Achtung! The new Accord is here
By: Henrie Geyser
They probably had to skip quite a few karate sessions, Samurai sword sharpening ceremonies and sushi and saki lunches, but it was worth it because the clever white coats in Honda's design and development departments have at last come up with a contender classy enough to take on the German posh-wagons - the new Accord.
Forget the Accord blandwagons that have been around since the late seventies. This latest incarnation is such a stylish and sporty sedan that you can quite easily call it sexy.
Besides being a handsomely-sculpted good-looker, the new four-door sedan is now much more upmarket than ever before with all the driving dynamics, comfort, safety and luxury features to go head to head with BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Lexus and the rest.
What is seriously good about the latest Accord is its pin-point steering and chassis-suspension combination that absolutely clings through hard, fast corners and gives the car remarkable surefootedness, even on the rough, potholed roads of rural KZN.
And not only is the new model by far the best handler ever to sport the Accord badge, but it also comes with a price tag that is sure to lift the eye-brows of the competitors.
Accord has never been a big seller in this country (just like Ford Mondeo, Lexus, Volvo and a few other goods cars) and I've never understood why, because as a brand Honda has a sound reputation for manufacturing attractive, good quality, well-priced and durable machinery, whether they be marine engines, motorbikes or cars, and in the value-for-money ratings, the Accord should be right up there in the company of the best.
But now Honda has upped the stakes and the stepped-up new Accord has all the class, style and performance to change its niche-market image, particularly with fuel prices, interest rates and general cost of living expenses rising almost by the day.
Already there is a move towards buying down when it comes to new cars, and with the Accord coming into the market from as low as R237,500 compared to the cheapest Audi A4 1.8 at R286,500, Mercedes-Benz C180K at R297,000, BMW 320i at R286,500 and the Lexus IS250 at R293,600, the classy Accord has to be a very viable, attractive option.
There are two new Accord models - a 2.0-litre and a 2.4-litre, coupled to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic gearbox.
The lean-burning 2.0-litre produces 115kW and 192Nm and the manual model will sprint from zero to 100km/h in just 9.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 215km/h.
The muscular 2.4-litre i-VTEC Executive churns out 148kW and 234Nm, which is good for a top speed of 227km/h and a 0-100km/h time of 7.8 seconds.
Visually, the two models are longer, wider, lower and sportier than the previous model and they share the same elegant, handsomely-sculpted looks and plush interior ambience. The major differences really only lie under the bonnet and with specification levels.
On the Media launch in KZN I drove both models, starting off with the 2.0-litre automatic which, if it was my money, would be my model of choice of the two.
We enjoyed the smooth power delivery from the new 16-valve powerplant with its electronic fuel injection and drive-by-wire throttle.
The car handles superbly well, thanks to fully independent front and rear suspension (double wish-bone, coil springs, variable-pressure dampers and anti-roll bar) and the steering has been noticeably sharpened, much to our delight as we zipped along sweeping country roads in the verdant and undulating Natal platteland, dodging pot-holes and barrier-crossing taxis.
The steering is motion-adaptive and it interfaces with the vehicle stability assistance system, so there is an electronic nurse-maid to help should you run out of road and experience. However, even under fairly hard cornering, no electronic interference was noticeable… although it's comforting to know that it's there, all the same.
The Accord's excellent brakes saved our bacon when we had to screech to a sudden halt on a country road at a dangerously-placed, unmarked stop street just over the crest of a hill. The all-disc system links the ABS with the stability assist programme and it even incorporates a trailer stability assist function - and it certainly pulls up a speeding 2.0-litre to short halt, even on a bad surface littered with cane cuttings!
But what probably impressed the most was the smooth-shifting five-speed auto box which you can leave alone to do its own thing rapidly and with no see-sawing delays in between gears, or you can play boy-racer with the F1-style shift paddles located on the steering column.
Specifications include 6,5Jx16 alloy wheels, leather upholstery, an integrated LCD readout (which displays the trip computer's varied array of information, including instant and average fuel consumption, range, trip and vehicle mileage and seatbelt status front and rear), leather-trimmed steering wheel which has buttons for the audio system, the cruise control, the trip computer and the Bluetooth hands-free system.
Both front seats are heated and electrically adjustable for height, reach and rake. The two-litre also comes with a front-loading CD/RDS radio sound system with MP3 and WMA music file playback capability and six loudspeakers. Other fancies include six cupholders, a glove compartment with refrigeration vent, 60/40 rear seats that fold down to increase the already generous 467-litre luggage compartment, climate control, electric windows and mirrors, central locking, alarm and immobilizer system, fully adjustable steering wheel, eight airbags and ISOFIX baby seat fixtures.
We also drove the manual version of the 2.4-litre and enjoyed its punchier engine and extra grip, thanks to larger 17-inch tyres. If you should consider the 2.4 model I would recommend the larger 18-inch option which really enhances its looks and gives it a sportier edge.
In terms of specifications, the bigger model has a classier sound system, a pollen filter addition to the climate control, Xenon headlights with auto leveling, acoustic parking sensors front and rear and rain-sensing windscreen wipers.
Graham Eagle, General Manager of Sales and Marketing at Honda SA, says: “We believe that the new Accord presents a powerful motoring proposition to the premium sector and that it will exceed even the very high demands of buyers in this sector.”
And one cannot help but agree. Certainly based on the impressions we got on the launch drive, Honda has elevated the Accord to a seriously competitive level. It has the classy feel of the three top German marques and is certainly right up there with them when it comes to build quality and finish
The model range and prices are: Accord 2.0 i-VTEC Manual (R237,500), Accord 2.0 i-VTEC Automatic (R250,500), Accord 2.4 i-VTEC Executive Manual (280,000) and Accord 2.4 i-VTEC Executive Automatic (R293,000).
Al four new models are covered by a three-year/100,000km warranty, as well as a five-year/100 000 km maintenance plan.
Footnote: There are no plans at this stage to bring the Accord diesel-powered sedan or station-wagon to South Africa. More by Henrie Geyser
More...ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Henrie Geyser has worked as a journalist in Cape Town, London and Windhoek for the Argus Company (now Independent Newspapers) and spent 12 years at The Cape Argus in Cape Town. He then owned and ran a public relations consultancy for 13 years. He joined the online publishing industry through iafrica.com, where he worked for five years as News Editor and Editor. He now freelances for a variety of print and online publications, on the subjects of cars, food and travel, among others; and is a member of the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists.
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