The 2008 Honda Accord, which has been one of the best-selling mid-size sedans for many years, has been completely redesigned for 2008. The new Accord is a giant leap forward in a lot of areas, including cabin space, transmission and suspension.
Some people like the way the new Accord cuts through traffic, but others say it?s too big and not remotely subtle. I say, it?s up to you. But you cannot argue with the extra space inside, the cushy front buckets, the excellent size and shape of the rear bench and the extra space in the tail end of the wagon.
It feels a full size bigger than the previous Accord and is much more likely to get on the shopping list against a Skoda Superb or a Toyota Camry.
The suspension is extremely smooth and compliant, there is great steering feel and the car has more than enough grip and poise for family outings. The suspension is clearly ahead of many cars in that segment, with its ability to soak up nasty undulations such as expansion joints and stutter bumps. And it is quiet too. Speed bumps kick the back end around a bit, but that is my only complaint. It also has five gears and paddle shifters if you want to make your own decisions.
The car is a bit dozy from a standing start unless you floor the throttle, but once you get rolling, it moves nicely and the manual shift allows surprisingly fun driving on twisty roads.
I have no reason to question the safety in the new Accord or the long-term quality and the sedan seems to have responded to criticism of the earlier avatar by making this car more luxurious and significantly better than the outgoing model. It?s a huge change and one that deserves recognition and kudos.
Buyers will also find the smooth 177-horsepower, 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine that?s standard on the 2008 Honda Accord.
For me, the Accord is a sort of benchmark in its class. Forget the way it looks, take a drive and you will be won.
