Skip advert
Advertisement

Honda Accord Tourer 2005 - long-term test

The message in our Driver Power 2005 survey was clear: people really love their Hondas.

Pros
  • Ever-improving fuel returns, smooth and refined engine, driving manners, interior comfort and practicality, dealership service
Cons
  • Our Accord doesn't seem as fault-free as everyone else's, malfunctioning tailgate and leaking steering rack have dented our confidence in it
Find your Honda Accord
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

The message in our Driver Power 2005 survey was clear: people really love their Hondas. The company took the first three placings in the Auto Express reliability report, compiled from the responses of more than 50,000 readers, with the Accord finishing just behind the Jazz and S2000. But even the best manufacturer can have an off-day - and that can be the only explanation for our five-month-old Accord Tourer 2.2 i-CTDi.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It's no secret that one of the reasons we rate the Honda so highly is its load-lugging ability. As staff photographer, my camera gear is effortlessly contained in the hold, and DIY jobs are taken in the car's stride - provided you can get into the boot.

You wouldn't expect the tailgate to go wrong, but the Accord's electric door operates from a button on the keyfob. Personally, I think it's a gimmick, and my views were reinforced when it packed up, locking the mechanism so we couldn't even open the tailgate manually. Instead, we had to clamber over the rear seats and pull the emergency release.

We took the car to Ewell Honda, in Surrey, but the mechanics were unwilling to look at it and told us to book the Accord in when they were less busy. Fortunately, all dealerships are not the same, and my local garage, Lindhill Honda in Writtle near Chelmsford, Essex, checked the Tourer over and traced the malfunction to a sender unit. The part was ordered, and two weeks later the problem was solved. Little did I know that I would soon be back with a far more serious fault.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

A3 Sportback

2024 Audi

A3 Sportback

35,610 milesAutomaticPetrol1.4L

Cash £19,000
View A3 Sportback
Kodiaq

2021 Skoda

Kodiaq

44,693 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £23,200
View Kodiaq
Rio

2023 Kia

Rio

24,182 milesManualPetrol1.2L

Cash £10,800
View Rio
New Model Y

2023 Tesla

New Model Y

54,153 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £22,300
View New Model Y

Out of the blue, the power-steering pump started screeching and the wheel juddered when I turned it. Back we went to Lindhill Honda. The technicians quickly diagnosed a leaking steering rack, which would need to be replaced.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The car was deemed unsafe to drive, so I was loaned a Jazz for a week until the necessary parts arrived. It's not all bad news, though. Honda UK claims this is the first time such a fault has been reported, and the courteous garage staff (who kept me well informed) also adjusted the tracking.

These niggles have temporarily knocked my confidence in the Accord, but they haven't dented my overall enthusiasm for it. The blend of ride and handling is spot-on, plus the gearshift and 2.2-litre diesel engine have loosened up beautifully. Fuel economy easily tops 40mpg, so covering 600 miles on a tankful is common. A final confession, though. A few days ago I reversed into a bollard, scraping the back bumper, and I am now cursing myself for not specifying the optional £400 parking sensors.

I'm hoping the next six months with the Tourer will be less eventful. This way I can relax and really enjoy the Accord's attributes - and that doesn't include fighting my way out of the boot! Pete Gibson

Second Opinion
I can't think of a better estate car than the Accord - despite the recent problems. Borrowing the Honda for a weekend trip to Nottingham, it proved virtually flawless, returning 43.3mpg while cruising serenely, and our luggage barely troubled the vast load area. Unlike Pete, I'm a fan of the electric tailgate; being able to open the boot while carrying a child and shopping is a great feature. Oliver Marriage, road test editor

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £31,499
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,137 off RRP*Used from £15,337
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,800
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range
Leapmotor badge

Leapmotor B05 family hatch on route to the UK with sub-£30k price and 400-mile range

The Stellantis-backed brand will launch a Volkswagen ID.3-rivalling small car with almost 20 per cent more range
News
23 Apr 2025
New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV
Renault Clio Mk6 (camouflaged) - front 3/4 tracking

New Renault Clio prepares for launch: And it's not an EV

The Clio isn’t going anywhere despite the reemergence of the Renault 5
News
22 Apr 2025
New Subaru Outback is “simply unsellable in Europe” for one very simple reason…
Subaru Outback front 2025

New Subaru Outback is “simply unsellable in Europe” for one very simple reason…

Subaru has confirmed that the new seventh-generation Outback will not be coming to the UK, or anywhere in Europe for that matter
News
23 Apr 2025