Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC EX Auto 4dr Car Review - February 2012

Honda are aiming the Accord at drivers who are likely to do long distances on the motorway, so the suspension is a little soft which does affect the responsiveness of the drive. Grip is quite reasonable, and the car is fine to be driven in town as well as on the motorways. The driving position is adjustable, and the narrow windscreen pillars mean that visibility is very good even at junctions.

In terms of the engine performance, the 2.4 is the strongest in the range available in the Accord, and the acceleration from 0-62mph is achieved in only 7.8 seconds. A top speed of 141 mph can also be reached for those who have the right conditions in which to test the car. All this does come at the cost of fuel performance, and the automatic gearbox does mean that the engine is damped down a little.

The Accord rides low and close to the road giving the impression of a quick car, and the front end is more akin to a Saab than it is to the more traditional saloons. The air intake below the grille is much smaller than that seen on many other cars currently in production, which gives the car a better look. Having alloy wheels as standard is also a big plus point, giving the Accord a great all round appearance.

The level of equipment included as standard in this model will certainly impress many people, and having leather seats, satellite navigation and hands free functionality is certainly aimed at the executive market. Cruise control, an electric sunroof and power heated seats all add to the luxury of the vehicle.

The space available in the cabin means that the Accord can carry five people comfortably, and those in the back will still have enough space to move. The design of the vehicle has gone toward the more traditional saloon style which does mean that the boot space does fall short of competitors such as the new Ford Mondeo. All the driving aids do mean that it is not only safe to drive, but has been created with long journeys in mind.

The Honda Accord achieved the top grade of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests, and the only omission is that of a driver’s knee airbag which is becoming more popular among car safety designers. All the usual security equipment is present and correct, with the alarm and immobiliser being the most important aspects included.

It is in this category that it becomes hard to justify recommending this version of the Honda Accord, because the list price of £27,520 is already a significant outlay. There are smaller engines and lower levels of equipment available, and going for a manual transmission will also help to reduce the overall cost of the car.

The fuel performance has been sacrificed for engine performance in this particular Accord, and as such the fuel performance of an average 32.8mpg will make it quite expensive to run. The insurance group is also a little higher than some of the competitors, adding to the overall cost of running this particular Accord. It does however come with three years warranty and three years roadside breakdown assistance, and the resale value for the Accord will be quite good when compared with the more popular executive saloons which have more examples on the second hand market.