Honda Accord

Overview

HONDA Australia soldiers on with its single spec’ Accord e:HEV RS four-door sedan despite dismal sales amounting to just 98 units in total last year and pricing that is, frankly, out of kilter with the market.

Honda lists its sleek, petrol-electric hybrid from $64,900 driveaway, while the entry point for the market leading Camry Hybrid is just $39,990 – and raising to $53,990 for the flagship variant.

Unsurprisingly the roughly same-size and similar looking Camry sold 9860 units last year.

No other brand was within cooee of this result in the upward edging segment.

The Thai-made “premium” Accord now in generation 11 may have an edge in ‘street cred’ that could offset the bigger ask somewhat.

Its Atkinson Cycle 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain is good for 152kW/335Nm all going through the front wheels only via an e-CVT transmission and 18-inch alloys.

Combined fuel consumption using 91RON (standard) unleaded petrol is a claimed 4.3 litres per 100km.

The model rides on all-multi-link suspension and offers four driver selectable modes – Normal, Economy, Sport, and Individual – and three powertrain settings – Auto, EV, and Charge, all as standard, while regenerative braking can be controlled through six settings via the steering wheel paddles.

Inside, the Accord features high quality materials and advanced features including a 12.3-inch infotainment array and 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Rear climate control outlets and sunshades join Google built-in and wireless phone connectivity along with a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system.

The infotainment package also featuring over-the-air updates, connected services technology, and digital key compatibility.

Honda Sensing safety technology brings an extensive array of driver assistance systems with adaptive cruise control and Stop & Go functionality, autonomous emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, driver attention monitoring, lane keeping, traffic sign recognition, and a 360-degree surround-view camera included.

Blacked out exterior hardware adds a sporty flavour to its flanks which are longer and sleeker than previous model accentuated with a broad stance.

Honda says the four-door sedan is defined by a low horizontal beltline and a “long, powerful front-end” design that is backed by “more confident and refined dynamics”. An active grille sits front and centre, while all external lighting is LED.

Paint colours include Crystal Black, Lunar Silver, Meteoroid Grey, and Platinum White.

Driving Impressions

Looking past the price, Honda’s latest Accord scrubs up as an economical and competent smooth operator wrapped in a handsome coupe-esque skin providing owners lower seat access, sporty(ish) dynamics compared with and SUV and the confidence of driving a properly engineered vehicle by people who know.

It shows as soon as you get in the cabin which features a rather simple uncluttered design and a mix of quality materials in a slightly conservative idiom.

The mesh-faced dash stands out as do the clean lines of the dashboard, seats, and door cards.

On the downside are continuously colour changing LED ambient light strips that seem incongruous in a car such as this which targets premium over tacky trinkets. The large rotating dial for climate control is non-intuitive while some “menu burying” of other features persists.

It’s not as bad as many new offerings these days that can nearly drive you bonkers but still distracts and detracts from the driving experience particularly ADAS preference selection that plays the usual default-on game.

Down to tin tacks we find the cabin is roomy enough for five offering firm but comfy well-shaped seats, surprisingly generous rear seat legroom, but tight headroom due to the panoramic sunroof.

The boot is a decent size and features a covered porthole for longer items like skis.

Audio quality is impressive as you’d expect from a 12 speaker Bose unit.

Taking a closer look at the way it goes compared to a Camry we find the Accord is biased a touch more on the sporty side through ride, steering and engine performance which even has synthetic exhaust noise under full acceleration (they needn’t have bothered).

No rollicking sports sedan the Accord acquits itself with some competence when you give it the berries with a fully charged battery (remember it’s not a plug-in) as all three motors combine seamlessly to deliver decent acceleration off the mark, compromised a touch by the CVT, strong roll-on and easy loping cruising.

This is coupled with good fuel economy that averaged 5.3L/100km across our weeklong 1500km test drive. It means the Accord has a theoretical range approaching 1000km.

Comparatively speaking, the Accord (on test) used a bit more fuel than the Camry Hybrid in which we once saw 3.0L/100km and both products rate about the same across performance and dynamic metrics.

The Accord does have a slightly sharper edge to its drive feel which may or may not appeal to prospective owners especially on rougher country B- and C roads.

The double wishbone suspension capably soaks up bumpy roads and mid-corner bumps without flinching keeping the model tracking true all the time and all without resorting to complex high-tech solutions. Ultimate cornering attitude is understeer when pushed.

It has tactile steering with fairly quick response for a family sedan and both tyre grip and brake bite rate highly.

The whole package delivers a surefootedness missing from some other brands that feel artificial from behind the wheel. Apart from the ADAS, in the Honda you feel connected.

With four-door sedans making something a comeback across certain global markets due to buyer’s SUV fatigue and their additional cost, the Honda Accord may yet find the number of homes it surely deserves Down Under.