Item: Used Honda Accord Saloon 2002 - 2008
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

Saloon

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

ACCORD

It aims for Audi and Lexus but misses

Used Honda Accord Saloon 2002 - 2008

Compared with a Mondeo's or Vectra's, the Accord's ownership costs aren't pretty. Servicing by a main dealer costs about half as much again as for the Ford or Vauxhall, while insurance is a group or two higher.

Petrol 2.0 Accords are in group 11, the 2.2 diesel is group 12 and the 2.4 petrol group 14.

It's a similar story when comparing parts' prices, too. The cost of some items is positively scary.

Fuel economy looks good at up to 52mpg combined for the diesel, 38mpg for the 2.0 petrol and 31mpg for the 2.4. However, more than a few readers have contacted What Car? complaining that their cars can't get close to the published figures.

Take comfort in the news that the Accord loses value more slowly over time than most other family cars and, like most Hondas, it won't need much spending on repairs.

There's nothing in the line-up that you'd call duff. However, the low-end models are so well equipped and capable that we can't see sense in spending extra. All have alloy wheels, climate control, and a CD player. What's more, each is bursting with airbags and safety kit.

It's perhaps worth moving up from the entry-level SE to the Sport, if only to brighten up the cabin, but there's little to tempt you higher into the Type-S or Executive. In fact, the leather seats in the top models only make you notice other cheap-looking bits of the cabin.

The base model with its 2.0-litre petrol engine packs enough go, but it's the 2.2 diesel that's the real star: smooth, quick and a fuel-sipper.

Otherwise, there's a 2.4 but it's available only with the Type-S or Executive trims. An excellent five-speed auto gearbox is an option across the range that you might want to track down.

Buy from car supermarkets for lowest prices.

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of practical space </li> <li>Low running costs </li> <li>A comfortable ride </li> <li>A healthy equipment list </li> <li>Quality materials and thoughtful touches inside </li> <li>Rock-solid reliability</li></ul>

Family cars arguably have the toughest brief of all: they have to be good at pretty much everything. They’re used as the daily drive, on the school run or work commute (often both), and have to be able to cope with a family’s clutter on weekends and holidays.

The Skoda Scala is a relative newcomer, but it's&nbsp;already carved out a name for itself in this segment.&nbsp;If you're looking for a moderately priced car that combines a supple ride, neat handling, a spacious interior and a capacious boot&nbsp;it's well worth a look.&nbsp;Alternatively, if you're looking for entertaining handling then the&nbsp;BMW 1 Series may well be for you. It's great to drive, rides well&nbsp;and also comes with a top-notch interior, featuring one of our very favourite infotainment systems.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Toyota Corolla&nbsp;is another great choice. This latest version of one of the world's best-selling cars of all time can be had with a choice of two different petrol-electric hybrid engines, both of which should mean&nbsp;potentially lower fuel bills. It's comfortable, well equipped and should be very reliable, too.&nbsp;

Family

Honda has earned itself a regular top-five slot in the What Car? Reliability Index, while owners responding to the JD Power Survey praised their cars to the skies.

However, don't think you need not lift the bonnet for months on end. The diesel engine likes a regular pint of oil, and there's no dash light to warn you that the engine is running dry.

There is a tell-tale to warn if the pressure has dropped, but by the time that lights, you may have mangled the engine. Buy an Accord, and it's vital that a weekly dipstick check becomes part of your motoring life.

Honda has issued a couple of recalls: one to check that wiring in the boot is safe, the other to ensure rear seat belts work as they should. Check with a dealer that yours has had all the work done that it needs.

It tries hard to mix it with the quality German brands, but, despite a fine effort, the Accord is still more posh family car than executive saloon. Worse still, in trying to move upmarket, Honda has junked the hatchback version that was previously the best-selling Accord.

Now you get a big cabin and a boot. It's all very roomy and packed with kit, but just not as useful as a hatch. To compound the problems, the chunky screen pillars (to aid safety) and high-set windows towards the rear create blind spots and make reverse-parking tricky.

The dash looks classy and is loaded with buttons, but the feel of some materials lets it down. However, Honda has worked hard to create the right executive-car vibe on the move, so road and engine noise are hushed.

All the while, the car responds nimbly, grips well and feels balanced. The steering does most things just right, but lacks that final tickle of feedback that would make it spot-on.

Used Honda Accord Saloon 2002 - 2008 review

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Advice for buyers

What should I look for in a used Honda Accord saloon?