Honda Accord Saloon full 9 point review

  • Performance

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad There are three sizes of engine to choose from - a 154bhp 2.0-litre petrol, a 198bhp 2.4-litre petrol and a 2.2-litre diesel with either 148- or 177bhp. All are smooth and strong. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard, and all but the higher-powered diesel are available with an optional five-speed automatic, which saps performance.

  • Ride & Handling

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad Honda reckons Accord owners will do long shifts on motorways, so it has set the suspension for comfort rather than sharpness. The ride is a little jittery around town, but it's quiet and compliant otherwise. Push the car hard through bends and it will start to run wide, but it generally holds on well. The steering can be numb, although it weights up once you start to turn.

  • Refinement

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The engines are audible when revved hard, but only enough to keep you in touch with what's going on, and the absence of wind noise is highly impressive. There's some road noise on coarse surfaces, but it's not too bad. The engines and gearshifts are wonderfully smooth, as we've come to expect from Honda.

  • Buying & Owning

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Do you see the Accord as a rival to an Audi A4, or an alternative to a Ford Mondeo? Depending on the answer, prices are either quite cheap or outrageously expensive. On the positive side, resale values are up there with those of Audi and BMW now, and the diesel models' economy and CO2 emissions are impressive; the petrols aren't nearly as good.

  • Quality & Reliability

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership Few cars are as trouble-free to own as a Honda, and owners rate the Accord very highly, placing it top of its class in the 2011 JD Power survey. The Accord won't break down or start to fall apart as the miles mount, and trim quality is good. However, it lacks the depth of quality of some rivals, and the dashboard is cluttered.

  • Safety & Security

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership The Accord has all the latest electronic braking and anti-skid features, including trailer stability assistance, and there are six airbags and anti-whiplash front headrests if the worst happens. Diesel EX and Type S and 2.4-litre petrol EX models offer the option of a lane-change-warning system and cruise control that brakes the car in emergencies. Deadlocks and an alarm are standard.

  • Behind The Wheel

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin Honda is justifiably proud of the Accord's comfortable, all-enveloping seats, and the relatively slim pillars are another boon, particularly when it's difficult to see out of so many rival cars. The dashboard layout is less successful, presenting you with a vast array of identically coloured and similarly shaped switches.

  • Space & Practicality

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin There are bigger family saloons than the Accord, but it's still spacious and the seats in the back are almost as comfortable as those up front. It's not quite so competitive for boot space, although few will find it inadequate. Being a saloon rather than a hatchback also restricts what you can get in.

  • Equipment

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin Entry-level ES models don’t get Bluetooth or automatic lights or wipers, which you may expect in a car costing more than £20,000, but they’re otherwise well kitted. ES GT versions have a sporty bodykit, while EX models are loaded with equipment. The high-powered diesel engine is available only in Type S trim, which gets xenon headlights and 18-inch alloy wheels.

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