Category: Large Family 
Price Range: No data available
Refined, roomy, well built, fabulous diesel, superb sports suspension.
Cabin lacks visual flair, uninspiring petrol engines.
Classier than its French rivals, better value than the Germans.
The Accord gives a pleasingly taut driving experience, but the emphasis is on refinement rather than outright dynamism. All the major controls possess a well damped action: the brakes are smooth, the steering direct and the gearlever slick, though the clutch on manual versions can be snatchy and stiff at first.
With an intelligently laid-out dashboard and well thought-out driving position, the Accord is an easy car to simply get in and drive, and the auto 'box is a delight to use - or simply leave to get on with its job. Given the motorway-munching demands of most of its drivers, the Honda's comfy seats and polished drivetrain will count for a lot. The Tourer, oddly, stands out as being more amusing; it's all about expectations.
The Accord is not principally a driver's car, and with this generation there's no high-performance Type-R version, but the Sport GT that joined the range in the summer of 2007 more than makes up for that. As well as the Type-S's sports suspension and 17" wheels (16" for the estate) it also gets a few visual tweaks, but the excellent 2.2-litre diesel engine is left well alone. It gives 138bhp at 4,000rpm, but more importantly a whopping 251lb-ft of torque at a lowly 2,000rpm. This makes the diesel a joy to drive, with ample overtaking power in reserve whatever gear you are in.
The 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 153bhp at 6,000rpm and 140lb-ft of torque at 4,500rpm. At urban speeds, it feels relaxed and refined, but isn't that strong lower down the rev range. And when you do keep it spinning above 4,000rpm, the 16-valve engine feels a little gritty and strained - made more noticeable perhaps by the absence of other noise entering the cabin. The manual 'box is quick and positive, but could really do with a sixth gear for sustained motorway use.
The 2.4-litre engine is a more appealing powerplant, with 187bhp at 6,800rpm and 164lb-ft of torque at 4,500rpm. It naturally feels lustier and more responsive, but it's also noticeably smoother, quieter and keener to lug cleanly in the mid to high range. Its drive-by-wire throttle responds quickly to inputs and, mated to the wonderfully smooth and responsive five-speed automatic 'box, it's equally adept at whispering away in near silence at low speeds or pulling strongly and smoothly to its red line.
The quickest version to 62mph is the 2.4 petrol, which takes just 8.0 seconds with the manual gearbox, but the other engines are respectably swift too. The 2.4 also has the highest top speed, 141mph, but the slowest, the diesel, still manages a handy 132mph.
