NEW LOOK, BIGGER HEART

The Honda Accord has gone under the knife. Its eighth generation is sportier and more powerful than its popular earlier versions

The Honda Accord has gone under the knife. Its eighth generation is sportier and more powerful than its popular earlier versions

For most of us in India, the Honda Accord remains the quintessential Japanese car. Across the world, it is the Toyota Corolla that is the face of Japanese automotive might. Its late entry into the country coupled with Honda8217;s growing might and brand awareness contributed to the Accord8217;s stature. Honda, on its part, has done well to regularly refresh its stable of vehicles. Therefore, even as the seventh generation Accord continued to do well in India, Honda decided to phase it out and bring in the newer generation version that supposedly takes the Accord elegance a notch higher. We drove it to see if the Accord experience can be bettered.

Exteriors
Unlike most other refreshes, this one is rather drastic and the Accord has literally gone under the knife. Not only is the car bigger and longer but it is also more sporty. The headlamps have been revamped and the triangular headlamps of the past have been replaced by more contemporary rectangular wraparounds. The grille has also got a look-in with a chrome finish accentuated by front spoilers. The car also introduces sporty features by way of duck spoilers at the back while the tail lamps are a compromise of the ones in the seventh and the much-appreciated sixth generation versions. So those in still in love with the broad stretched tail lamps will not be disappointed along. neither those who preferred the neatness in design in the preceeding variant.

Interiors
The beige interiors give a plush rich feel to the car which is now standard with any Accord. The larger wheelbase ensures there is enough space in the cabin though we felt that it was not evenly distributed between the rows. So if the front passenger was spoilt for space the rear ones could have done with an extra inch or two. The head and knee room see a statistical increase though. The car also gets a fully wooden finish in the Elegance version which answers one of the long standing demands of the consumers. The dash is neatly designed as always though steering-mounted controls are missing. Ergonomically the car is as good as ever with new additions in the form of audio controls in the rear central armrest adding value to the proposition. Four additional airbags also enhance the safety aspect of the car.

Engine and Powertrain
Like in the exteriors and interiors, the car also gets a bigger more powerful engine. Fitted with a 2.4 litre i-Vtec 16 valve DOHC engine, the new Accord belts out an impressive 180 bhp and a slightly higher torque of 222 PS at a low rpm of 4300. What this basically does is impart a little more zip and sporty feel that goes well with Accord8217;s otherwise refined drive. The torque is evenly distributed though we found the automatic version a little too noisy for comfort. Also when the vehicle is really revved hard, rear passengers complained of rattle inside the cabin- an unexpected feature in a Honda car.
We managed to hit a top speed of 195 kmph and courtesy its even lower centre of gravity and wide tyres that enhance traction, the Accord feels as sure footed as ever. Like in all Honda cars the ground clearance could pose problems in the hinterland but by now a Honda driver is probably accustomed to that.

Value for Money
In a class that boasts of names like Toyota Camry, Skoda Laura and Hyundai Sonata Embera, Accord always was in esteemed company. Globally Accord has been a fierce competitor to the Camry and both the companies are still locked in a fierce game of one-upmanship. In India however, courtesy Accord8217;s CKD route, it is far cheaper than the Camry and hence wins the battle of value-for-money hands down.
Priced at Rs 16.49-18.14 lakh, the new Accord makes for another compelling proposition. The Embera, the cheapest in the segment, packs all the goodies but lacks the refinement of the Accord. The Laura on the other hand has the refinement but the Skoda brand name falls short of Honda8217;s pull. For the executive commuter unable to afford the BMWs and Mercs, the Accord is a compelling choice.