New Honda Accord

Quick Take

* Fuel Economy 10/14 km/l (city/highway)
Available Engines 2.4L i-VTEC In-line 4, 178 bhp
Available Transmissions 5-speed Manual Transmission (MT)
5-speed Automatic Transmission (AT)

* Estimated values may differ under various conditions.

Highlights

Refreshing new exterior and interior design.
Larger cabin room with classy interiors.
Improved fuel economy.

Pros

Strong build & elegant styling.
Enhanced safety features.
F1-inspired paddle shifters.

Cons

Too many buttons on the dashboard can be confusing.

Overview

Take one look at the 8th generation Honda Accord and notice that it clearly stands out as royalty. Honda has re-worked on every aspect of the car from exterior styling to the interiors to the chassis and engine. The new Accord has no resemblance to its 7th generation predecessor.

The car is more agile and flexible along curves than ever before. The front fascia is now more muscular and cabin has been enhanced for more legroom. The new Accord also packs more safety features than before. It is the largest Accord ever made and almost reaches the Mercedes-Benz E-class in proportion. The wheelbase is longer by 3 inches and the width and height have been increased by nearly an inch.

The Honda Accord has always been a leader in the D+ car segment in India. The new 8th generation Accord is pitted against the likes of Skoda Superb, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class.

Powertrain & Performance

The engine on all the three variants available variants (2.4, 2.4 Elegance and 2.4 Inspire) is the same - 178 bhp 2.4-litre i-VTEC Inline-4. A choice of either a 5-speed manual transmission or a 5-speed automatic is offered. Honda has dropped the 3.0-litre V6 engine that was available on the previous model of Accord. The new engine generates 30 bhp more power. The new E10 engine is capable of running on a combination of 10% ethanol and 90% petrol to give enhanced fuel economy. The fuel efficiency on the new Accord has increased by 8 percent.

The chassis of the car has been made 20 percent stiffer and this makes driving in a straight line very easy. Like the successful Honda Civic, the Accord too now comes with Formula One inspired paddle shifters. All variants get a tilt/telescopic steering wheel and the top end 2.4 Inspire variant comes with a premium 4-spoke leather steering wheel with an aluminium colour panel and a leather gear shift knob.

When it comes to driving, the car is very agile and responds quickly to inputs. The refined nature of the powerful engine makes the ride very enjoyable. The new Accord also accelerates much quicker than its predecessor and gear shifts are smooth and effortless.

Build & Styling

The Honda Accord has an aggressive front fascia. The 6-sided mesh grille with chrome slats gives a luxury feel. The body construction is rigid and strong. The fenders carry fog lamps on the front and rear. The car rides on large 16-inch alloy wheels.

On the interior, the dashboard has been revamped. The dual tone finish is very appealing. The plastic used is of good quality and the upholstery is smooth and gives a rich feel. On the whole, the cabin is very classy.

Cabin space is enhanced and occupants get more leg room, shoulder room and thigh support. The driver's seat gets 8-way power adjustment with lumbar support. Rear seats have independent air vents and air conditioning. The rear seats also get their own audio control knobs.

For entertainment, the car comes with a 6-disc CD changer and MP3 player, a USB connector and 6 speakers. The car also comes loaded with convenience features like power retractable door mirrors, headlight height adjuster, noise and vibration reduction carpet and foldable rear seats.

Some of the safety features on the car include dual front i-SRS airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking with brake assist and electronic brakeforce distribution technology, high mounted LED brake lights, G-force Control technology (G-Con), engine immobilizer, and security alarm. The top-end Accord Inspire variant adds parking assist system.