Getting to the point where Accord is too big to be a midsizer.

Honda Accord goes corpulent…
mainly because Honda uses the same platform for the Acura TL. The TL needs a strong V6 and decent room to compete in the near luxury segment so Accord has to follow.”

This kind of makes sense. Honda wants to compete with Camry, Taurus, and the 300, and can’t do it if the Accord is not much bigger than the Civic.

Americans haven’t been sold a true Accord in 10 years. We are actually driving rebadged Honda Inspires which share the same platform as the Acura TL.

I’m guessing this has to cut into Acura TL sells if people could tell the difference, and payed less to get an Inspire/Accord.

The Japanese/Euro version Accord is actually smaller and better for their markets, and more of what we are used to during the 90s.

Perhaps they should sell the home market Accord here, and sell the larger Inspire in the states to compete with the midsize segment.

The Accord / TSX and TL virtually all use Honda’s 3.5+ltr V6 pushing about 275+hp.

And each car mentioned.. would be faster with that same motor.. IF THEY LOST ABOUT 600LBS.

There are few automakers that will use a large displacement motor in their mainstream cars. Nissan does it with their efficient 3.5. Dodge does it with their 5.7 ltr motor in their Charger / 300.

They do need to have variable intake and exhaust.. but efficient engines isn’t the end-to-be-all.

Lighter CARS, (and not using highest tech metals as their frames) lighter as in.. take Accord back to 3200lbs. Take the largest sedans back to 3100 / 3200 / 3300.. its crazy to have 3600lbs as an average weight for a sedan

Man…
THIS.. is why I come to TTAC.

I picked up my first Accord, a 92 with 158k because I wanted a vehicle larger than my mom’s 88 Civic. Long story short.. both vehicles eventually passed away and the torch for me was passed onto a 00 Accord.

Longer story shorter..
I loved my first Accord, (besides the whole first car love thing..)
The car sat low. Had resonably decent cornering.. and the interior was a red mousefur, and the dash was decent for the time.

Fast forward to my 00, and my Accord is everything it should be.
Decent fuel economy. Decent power (2.3 ltr I-4, pushing about 150hp). Decent simple dash layout

I didn’t move fast enough to pick up the 7th Gen Accord.. whom Ive have a mad fetish for. But I drive 138k a DAY and about 25k a yr. If I picked up a 7th gen car used.. it wouldn’t live too long.

My next car… and Ive been eying this for a while.. is a 2010 Mazda 3 hatch. I’ve seen the new Accord, and I refuse to drive it. I ACTALLY DRIVE and I expect the car to cover my ass.

The Accord (within 2-3in.) is approaching Crown Vic terroritory and the motor was decent for the 4cycl 5yrs ago, even 9yrs ago.. but this is getting old. They need to stop pushing the weight up.. and wringing more power out of the 4cycl.. only to be saddled with a even larger car because as good economically as the 4cycl is.. ya not going to do much when strapped to the current gen HEFFER.

And I do love the Accord.. but the current gen.. is really aggravating me.

I refuse to look at Camry, (I spit at you)
I refuse to look at Altima.. (cause I hunger for an SE-R.)
I refuse to look at Malibu (Hawks a loogie in its direction- I’d rather die in a horrible chemical accident, involving quadropelegics and baby seals while eating rare and uncooked PORK, than drive that RAGING DOMESTIC P.O.S)

And Fusion.. please. Don’t insult me. If I wanted a Ford.. Id check out the Holden Commodore competitor down in Austrailia.. and drool over a car I cant have.

Or at least the MONDEO.. in a nice tightly built hatch.

Forget Chrapsler.
Forget VW.

Even the Mazda 6.. is catering to the US-as-a-fat-ass-nation-with-no-good-looks-or-a hatch.

Which leaves my options.. down to almost nil.. enter the Mazda 3 hatch.

Good looking..
(Decent interior, if ya excuse the new recall on the wiring harness)

And a hatch.. that a mother could love, if she knew that AWD and seating for 6 or 9 is a bad thing, when most times.. the vehicle is empty!

As for Accords…
I will keep a good CLOSE eye on them.. but wont bother touching them… not now, not for a while.

I think cheaper versions of the Honda line represent excellent value, but when you get into highly optioned cars I think there are better values out there.

The four cylinder engines are much too weak for this car. The noise level is the major problem with this car. A PT Cruiser for example is much quieter. As noted above the 270 watt stereo system is also poor.

On the other hand it is a very solid car and the acceleration is very brisk. I can understand why prior Accord owners don’t like it; it is a much larger vehicle. On the other hand, I am not sure why one would buy a large American car when this one is available for short money.

Heh. I’m an inch and half taller than you and I drive a Honda Fit.

Now, truthfully, how you’re tall makes a big difference: I’m long of torso and arm and short of leg. Your measurements may vary.

Regarding the mediocre sound system, the even sadder fact is the same 160-watt stereo is also standard on EX and even EX V6 models!!! They get a 6-disc changer added, but that just means you can listen to six more albums sounding really weak!

Only the EX-L and EX-L V6 get an upgrade to a 7-speaker 270-watt system. I’ve heard this system before and it would be adequate for the lower models. For the feature content and quasi-entry-level-luxury position of the EX-L models, it isn’t even vaguely impressive. Even the 270-watt version is outclassed by the standard setup of most other makes. It’s a joke compared to the Bose option in the Altima or Mazda6!!!

