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Honda Accord Sport

If the new Accord is going to move Honda's image upmarket, then the vast improvements in quality the manufacturer is claiming must feature across the range.

By Craig Cheetham

December 2002

If the new Accord is going to move Honda's image upmarket, then the vast improvements in quality the manufacturer is claiming must feature across the range. We've already been impressed by the willing performance and solid finish of the ΂£19,095 2.4-litre Type S, but does the Accord still feel more compact exec than family saloon further down the range?

We tried a 2.0-litre Sport to find out. This model is second from bottom of the new line-up, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. At ΂£17,495, the car is exactly ΂£2,000 dearer than the outgoing 2.0 VTEC SE and ΂£250 more expensive than a Ford Mondeo 2.0 Ghia.

But the price does include generous kit, with dual-zone climate control, curtain airbags, an excellent if fiddly stereo, ABS, EBD, cruise control and sports seats all offered as standard.

Visually, the Sport is little different from the Type S. It has smaller 16-inch alloys and no front foglights, but otherwise it's difficult to tell them apart.

The interior is also similar, with a leather-bound steering wheel and supportive seats giving the car a sporty feel. Yet despite the Accord's upmarket aspirations, there's still a way to go in terms of cabin dynamics. It's well enough screwed together, but some of the materials used are low-rent compared to the likes of BMW and even Volkswagen, while the buttons for the climate control are complicated and impossible to see without taking your eyes off the view ahead.

On the road, the Accord demonstrates fine handling, although the quick-geared steering can seem vague and lacks feedback at speed. The ride also feels fidgety. It's perfectly balanced on mirror-smooth surfaces, but tends to get jittery on potholed or uneven roads.

Of the two engines currently available, the 2.0 tested here makes more sense. It puts out 153bhp at 6,000rpm, but Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing set-up gives excellent flexibility and plenty of low-down pulling power. That translates to a 0-60mph sprint time of 8.9 seconds and a 137mph top speed, while smooth power delivery, a responsive throttle and a wonderfully precise gearchange mean the car always feels lively. The 2.0 is softer on the pocket, too, with a combined economy figure of 43.5mpg and 190g/km C02 emissions making it a cheaper ownership prospect than, say, an equivalent Mondeo.

So the Accord is one of the most driver-oriented cars in its class - but can it realistically raise the company's profile against such tough competition as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes?

Not really. It's a well built and finely engineered machine with plenty going for it, but it still can't match the top German brands' cachet in the golf club car park. Lexus is often quoted as the Japanese Mercedes. If that's the case, the Accord is Japan's Saab. Different - quirky, even - but the image isn't quite right for buyers after status symbols.

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For an alternative review of the latest Honda Accord visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk

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FIRST OPINION

    There's no denying the Accord is a good car - it's one of the most driver-focused and sharply styled models in its sector. Yet despite the fine handling, lusty engines and generous equipment, the interior still lacks the class of some of its more upmarket rivals, while the prices aren't cheap.
 

AT A GLANCE

    Accord saloon goes on sale here in February. Tourer estate arrives in May; diesel in 2004
    2.0 Sport capable of 137mph
     
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