This auto review blog page for 8th generation 08-09 Honda Accord car details experiences of various auto experts on driving US model Honda Accord Sedan. It includes car test drive & road test reviews, ratings in form of pros & cons, strengths & shortcomings, positive & negative points and more.
You Are Here: Accord Test Drive
| click photo to enlarge  TEST DRIVE: 2008 Honda Accord Sedan The basic elements of the Accord’s front-drive chassis return—including its signature four-wheel, double-wishbone & a all-independent suspension. The track is wider, the engine and fuel tank are mounted down low to drop the center of gravity, and the steering has been redesigned for heightened responsiveness. Lets check out the take of various auto experts on 2008 Honda Accord sedan. |
Take 1: Accord Test Drive Review
Text excerpts taken from bsmotoring.com
"US Model Honda Accord Sedan"
"The new Accord is a taller car overall and that means getting in and out is easier than what it used to be. As expected, the four-cylinder model was crisp on the throttle and we pulled into the high speed oval at Tochigi (speeds restricted to 100 kph thanks to the rain). ...... While the ride itself was poised, I was surprised by the kind of feedback that was on offer. .......Of course, the 177 bhp motor was effortlessly accelerating into the 120s already and feeling silky smooth while at it. The five-speed automatic gearbox does not wince and whine but there was a fair amount of wind-noise intruding into the cabin."
Take 2: Accord Test Drive Review
Text excerpts taken from autoblog.com
"Autoblog drives the 2008 Honda Accord sedan....."
"The first time in the car I found almost every button with just a glance. The navigation, controlled by a multi-function knob, took a second to figure out, but it won't have you reaching for the manual. Besides, the control functions are written on the dash-it doesn't get any easier."
"We only drove the 4-cylinder automatic, not the manual. It's quiet, and while it will get the job done, it will do so at a leisurely pace. The ride is just right for the category. .......The result is potholes go barely noticed and poorly-surfaced roads don't rock the ride. A new engine mounting system reduces NVH and helps the body and engine move in greater unison, and the new variable gear steering translates inputs nicely. There's even a fair bit of sporty thrown in, with reassuring composure in turns taken at speed."
Take 3: Accord Test Drive Review
Text excerpts taken from usatoday.com
"Test Drive: Sweet new Accord does Honda proud"
"Unless you're a complete power junkie, don't bother with the V-6. The 2.4-liter, 190-hp four is a sweetheart. It is powerful enough to be fun and to avoid anxious moments pulling into fast-moving traffic or the passing lane. It has sufficient low-end power to burble around town without a hiccup. The automatic transmission shifts superbly under hard acceleration and almost as quickly and smoothly on hard-throttle downshifts, a uniformity of polished execution beyond the transmission-tuning skills of some automakers."
"If you step up to the V-6 model, you'll get blazing engine performance but rougher downshifting than in the four-cylinder cars. Also, a sensitive driver can feel the V-6 go through its multicylinder transitions." Take 4: Accord Test Drive Review Text excerpts taken from nytimes.com "All Grown Up, Like the Boomers Who Embraced It" "Happily the Accord has survived its growth. The sedan’s ride — for either 4-cylinder or V-6 models — is slightly firm. However, while rough surfaces are noticed, they are not hurtful. Only those who put the highest priority on a coddled backside would object to the ride. ......Meanwhile, the Accord’s body movements are far more tightly controlled than those in the Camry. That means the Accord always feels sharp and eager while the Camry (except for the SE version with a sport suspension) often feels bouncy." "Honda is doing a better job with its steering, and the Accord provides a good connection with the driver. The body feels solid (Honda says torsional rigidity has improved by 20 percent), and it responds quickly to even the most challenging series of turns. ......The 190-horsepower 4-cylinder does not let down the suspension. If there is a weakness, it is acceleration from a standing start since the empty vehicle weighs 3,408 pounds. Once under way, however, the reoccurring thought is, “Why would I get the V-6?" "A fair amount of the credit for this performance comes from a gifted five-speed automatic that is fabulously quick to downshift and invariably selects just the right gear to accelerate out of a corner. One reason for the automatic’s excellence is that Honda has programmed the transmission not to upshift into fourth or fifth gear if the computer detects that the driver is repeatedly letting off the gas and then braking, which might indicate spirited driving on a twisty road. By comparison, the automatic in the Camry seems drowsy." | |
Take 5: Accord Test Drive Review
Text excerpts taken from canadiandriver.com
"Test Drive: 2008 Honda Accord EX Sedan with four-cylinder engine"
"While the V6 is naturally a stronger engine, the 2.4-litre is extremely well done; it's very quiet, with no whine or rumble on acceleration, and the automatic transmission's fifth gear keeps the revs down on highway speeds, so that it never gets buzzy. There's also a shift-hold system built into the transmission, which reduces shifting on winding roads when you're likely to be moving rapidly between brake and throttle. In combined driving, most of it in urban rather than highway situations, I averaged 10.1 L/100 km to the 9.9 L official rating."
Take 6: Accord Test Drive Review
Text excerpts taken from edmunds.com
"Full Test: 2008 Honda Accord EX V6"
"At the test track, the new Accord hit 60 mph in 7.1 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 91.8 mph. That's a solid improvement over the Accord in our last V6 Family Sedan Comparison Test, but it's still well behind the Camry V6 that whomped to 60 in just 6.5 seconds and scorched the quarter in 14.6 seconds at 97.3 mph."
"The Camry's V6 is also rated at 268 hp and the Toyota weighs a little less than the 3,572-pound Accord, but the biggest problem is the Accord's engine electronics. With the standard VSA stability control turned off, the Accord's computer doesn't allow full-throttle acceleration until about 20 mph. At that speed, the car barks the tires and takes off, but by that time any chance of out-sprinting the Toyota is long gone."
