The model that we received here in South Africa was different to that found in countries such as the USA, it was smaller and looked very different which added to that sporty sedan appeal, however for 2014 Honda SA has decided to ditch the European spec Accord for its larger, more luxurious American sibling. Has this been the right move?
Well, for starters by introducing this larger Accord Honda has a new competitor to face, the Lexus ES, which as I’ve mentioned before is one of the best packages out there on offer today. It’s the size of a Lexus GS but costs less than a Lexus IS and drives better than both. Well, this new Accord has been designed for the Americans and they love their larger, softer and more comfortable cars, so the Accord does have those aspects covered, in plush leather too.
To give the Accord every appealing advantage, a completely new interior was designed, bringing with it a level of luxury and craftsmanship. It combines welcoming comfort with an impressive range of standard technologies. Particular attention has been paid to the interior finishes, which reflects in the high levels of tactile quality, creating an unmistakably premium ambience.
The new dashboard features multiple displays as high-tech interfaces for the car’s infotainment and communication systems. A bright, full-colour “intelligent” Multi-Information Display (i-MID) serves as the control centre for the Accord’s electronic functions while also housing the display for the rear view camera available in all models. The controls and instrumentation have been simplified to help the driver feel in command, while redesigned seats and features like dual-zone climate control enhance passenger comfort inside the spacious cabin and the boot is rather large as well as it features a near-flat floor and offers 453 litres of luggage space.
The new Accord also comes with many standard features that would normally be options on other cars this size, however, the Lexus ES also has many a standard feature to enhance comfort and driver safety. The new Accord does offer something that the Lexus does not and that is three different engine options (coupled to automatic gearboxes), one of them being a 3.5l V6. A V6 Honda engine you ask? Don’t forget who powered the Mclaren Formula 1 cars in the early 80’ and 90’, Honda did and they are making a comeback next year.
The entry-level 2,0-litre SOHC i-VTEC, carried over from the previous model, produces 114 kW of power, together with 190 Nm of torque.. This propels the 2,0-litre Accord from standstill to 100km/h in 11.7 seconds, attaining a top speed of 200km/h. Its fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 7.5 litres/100km.
The 2,4-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine uses Honda’s Earth Dreams technology, dedicated to enhancing fuel efficiency. Output is rated at 132 kW, combined with a 225 Nm torque peak, propels the Executive from 0-100km/h in 10.6 seconds.
The 3,5-litre V6 i-VTEC engine with Earth Dreams technology produces a muscular 207 kW with peak torque of 339 Nm, making the new V6 Exclusive the most powerful Accord ever available locally.
The V6 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds, but still uses only 9.2 litres/100 km in the combined consumption cycle. This engine also features Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) which can shut down two (V4) or three (inline 3) cylinders to enhance fuel consumption, clever right.
After blasting around the cradle of mankind in all three derivatives I found that the 2.4l option is probably the better of them as it offers economy and a hint of sportiness. With regards to the 2.0l I found it slightly underpowered and I had to stretch the revs to get going. It’s great for inner city highway driving and is just as comfortable as the others. The 3.5l V6 on the other hand is great to drive, power is available in huge lumps and it sounds quite lekka when taken beyond 6000rpm. One issue with it though, it felt unsettled at higher speeds compared to the 2.4l.
So has Honda made the right decision to introduce this bigger Accord? I think so yes. I did enjoy the smaller, sportier European version but the bigger USA Accord offers more luxury features and better driving comfort, more space and better engines than before. It looks good as well and is sure to appeal to a wider range of customers, especially when you consider an entry level price of R389 000 for the 2.0l, R449 000 for the 2.4l and R549 000 for the top-of-the-range 3.5l.
