At Honda Australia’s Head Office, the trophy cabinet is bursting with awards for the Honda Accord. Now, even though the Honda Accord isn’t the newest luxury mid-sizer, it still measures-up brilliantly.
Car Showroom has just spent a week in the range-topping Honda Accord Euro Luxury (six-speed manual). Clearly the exterior design remains a beauty and you can’t question the upmarket interior.
Stickered at $40,990 - the Honda Accord Euro Luxury provides a sharply priced competitor for the likes of Mazda6 and Ford Mondeo. All competent, safe, and well appointed, we’d happily have any one of that trio.
Honda Accord Euro Overview
The second generation Honda Accord Euro premiered major advances over its unquestionably credentialed predecessor. Longer, lower, wider and more sharply styled, the current model Honda Accord Euro provided a more upmarket interior plus extra power and torque from the 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine.
With Honda’s hallmark engineering, build quality and driving dynamics, the new Honda Accord Euro wowed the critics and scooped a bagful of ‘Car Of The Year’ Awards. For mid-size sedan buyers, the relevance of those awards for Honda Accord Euro is confidence.
Honda Accord Euro Engine
Honda is renowned for its engine technology and the Honda Accord Euro scores the latest version of the slick i-VTEC, 2.4-litre four-cylinder. Thanks to a higher compression ratio (now 11.0:1) and upgrades for the valve equipment and exhaust system, Honda Accord Euro boasts maximum power up by eight kilowatts to 148kW at 7000 rpm and peak torque boosted by 11Nm to 234Nm at 4400 rpm.
Despite the extra grunt, fuel economy has improved to 8.9l/100kms. Exhaust emissions are rated at 212g/km.
Typically Honda, under the hood of the Honda Accord Euro lurk lots of high-tech features. For starters, the Honda Accord Euro employs a drive-by-wire electric throttle system and includes the latest version of the company’s VTEC and VTC variable valve and valve timing systems for optimum fuel consumption and response.
Typically Honda, the 2.4-litre is quiet and refined, but on the open road, enthusiast drivers will enjoy the work ethic of the Honda Accord Euro, which delivers strong performance at high revs, accompanied by a sporty exhaust tune.
Honda Accord Euro Interior
Inside, the Honda Accord Euro provides 65mm more shoulder room than its predecessor – thanks to its 80mm bigger overall width. And while the roofline is lower, the cabin floor has been lowered by 10mm to maintain, the nice, sporty, low driving position that has been a Honda Accord hallmark.
Across the Honda Accord range, improvements in trim materials and extra insulation have provided an improved quality feel and extra refinement. You can choose from a range of one interior colour – black.
Honda Accord Euro provides a top-shelf driving position thanks to tilt/telescopic adjustment for the thick, sporty three-spoke steering wheel. Gauges are the conventional four-gauge layout (large speedo and rev counter, smaller fuel level and engine temperature) with LED backlighting and trip computer information displayed in LCD form in the centre of the speedo.
To the left on the centre console are controls for the excellent six-stack, 10-speaker CD audio system (MP3/WMA compatible) and dual-zone climate control air-conditioning. Honda Accord Euro does not have standard satellite navigation, but the climate control and audio information is displayed on a separate screen where the optional sat-nav would be fitted.
Honda Accord Euro rear seat passengers score legroom comparable to other vehicles in the segment –which means, not massive but reasonably comfortable for adults. Positioning of the rear seat belt buckles meant buckling the Car Showroom juniors into their booster seats was a bit difficult.
Honda Accord Euro provides a surprisingly practical boot with a mostly flat floor and 467-litre capacity.
The Honda Accord Euro Luxury as tested gains heated leather seats (with eight-way electric adjustment for the fronts), and an electric sunroof.
Honda Accord Euro Exterior & Styling
Across the range, Honda boasts some of the best current generation automotive styling and unquestionably the Honda Accord Euro is part of the mix. The current generation Honda Accord Euro is a nice balance of sporty looks and sharp edges.
In fact, the front of the Honda Accord Euro is quite arrow-like with its Honda ‘Shield’ grille and sweeping light clusters.
The silhouette is very sophisticated with a generous glasshouse and upward slant for the rear windows. Unlike the Mazda6, the Honda Accord Euro is relatively flat around the wheel arches.
At the rear, Honda Accord Euro again introduces a sporty look with its sharp boot edge and large, modern taillights.
The Honda Accord Euro Luxury runs nice five-spoke alloy wheels.
Honda Accord Euro On The Road
Honda’s corporate DNA for driving dynamics has always favoured ‘driver-involved’ over ‘cruisy’ so we knew what to expect from the Honda Accord Euro (despite the test vehicle’s extra ‘Luxury’ moniker). Just settling into the low, drivers’ seat and the ease with which the sporty steering wheel and gear lever came to hand pointed to the Honda Accord Euro extending the tradition.
But don’t get carried away there Mark Webber. Our female drivers loved the Honda Accord Euro for its comfort, excellent visibility and light touch for the steering, gear lever and pedals.
Add to that, Honda Accord Euro’s tiny 6.05-metre turning circle - plus the front and rear parking sensors included in the Luxury variant specifications - and the Honda Accord Euro breezed through our tight CBD high-rise car park.
Over our high-speed mountains roads test route, the Honda Accord Euro impressed with its responsiveness and steering precision.
Honda Accord Euro Challenges
We would only deduct points from the latest Honda Accord Euro for its suspension calibration. The latest version has lost some of the tautness of its predecessors and introduced a bit too much softness and body roll.
Honda Accord Euro Verdict
Yes, in most areas the Honda Accord Euro is amongst the best of the mid-size passenger car field. And that’s saying something because that field has some tough hombres.
Honda Accord Euro Competition
In reality, Honda Accord Euro Luxury goes head-to-head with the Mazda6 Luxury and Ford Mondeo Titanium (the latter a hatchback). All are the pick of the luxury mid-size field and you can’t split them - it’s a coin-toss and down to your personal styling preferences.
Nissan’s larger Maxima sedan doesn’t match the Honda Accord Euro Luxury for driving dynamics, but there’s no doubting its value for money, priced from $33,990. If you want a European mid-sizer for around $40K (apart from Ford’s German Mondeo), the Renault Laguna, Peugeot 407 and Volkswagen Passat enter the mix, but to match the Honda Accord Euro Luxury standard specifications, grab your cheque book (Peugeot 407 ST and Passat Highline both start at $43,990).
For less coin, the Hyundai i45 and Suzuki Kizashi are definitely contenders.
Honda Accord Euro Likes:
Great looks; nice interior; superb engine; lots of kit; value
Honda Accord Euro Dislikes:
Driving dynamics don’t quite match the high standards of its predecessors.
