Honda Accord bulks up

Honda has made it clear beyond doubt, the new Accord will force a reappraisal of medium and large car buying habits.

Where the previous Accord was a medium segment contender often up against larger models (such as Toyota's Camry), without the wherewithal to compensate for that, the new car (4945mm) is demonstrably longer than BF Falcon, VE Commodore and Toyota's Aurion -- let alone the smaller medium car segment competitors.

The new Accord (1845mm) is also wider than the Toyota but gives away two old-fashioned inches in width (54mm) to the Commodore and remains narrower than the BF Falcon. We'll have to wait for Ford to release dimensions for the FG Falcon, but we expect the new, slightly larger Ford to reassert its volume advantage over the Honda.

Honda refers to the new Accord as the 2PX model, but enthusiasts and the after-market industry will doubtless come to know it as the CP or CP3 platform ('CP3' being taken from the vehicle identification number and distinguishing the new model from the 'CM' predecessor).

As for the superseded Accord, the new car will be available with both four-cylinder and V6 engines, but there the similarity ends. Benefiting from five years' development time since the previous (7th generation) car entered the market, the new Accord is more refined, larger, more powerful AND more economical -- but most importantly, it's better value.

The old Accord was a fair amount of car for the starting price of $30,490, but the new car now slips under the $30,000 bar with the entry-level VTi priced from $29,990 -- a lower price for a car that now offers greater safety and strength, reduced NVH, a lower centre of gravity, roomier accommodation, improved quality and increased engine output.

In addition, all model variants of the new Accord come with a larger 70-litre fuel tank, paddle-shift sequential gear selectors for the standard five-speed automatic transmission and remote control (steering wheel-based) audio switchgear.

Compared with the 125kW power and 218Nm torque figures for the previous VTi model, the new base Accord develops 133kW of power and 222Nm of torque from its 2.4-litre DOHC i-VTEC four-cylinder engine.

The four-cylinder engine with five-speed automatic transmission combination is fitted to the basic VTi and the up-market VTi-Luxury model, which is a new variant for the Accord range.

Upstream of the VTi-Luxury, the Accord V6 and Accord V6 Luxury grades are fitted with -- no surprise here -- a V6 engine. The V6 displaces 3.5 litres (up half a litre on the outgoing model's V6) and introduces Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system to Australia.

This system automatically -- and seamlessly, according to Honda -- changes mode from six-cylinder operation to four-cylinder operation (by disabling one cylinder in each bank) or to three-cylinder operation for cruising (disabling the hind bank of three cylinders).

Despite the larger displacement and the higher outputs of the new engine, the VCM system also ensures that it's more fuel efficient than the 3.0-litre engine of the previous model, as assessed on an ADR81/01-compliant combined cycle test.

Maximum power for the new V6 is 202kW at 6200rpm and peak torque of 339Nm occurs at 5000rpm. For power, the Accord V6 leads its principal large car competitors, fitted with naturally-aspirated engines. In respect of torque, it's ahead of the Aurion, well down on BF Falcon and precisely 1Nm less than the published figure for the V6 Calais.

A five-speed automatic transmission with grade logic control and shift-hold control (to prevent 'hunting'), channels the torque to the front wheels via a double-wishbone independent suspension set-up. At the rear, the suspension is a multi-link affair and body control is kept in hand by anti-roll bars at both ends.

Rack and pinion steering is assisted by hydraulic means, rather than the increasingly popular electric/mechanical method, and the turning circle is 11.5m.

Ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear are mounted within 16x6.5J alloy wheels for the VTi or 17x7.5J alloys for all other variants. Tyres measure 215/60 R16 for the VTi or 225/50 R17 for the VTi-Luxury, V6 and V6-Luxury. A full-size spare is supplied with all Australian-spec Accords.

Standard features for the VTi include: Paddle-shift transmission controls, drive-by-wire throttle system, remote central locking, electric mirrors, 12-Volt auxiliary power outlet (inside the storage receptacle under the centre armrest), dual-zone climate control, cruise control, rear-seat headrests, external temperature display, electric windows, illuminated vanity mirrors, dual front airbags, side-impact airbags, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, Active headrests (front seats), alarm, Vehicle Stability Assist (stability control), traction control, six-disc in-dash CD audio system with MP3 facility and two speakers.

The VTi-Luxury grade adds the following features to the specification: Auto on/off headlights, electric sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, front fog lights, electric adjustment (including lumbar support) for driver's seat, heated front seats, leather-bound steering wheel and leather gear knob, leather seat trim and side curtain airbags.

Equipment in the basic V6 Accord is not quite as comprehensive as the VTi-Luxury model's, doing without the following features: Auto headlights, sunroof, standard front fog lights (available as an option), heated front seats, leather gear knob, leather seat trim and leather-bound steering wheel.

As against that, beyond the specification of the VTi-Luxury, the base V6 Accord offers twin exhaust outlets and indicators integrated in the exterior mirrors.

The V6-Luxury Accord is equipped to the VTi-Luxury level, with the exhaust outlets and exterior mirror indicators from the V6 -- but additionally with: four-way electric adjustment for the front passenger seat, three-position memory for the electrically adjustable driver's seat, satellite navigation, trip computer, reversing camera and a premium audio system with a sub-woofer.

Front fog lights are optional for both the base VTi and base V6 Accord variants. Options and accessories for the entire range include Bluetooth connectivity, dust/pollen filter and rear parking sensors.

On the face of it, the base VTi is $500 cheaper than the same grade in the superseded range, the two V6 models are $1000 more expensive than their superseded counterparts and the new VTi-Luxury grade comes in $1000 cheaper than the base V6, which is now bracketed in price by the VTi-L below and the base V6 above -- separated by just $2000. Those differences don't take into account the fact that the metallic paint is now free of charge.

New prices are:

Accord VTi -- $29,990
Accord VTi-Luxury -- $36,490
Accord V6 -- $38,490
Accord V6-Luxury -- $46,990