Designed more to please the more conservative American market (it has the USA specifications rather than the European specs) the 9th generation Accord belies its age with numerous modern technological bells and whistles to off-set its smartly austere dark leather, wood trim and brushed metal strips.
Although not intuitive in layout and usage (there are numerous buttons and switches for various functions), the cabin features are many and include a grand sound system with its own screen (one of two), dual-zone climate control, keyless start and a gear shifter reminiscent of older Mercs. To this you can add cruise control, sunroof, and lane-keeping assist - and the pleasure of having a tempting S for Sport transmission option with finger-flappies on the steering wheel to play with.
The seats are big and comfortable and offer eight-way electric adjustments. The steering column is also manually fully adjustable, so finding a comfortable driving position is quick and easy.
Rear-seaters are particularly spoilt for comfort with acres of headspace and legroom. A third passenger is also easily accommodated. Pull-down shades provide privacy for backseat passengers who also have their own climate control settings and adjustments.
Although no boy-racer, the big and comfortable family hauler is no slouch. In a straight drag race it will outgun challengers such as Volkswagen Passat, Lexus ES300h and Audi A66 2.0FSI - although the Audi's top speed is a good few notches up on the Honda.
Honda transmissions have always been slick and smooth and the six-speed box on the Accord is no exception, irrespective of whether left to do its own thing or when clicking the finger-swops on the steering wheel.
The engine happily revs into the 5,000rpm zone (if a tad gruffly so) and because it puts power down via the front wheels moderate torque steer does come into play, particularly in Sport mode. Pushed through the twisties the car feels its weight and size but it never loses composure even when being hustled along. Driven at gentlemanly pace it sits solidly on the road with hardly any body lean through the corners.
The living quarters serve as a strong reminder of the spacious interiors of yester-year sedans. The cabin is well insulated against engine- and outside noises, adding to the pleasure and cocooned comfort of the occupants as they are wafted along in leathery, air-conditioned comfort(and as we did during our lengthy test drive) with the relaxing tones of Claude Debussy's Clair de lune flowing from the concert- class sound system.
Six cylinder engines are not known for being frugal yet the power factory under the Accord's is surprisingly light on the liquid gold that flows from forecourt pumps. Honda claims a fuel consumption figure of 11-litres/100km, yet the highest we recorded in combined cycle was 10.3 and on the lovely winding roads between Hout Bay and Montagu along some stretches it dropped down to an impressive low of 6.6-litres to give us an average overall of 9.8-litres. Ours was not exactly a Sunday afternoon granny scenic drive either and included short bursts of naughty-naughty progress.
To some buyers the Accord may come across as a bit of a Dad's car and so it is, in some ways. But then most of us don't have too many faults to find with our Old Man...
Our flagship 3.5 V6 Exclusive wears a price tag of R349,000 which includes a five-year/100,000km service plan.
