2008 Honda Accord LX Sedan

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Honda has completely redesigned its popular Accord sedan and coupe for 2008, and Leftlane was lucky enough to snag the keys to a LX four-cylinder sedan for some drive time. While our test car wasn’t top-of-the-line, it did give us a good overall impression of the car and represents what Honda expects to make up about 70% of Accord sales.
Compared to the previous-generation car, the 2008 Accord is much more styled and has grown in size — now listed by the EPA as a large car. While some die-hard Accord buyers might not be fans of the new styling, we really like it. Honda gave the 2008 Accord a fresh design that should attract younger buyers, rather than sticking with a more conservative design theme that could endanger Honda of becoming too loyal to its older buyers — similar to what happened to several domestic brands over the past few decades.

The front fascia is angular and aggressive, but not too aggressive. The six-sided chrome rimmed grille looks handsome and flows well into the front headlights. An upward-sweeping character line helps connect the front of the rear of the car and gives the Accord the illusion of motion. The rear of the car is reminiscent of the Civic but seems to end abruptly. Standard body-colored side mirrors are a nice touch.
The interior of the 2008 Accord is also all-new and is arguably the new benchmark for the segment. The seats a firm but comfortable and put you in the perfect driving position. Gauges are typical Honda and are large and easy to read. Fit and finish are top notch and the same can be said for the quality of the materials. The high mounted display for radio and HVAC functions is a smart design and helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road, especially when used with the standard steering wheel mounted controls. All controls are easy to use, although the wide center stack does make for a bit of a stretch to reach some functions, such as the temperature control. Honda’s two-tiered dash is a nice design cue that visually breaks up the all black dash. Overall, the Accord’s interior is well executed and its difficult to find any flaws.
Once on the road, we were impressed with the Accord’s performance — especially for a base model. The 177 horsepower 2.4L four-cylinder was extremely responsive — thanks to Honda’s Drive-by-Wire Throttle System — and had acceleration comparable to some smaller V6s. Like most Honda engines, the 2.4L came on strong as it swept through the revs and the five-speed automatic did a good job of keeping the engine in its powerband. Power delivery was smooth and there was enough on tap to easily spin the 16 inch tires. Equally impressive were the Accord’s brakes. While slightly on the grabby side, they brought the Accord down from speed in a hurry. We didn’t spend enough time behind the wheel to fully test the Accord’s chassis and suspension, but the car felt planted and steering was on point — although one section of uneven road did send some chatter through the cockpit.
Overall, the 2008 Accord was very impressive and should be considered one of the top cars in this segment. Prices for the new Accord start at $20,360, with a range-topping EX-L V6 coming in at just over $30,000 with all of the options checked. The 2008 Accord is currently available at Honda dealers nationwide.