Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC (2008) CAR review

The 'latest comments' widget has brought back the Accord - thanks princehussy, and I hope you enjoy your new EX! -  so what the heck, let's have a talk about the Accord, and market stereotypes.

In Australasia, as kayjaynz pointed out, the Accord Euro (as it's known here) is highly-regarded and competes with the Subaru Legacy and Mazda 6 (if not the Mondeo, which rules the sector but sells to fleets) for private buyers in the midsize sector. It is competitively priced and thanks to Honda NZ's fixed pricing plan, holds residuals well. The european orthodoxy have priced themselves out of the market and become difficult to justify in comparison for new-car buyers on a reasonable budget. A new BMW is a prestige car here, still.

In North America, the Accord is the Acura TSX, and praised as a compact executive sports sedan. Americans would consider the car a rival to a 3-series, along with the Infiniti G-series and now even the Hyundai Genesis. The US Accord is what we in Australasia call the Accord V6, a larger vehicle designed for US market supremacy against the Camry.

In Europe's crowded midsize sector, where previously-exclusive brands rub shoulders with the mass-market nameplates you seem to get a Honda which the UK division has put at an Acura-style position without the differentiated branding. UK stereotyping of Honda as an OAP car turns off buyers considering an alternative, the pricing puts it into 3-series territory which is perceived as the gold standard in the sector at the moment, no questions asked. Problem.

Remarkably, it's the same car in all 3 regions, bar some minor adjustments to spec, trim or badging.

How many years and what type of vehicles will it take for Honda to break out of this stereotype ghetto in CAR's home market? Is it a matter of product, price or psychology? There's a topic to consider, instead of the formulaic 'how far is it from being worthy of comparison with the 3-series?' angle.

I went to a showroom near Colchester UK to investigate with my family.The front seats are incredibly comfy and the back ones are also good. The car has real quality. We were all very impressed with the car. I would much rather have this car than the breed of giant competitors. It is much easier to park in tight spaces.It also holds good residuals. They sell it now with an automatic diesel (It has a torque converter).

I totally disagree with the view it "looks like the old car with an after market kit". It's crystal clear Honda knows its market and has spotted a trend in the grey haired crowd that attended a recent customer clinic that Grandpa wants to re-live his youth and get into the new young trend for Max-Powering customisation. This is the perfect model for Grandpa to go cruising before bedtime and a cup of Horlicks. Well done Honda. Just missed the purple flourescent light for the front and rear aprons on the options list!