ATLANTA — You know you’re driving a good car when you’re zipping along a country road, comfortably and confidently in control and you glance at the speedometer and say,”My goodness, I had no idea I was driving that fast.” The all-new 2008 Honda Accord is that kind of good. It’s also good looking. And it gets pretty good gas mileage to boot. All those goods add up to one excellent automobile.
COMPETITORS The sedan market is full of formidable competitors. Chevrolet just introduced the latest version of its Malibu, which comes with a sharp new look and a smooth ride. The Hyundai Sonata presents a compelling value case, with lots of features packed into a car that runs under $23,000. The Mazda6 is one of the top performing non-luxury sedans on the market, and it also gets very good gas mileage.
WHAT’S SPECIAL: The EX trim Accord is surprisingly powerful with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine cranking out 190 horsepower. The five-speed automatic transmission is crisp. Punch the gas until the tach hits about 6,000 rpm, click cleanly into higher gear and repeat. All with both hands on the wheel. It’s fun. A 3.5-liter 268-horsepower V-6 is available.
WHAT WE LIKE: At the risk of sounding shallow, the new Accord is better looking than it used to be. It is also a smidgen bigger: three inches longer, 1.1 inches wider and nearly an inch taller.
The EPA now considers the Accord a large sedan.
WHAT ISN’T THERE: We’re reaching to find something wrong with this car. The center instrument panel is wide and cluttered with buttons. Most drivers will have to really stretch to adjust the fan speed. Like we said, it’s a reach. Get it? YOU OUGHTA KNOW: The Accord’s list of safety features is comprehensive: electronic stability control, anti-lock braking system with brake assist, side air bags for driver and front passenger, side curtain air bags for everyone. The Accord earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” award for 2008.
EXTRAS: The EX-L test car was as loaded as Scrooge McDuck: navigation system with voice recognition, 270-watt, seven-speaker sound system, heated leather front seats and XM satellite radio.
And all for a sticker price of less than $29,000. The gizmos are nice, but the luxury feel is more the product of top-notch interior materials and workmanship. Generous legroom and head room for four contributes to the cabin’s comfort. A sliding center console arm rest is a nice touch.
MORE ACCORD The Accord is practically an automotive line unto itself. There is the sedan and the more aggressively styled coupe. There is a choice of one of two four-cylinder engines or a V-6. Then there is a choice of five speed manual transmission, five speed automatic or six speed manual. And there are various trim levels with differing degree of creature comforts. You should be able to find what you need.
Honda Accord Body styles: sedan, coupe Trim lines: LX, LX-P, EX, EX-L Price: Base MSRP $20,360-$30,260. Tester was $28,695.
Drive: front wheel Seating: two in front, three in back Engine: 2.4-liter four cylinder Transmission: five speed automatic Miles per gallon of fuel: EPA estimate 21 city, 31 highway
Clint Williams writes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
