2008 Accord Sedan Test Drive

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2008 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan test drive

According to Honda, one of their goals in designing the all-new Accord sedan was to recapture the car's "Accordness". They didn't say what Accordness was, but I'm sure most Accord owners -- myself included -- know exactly what they mean. Accordness is a philosophy that puts efficiency, quality and simplicity at the forefront. Has the new 2008 Honda Accord achieved true Accordness? Read on. $20,995 base, $26,495 as tested, EPA fuel economy 19-22 MPG city, 29-31 highway.
First Glance: Accordness vs. Camryness

The Accord was born in 1976 as a small car, and while it grew bigger over the years, it managed to hang on to its small-car demeanor until fairly recently. As the owner of two Accords -- a '93 sedan and a '96 wagon, both constructed during the Golden Age of Accordness -- I can testify that by 2007 the Accord had, indeed, lost some of its essential character.

And yet the Accord must compete against the front-runner in this segment, the Toyota Camry. While the Accord has been losing its Accordness, the Camry has been refining and building on its Camryness. Camryness is pretty much the opposite of Accordness. The Camry feels big, solid and mature, and competitors like the Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata have been building more Camryness into their own designs.

Clearly, I had three goals in this test drive:
1) Determine if the new Accord has more Accordness than its predecessors.
2) Determine which is better, Accordness or Camryness.
3) Avoid the temptation to add "-ness" to every other word, resulting in readers-closing-their-browserness.

So let's start outside. Though the new Accord is bigger, it doesn't look like it's put on weight; it looks more like the old car has spent some serious time in the gym. I like the new shape, especially the big headlights (link goes to photo), which protrude slightly from the sides of the car (though my wife Robin thought they looked goofy). The rear view is better than the last year's Accord, but the taillights are a bit too Saturn-like for my taste.

In the Driver's Seat: Great driver position, lousy controls

Accord EX-L interior complete with leather seats
Photo © Aaron Gold

Golden Age Accords had a low dash and a big windshield that gave the driver an excellent view, with the emphasis on the road ahead of you rather than the car around you. In terms of driving position, the 2008 Accord marks a 100% return to Accordness, enhanced by a tilt-and-telescope steering column. From behind the wheel it's hard to believe this is the biggest Accord ever produced -- it feels no bigger than my '93.
The driver's seat's adjustable lumbar support poked uncomfortably in my back even when retracted. Ugh. I liked the newly-expanded back seat, but not the trunk, which is oddly shaped and smaller than most of its rivals.

My test car had a grey interior trimmed in brushed silver. The quality of the materials was great, but I found the color scheme a bit dreary. This is one area where a bit more Camryness would be welcome -- and, as it happens, the Accord offers it. Order your EX with a tan interior and you'll get wood trim and a lovely two-tone dash that makes the Accord feel much more expensive than it is.

But there's no reprieve from -- or excuse for -- the zillion buttons and switches that control the Accord EX's climate and stereo systems. (At least the base model LX gets dials for fan and temperature control.) Worse yet, Honda has ditched their touch-screen navigation system -- one of the best on the market -- for a dial-controlled system that's harder and slower to program. Talk about a step backwards! Accordness is all about simplicity, and eliminating the touch screen isn't Accordness or Camryness -- it's foolishness.

On the Road: Accordness at its best

It's on the road that the new Accord really shows off its Accordness. Big as it is, the Accord drives like a much smaller car -- and that's a very, very good thing.
Like most Honda four-cylinders, the 2008 Accord's 2.4 liter engine does its best work at high revs. I thought the engine's 190 horsepower was more than adequate, but SUVs Guide Jason, who borrowed the Accord for a day of errand running, was pining for the optional 268 horsepower V6.

The five-speed automatic was a bit of a let-down; it has no manual or sport mode and the shifter will only let you select 5th or 3rd -- 4th would be better for gentle engine braking on moderate hills. (Luckily the Accord also offers a 5-speed manual.) In terms of fuel economy, I averaged 21.5 MPG, a bit low for a 4-cyl mid-sizer, but that's probably because the Accord spent more time in town and less on the highway than most cars I test.

Electronic stability control (Honda calls it VSA, for Vehicle Stability Assist) is standard on all Accords (way to go Honda!). It's a great system that steps in gently and with little drama when needed. Truth be told, I had to really ham-fist it make that happen; the Accord is incredibly agile, though the steering takes some getting used to. It's set up for a more relaxed response from center, which makes it easier to pilot the Accord on the freeway. The trade-off is that aiming it precisely on curvy roads takes some practice. Once I got the hang of it, I found the Accord to be a heck of a lot more fun than I expected.

Journey's End: How much Accordness is enough?

New Accord looks better than the old one from the back, but taillights are a bit Saturn-like
Photo © Aaron Gold

The new Accord definitely has more Accordness than the car it replaces. It looks like an Accord. It drives like an Accord. It's built like an Accord. But the control layout has lost the simplicity that is fundamental to Accordness, to the point where I'd hesitate to recommend it over its rivals.

Why am I so hung up on this issue? Because it's a safety concern. No doubt owners will quickly learn the position of the buttons, but there's still the fact that if you want to adjust the temperature or airflow, you have to look at the center display -- you can't memorize control positions as you can with a dial. True, you'll be looking away from the road for just a second -- but how many of us have done just that, only to look back and find we had to swerve or jam on the brakes? A car should be designed so that driving is the primary focus. The simpler the controls are, the safer the car is. Honda's made a huge commitment to safety in the Accord with six airbags, antilock brakes and standard VSA. Simpler A/C and stereo controls and a return to touch-screen navigation would make the Accord that much safer.

So which is better, Accordness or Camryness? Personally, I prefer Accordness; the Camry is just a bit too mature for me. But the 2008 Accord still hasn't quite achieved true Accordness. So for now, my choice is still the Nissan Altima. That said, my '93 Accord has 122,000 miles on it. By Accord standards, that means it's barely broken in -- so it's not like I'll be shopping for a replacement any time soon. -- Aaron Gold