Acceleration

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
5	4	5	6	5

Only about 20 percent of Accords are sold with the V6, so most buyers agree with us that the 4 cyl furnishes adequate power. Test manual-transmission 4-cyl EX coupe ran 0-60 mph in 8.5 sec, a V6 EX sedan in 7.6. Both are class-competitive. On the negative side, the automatic transmission can be slow to downshift and sometimes makes abrupt upshifts.

Fuel Economy

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
6	6	6	6	5.3

Extended-use-test 4-cyl coupe with manual transmission averaged 23.8 mpg over more than 8100 city/highway mi. Other test averages: 24.7-25.1 mpg with automatic 4-cyl sedans, and 20.7-24 with V6 sedans. Honda recommends regular fuel for all engines.

Ride Quality

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
7	7	7	7	6.2

Firm but comfortable and controlled. Among the best in class.

Steering/Handling/Braking

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
7	6	7	7	5.8

Precise steering and fine overall balance, though grip modest on some models due to narrowish all-season tires. Simulated emergency stops are short, quick, and stable, though one of our V6 sedans showed more nosedive than desirable.

Quietness

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
6	6	6	6	5.4

Tires noisy on rough pavement, and suspension "pings" on tar strips and sharp bumps. But smooth, revvy engines never shout, and wind noise is modest.

Controls

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
10	10	10	10	6.3

Dashboard is user-friendly, and power-window/lock switches lighted for nighttime convenience. Automatic transmission selector has vague detents, so it's easy to slide past Drive into 3rd. Grade of interior materials is at the top of the midprice class, while assembly quality would do justice to a near-luxury car.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
7	7	7	7	5.7

Seats are rather low but supportive, and some testers find them too hard. Fine head and leg room. Good seat/pedals/steering-wheel spacing. Driver visibility outstanding to front and side, but not great directly aft, especially in coupes.

Room/Comfort (rear)

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
3	5	5	5	4.3

Firm, nicely contoured seat with adequate space for two adults; three is a squeeze. Entry/exit on coupes requires the usual crouch-and-crawl.

Cargo Room

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
3	4	4	4	4.6

Wide, flat-floor trunks, but liftover a bit high on coupes, which have slightly less space than sedans. Decent interior storage.

Value within Class

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
9	10	10	10	6

Accord is a perennial Best Buy and a must-see midsize: roomy, well built from top-grade materials, and a cut above the family-car norm for road manners. Terrific reliability and strong resale values complete the picture. These cars are much in demand and so are rarely discounted, but dealers should become more willing to negotiate given two factors: competition from the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, both of which are redesigned for 2002; and the approach of the redesigned 2003 Accord.

Total Score

LX cpe, 4 cyl auto.	DX sdn, man.	LX sdn, 4 cyl auto.	EX sdn, V6	Class Average
63	65	67	68	54.6

Scores for all Midsize Cars

Low Score		40
Average Score		54
High Score		73