had fewer. Any discrepancies will be noted as they appear to ease comparison of the vehicles.
Photos by Brady Holt. Interior pictured is from a different Accord sedan than the car driven for this review.
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