 For 2008, Honda's midsize Accord grew in length, interior room, and horsepower. |
More "Accord-ness"
Honda identifies the Accord's two main competitors as the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, and plans to succeed against these competitors by increasing what it calls "Accord-ness." The stated goal was to improve upon what existing customers like about the Accord, but also to incorporate more of the things people like better about the Camry and Altima. Instead of "settling" for the middle ground between the two, Honda says the new Accord "moves beyond them and redefines what a midsize car can be."
The Accord was previously the "sporty" entry in the midsize sedan class. Gary Robinson, Accord Product Planner, said that in recent years Altima has succeeded somewhat in becoming the sporty choice, while Camry continues to appeal to an older, more comfort-oriented consumer. However, Accord buyers are growing older, too. Honda says that in 1995 the median age of Accord buyers was 41, but by 2005 the median age increased to 50. Clearly Honda needs the new Accord to appeal to younger consumers, but can't risk turning off the loyal base of older buyers.
 Accord sedans are available in LX, LX-P, EX, and EX-L models. Coupes come in LX-S, EX, and EX-L models. |
Honda has identified two target markets for the new Accord. "Young Professional Couples" who Honda defines as Generation Y newlywed DINKs (Dual Income No Kids) with a $70,000 household income, flourishing careers, and who enjoy "couple-hood." The second target market is "Older Professional Couples"; empty-nest Baby Boomers, with a $90,000 household income, with many of them beginning second careers like starting their own business. Honda sees both of these groups as sociable, success-driven consumers that have active lifestyles and are style and image conscious, yet intelligent and value-savvy.
Honda says it needs the young couples to "usher in the next generation of Accord," while the older couples are the core, loyal Accord buyers. According to Honda, the coupe is very important for attracting younger buyers.
Accord sedans are available in LX, LX-P, EX, and EX-L models. Coupes come in LX-S, EX, and EX-L models. Standard equipment on all models includes ABS, side airbags, curtain side airbags, air conditioning, power mirrors and locks, a tilt/telescope steering column, steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, and keyless entry. All models come standard with 4-cylinder engines, but the EX and EX-L sedans and EX-L coupe offer V6 power.
The 2008 Honda Accord: Bigger, Inside and Out
 Accords have a new face with a larger grille opening and a higher hood line. |
Accord gets bigger for 2008. On sedans, the wheelbase increases 2.3 inches, length is up by 3 inches, width increases by 1.2 inches, and the car is nearly an inch taller. Accord coupes are smaller than sedans, but they are bigger than the previous-generation coupe. The coupe's wheelbase is now 2.8 inches longer, length increases by 3.2 inches, and width is up by 1.2 inches. One thing that didn't increase was the sedan's cargo volume.
Honda wanted the 2008 Accord's styling to be more expressive and dynamic. Designers sought to create a new Accord that is powerful, bold, sophisticated, prestigious, and distinctive. Also, the coupe and sedan no longer share any exterior sheet metal, glass, bumpers, or even details like headlights. According to Honda, the only exterior pieces the coupe and sedan have in common are the door handles and side mirrors.
Styling is more dramatic than the previous-generation Accord's looks. There is more body side sculpting with character lines that have a pronounced front-to-rear rake, and flared wheel arches. Accords also have a new face with a larger grille opening and a higher hood line. The door handles offer one clue to what engine is in a given Accord. Body-color handles are reserved for 4-cylinder models, while V6-powered models have chrome handles.
More Room for Passengers
In back-to-back drives of 2007 and 2008 Accord sedans, one of the most obvious changes is the additional cabin room. The new Accord's larger dimensions really show up in interior space, especially in the sedan. The center console is almost three inches wider than before and the driver and front passenger are spaced 1.6 inches further apart. The front seats are also wider and more comfortable. Rear legroom is also very good, even for a 6-footer seated behind another 6-footer.
The new dashboard groups most controls in an angled center section that sweeps down toward the shifter. Some testers felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of buttons and controls populating this area, especially on models equipped with the navigation system. More modestly equipped Accords have fewer, but larger-sized, buttons spread out over this same piece of real estate.
 The new dashboard groups most controls in an angled center section that sweeps down toward the shifter. Some testers felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of buttons and controls populating this area. |
Sedans have a large and usefully shaped trunk, but the sickle-shaped trunk-lid hinges steal space. The rear seatback folds down, but it is a single piece unit, and it does not have the near-universally common 60/40 split. Also, there is a centered metal bracket that stands off the surface of the folded seatback and interrupts the otherwise nearly flat load floor. Some other cars have these metal brackets recessed into the seatback and placed at the outer corners where they are much less likely to cause problems with cargo.
More Power Under the Hood
Changes to the Accord continue under the hood. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine returns, but it is now offered in two states of tune rather than one. The V6 grows from 3.0 to 3.5 liters. Two distinct versions of the V6 are offered, but they have identical horsepower and torque numbers. The gas/electric Hybrid model is no longer offered.
 Sedans have a large and usefully shaped trunk, but the sickle-shaped trunk-lid hinges steal space. |
Accord LX-S coupe, and all EX and EX-L coupe and sedan models receive a 190-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder. Again, 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions are offered. With the automatic, around-town response feels similar to the 177-horsepower engine, but this engine is much smoother at idle. Some testers thought this engine with the automatic really shined in highway cruising. With the smooth-shifting 5-speed manual transmission, the engine feels quite lively in suburban traffic, and the sedan's personality is transformed with a sportier edge.
All Accord coupe and sedan V6 models that are equipped with the 5-speed automatic transmission have a 268-horsepower 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6. This engine is equipped with Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) variable displacement technology. With VCM the engine can operate in 3-, 4-, or 6-cylinder modes, favoring fuel economy or power as driving conditions dictate. The smooth V6 is noticeably more powerful in everyday driving.
Accord EX-L V6 coupes with the 6-speed manual transmission are powered by a unique variant of the 3.5-liter V6 that is not equipped with VCM. The VTEC valvetrain in this engine enhances low- and mid-range performance, but peak horsepower and torque are unchanged. This combination is especially potent, though one test example had a clutch and shifter that didn't operate as smoothly as the 4-cylinder 5-speed sedan also tested.
 The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine returns, but it is now offered in two states of tune rather than one. The V6 grows from 3.0 to 3.5 liters. |
Is More Enough?
While the new Accord remains a fine car and a Consumer Guide Best Buy, it hasn't improved dramatically over the previous Accord--with the exception of interior space. Will that be enough to succeed in an increasingly competitive class?
Besides Camry and Altima, there are
many strong and aggressively priced entries in this class including the
Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Saturn Aura. Honda
spokespeople commented that while they haven't driven the 2008
Chevrolet Malibu, it may prove to be a much more formidable competitor
than past Malibus.
Prices for the 2008 Honda Accord sedan
start at $20,360 for an LX with 5-speed manual transmission. An EX-L V6
sedan with Navigation is $30,260. Accord coupe prices range from
$21,860 to $30,510. The 2008 Honda Accord is on sale now.
 Cabin impressions vary widely depending on the interior's color palette. |