2008 Honda Accord
CG's long-term Accord is a 4-cylinder EX sedan.

Some vehicles deserve a closer look than we can give them during a short-term road test. One of Consumer Guide's newest extended-use test vehicles is the 2008 Honda Accord, a member of our long-term fleet for the next year. Honda's popular midsize car got a major makeover for 2008--gaining passenger space and power in the process. The Auto Editors at Consumer Guide could not pass on the chance to welcome a perennial best seller to our extended-use test fleet. Over the next year, we will put the car through its paces in a variety of real-world situations. We will use our long-term Accord to commute, run errands, and go on road trips to test it in a variety of different weather and driving conditions.

The Accord is a Consumer Guide Best Buy for 2008, and we ordered ours in four-cylinder EX trim. Accord comes in coupe and sedan versions, and since we suspect the majority of Accord buyers will go the four-door route, we chose the sedan for our extended-use fleet.

About CG's Test 2008 Honda Accord

Several different trim levels are available on both the coupe and sedan, and the Accord is available with two engines--a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 3.5-liter V6. The four-cylinder comes in two versions--one that makes 177 horsepower and another that turns out 190. Our extended-use EX came standard with the higher-horsepower four, and we chose to mate it to the available five-speed automatic transmission. Estimated EPA gas mileage numbers for the Accord EX with the five-speed automatic transmission are 21 mpg in city driving and 31 mpg highway.

Creature Comforts and Safety Equipment

CG's test Accord EX comes equipped with ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. EX offers a power driver's seat with eight-way power adjustment, power lumbar support, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-disc in-dash CD player with MP3 capability and six speakers, cruise control, air conditioning, and power windows and door locks. A one-touch power moonroof, security system, and 17-inch alloy wheels are also part of the EX package. Our EX bases at $23,060 with the manual transmission. The automatic adds $800 for a final as-tested price of $23,860. Honda sells each trim level as a package, with all options included, instead of allowing customers to build the car a la carte.

Initial Thoughts

Accord is still a solid value in the midsize class, but several editors noted that the competition is catching up in terms of quality, refinement, and overall value. Our test notes are peppered with words like "solid," "fine," and even "excellent," but there are also references to the packed midsize marketplace and how far Accord's challengers have come for model-year 2008.

Three key competitors--the Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu, and Nissan Altima--already received recent redesigns. Camry went under the knife in 2007 and Malibu and Altima got their turn in 2008. How will this restyled family sedan play in the crowded and competitive midsize car field? Check back with us regularly to see how the Accord is faring during its time here.

03.03.2008