I remember back in ‘93 when bought my first new car, a ‘93 Civic VX 3-door. It came with NO radio (or right hand mirror, or clock, or armrest……) and I stupidly wanted a Honda system because it would look nicer than an aftermarket one….so I spent $300 on the middle AM/FM cassette from the accessories catalog, then installed that bad boy with two front speakers…..never got around to getting back ones……given the 16-years of technology since then, it looks like not much has changed in the world of Honda sound! lol

I beg to differ. The Accord does not have as much interior space for taller drivers over 6′5 as you’d like to think. Granted that is an “ODD” or above average size, but I’m just saying, its not as spacious for people my size and therefore, I would NEVER BUY ONE.

I do however think, for people under 6″ its HUGE.

The cut of the door sills, the height of the cieling and the position of the seats make it hard to get in and recline for me.

My Chrysler 300 is WAY better. Furthermore the electronics are EASIER TO USE. I can input addresses WAY faster than an Accord user. I can make bluetooth calls WAY easier. The Accord’s voice recognition SUCKS.

I still miss mine.

The Sonata? Really? I can’t even remember what the Sonata looks like.

I’d say the best design is probably the handsome Ford Fusion, though I’d still take an Altima or 6 first. It has the same tight proportions of the also-hecho-en-mexico Mk4 Jetta, though my guess is it’s a bit more reliable (and the interior’s a little worse.)

@William Montgomery: I agree, I’m fine with holding off each review for each day, but you might as well publish the results upfront so we get an idea of your metrics. It’s a moot point as of now, as we’ll know tomorrow the last 2 positions.

In these trying times, economy is the word. So I selected economical base model four-door four-banger examples rather than up-optioned V6 variants.

Yet you failed to give any mileage figures.

I would think that this should be standard for all TTAC reviews at this point… don’t you guys?

While we are on TTAC generalities – I think you guys need a better web template for comparison tests – this is a bit lame – especially since there isn’t a link to the other segments.

Finally what’s with the slow leak comparison? It’s the web – why do we have to wait for 1st and 2nd place?

The new Mazda6 is the sexy supermodel in a room full of homely girls! The Altima is unique-looking and less offensive than the Camry and Accord.

I never thought I’d say this, but the most tasteful design in the mid-size segment comes to us courtesy of South Korea- the Hyundai Sonata! I’d buy one over a Camry or Accord without reservation…might even choose it over an Altima!

“I’m starting to think that Honda won’t be able to come out with a new design I like before my old Accord has to go off to car heaven. But the competition doesn’t offer much either. What’s a guy like me to do?”

Recently, I started keeping an eye out for an ‘06 or ‘07 Accord LX V6 Sedan in one of the few color choices that I like! Most late-model Accord buyers gravitate toward the EX-L V6, so LX V6 models are a steal in comparison. From the outside, it’s almost impossible to tell an EX-L V6 from a LX V6- same 17″ wheels, same sunroof, same body-color trim pieces. For the ‘08 model, they renamed the LX V6 to the EX V6 (non-leather). The other perk of the LX V6- with the ivory interior, the EX-L has woodgrain trim on the center console and dash. For the LX V6, it’s just flat black trim in those areas! I hate faux-wood!

The ‘07 Accord and ‘08 Acura TSX were the last Hondas that really drove and felt the way I expect a Honda to feel! =(

The added space is superfluous.

Unlike the first poster, I am actually happy to see the Accord become a large mid-sized sedan.

The Accord is much more spacious and much meatier than previous accords (though the last generation had more space for taller drivers I noticed) and with all its options it is a very good deal for people not quite financialy ready to buy a 5 series or a C-class or a CTS.

If you’re a smaller person than me (I’m 6′7), the Accord feels as spacious as a 5-series and just as luxurious when you opt for wood inserts.
The plastics feel cheap, but the steering wheel feels great.

The only thing setting the interior back is an overly pedantic button design for the Navigation/Radio and steering. Hyundai and Nissan did it way better.

The V6 is powerful and ZIPPY. The 190HP I4 isn’t very bad if you live in crowded Manhattan and you are in bumper-bumper so much you don’t get to let her out much.

Whether you’re a rich elitist or a lower middle classer just getting your first taste of luxury cars, there really isn’t another car on the market that gives you the low cost and the “feeling” of “not skimping” that the Accord gives you for under $32,000.

I personally own a S550 and a Chrysler 300. Because I’m so tall, I need LARGE cars. I don’t fit in the 08 Accord as well as I do the 07 Accord so I could never get this car for myself.

http://www.300cforums.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=17422

It doesn’t lool like the old Accord but the bad part is that it’s a V6. Honda can built a 4 cylinder that can have 300 hp like the Evo X.

Great for a consumer who is looking for realibilty and durability.

Just like what Top Gear said if you want a car that will last longer than you buy a Honda.

Believe me TTAC fans The New Accord doesn’t look Ugly.

Listen to a kid will you!!!

I hate to admit that I actually remember who Tor Johnson was. Great comparison, although I’m sure there’s a chorus of “Tor Who?” going on out there.

Oh well, let’s see where the 6 comes out in your testing or I may have to shell out serious cash for an audi or something :)