Test Drive: Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC Executive - Beauty and the Beast
Perfect design and perfect harmony of all the parameters that make driving fun in a Honda are not expected, but implied. Grandma's cakes are considered to be the best in the world, so Honda's athletic performance is beyond doubt. When we add to everything the starting price of 24.000 euros, we understand that the new Accord is a big bone in the throat of Mercedes, BMW and Audi, which are arguably taking the hardest hit in the middle class. And it's in the mix...
The choice in the middle class of cars is huge, because almost all manufacturers are represented there. In Germany, the fight for a middle-class market victory is as important as the race for the country's prime minister. At Honda, Accord sales results have always been judged with their heads held high, and even in Serbia the Accord has always been the mainstay of sales. The latest generation Accord was a very successful model for Honda, so it's no surprise that its successor inherited it in terms of design. Significantly wider and slightly lower, and all those 5 millimeters shorter, the new Accord takes on a more emotional and sporty touch. Sharp edges with pronounced fenders that accentuate the width of the vehicle give the Accord a sharp, pointed line with a distinct personality. The front and rear light groups have a much more aggressive and sophisticated design, and the body has received the necessary stylistic cleanliness as well as athletic musculature. But is all this enough to continue the successful career of the predecessor. Of course not.
Let's go in order. The new Accord sits very low. While most competitors grow in height and sit in them more and more, in the new Accord, the driver feels like he is sitting in a sports coupe. The floor of the car was lowered by 10 millimeters, which was especially liked by the newly minted state rally champion Vladan Petrovich: “The interior of the new Accord is one of the best in the middle class. He sits on wide, low leather seats with perfect side bolsters. Thanks to the wide adjustment of the steering wheel and seat, everyone can find the perfect seating position. The three-spoke sports steering wheel is also commendable. His hands are very "beautiful" to him and he has the perfect shape. The entire interior is made of quality materials and is very pleasant. The driver's and front passenger's cabs are perfectly designed to provide an uncommonly spacious feel in this class. It's like sitting in a big luxury car. A fantastic combination of luxury and sportiness in one car. It should be noted the organization of commands on the center console. The audio system controls are simple and clearly separated from the air conditioning and ventilation controls. All buttons have a precise stroke and are made of high quality materials. Overall, the quality and compactness are impressive.”
Let's also say that the room at shoulder level has increased by 65 millimeters. What will delight rear seat passengers is the center armrest and opening for air conditioning. While opening the Accord's large front door makes it feel like you're sitting in a sports car for two, the only complaint is the relatively small tailgate, which requires some flexibility from tall people. But when tall people are accommodated, it will be a pleasant surprise with head and knee room, which provides comfort comparable to the comfort level of the aforementioned class. With 467 liters of luggage space, the Accord is the leader in its class. The loading edge drops 80 millimeters, and at every compliment, the floor is completely flat, and the folding rear seat backrests have a 60:40 ratio. The overall impression of the attractive interior of the test car was enhanced by a top-level equipment package that includes a Bluetooth hands-free system for driving, an AUX port and an iPod port, as well as a USB port, a power sunroof, parking sensors on the driver's seat in front and rear, openings for air conditioning. for the rear of the cabin. It goes without saying that the exterior mirrors are adjustable from the outside, but what's commendable is that they heat up and fold in, with the right one automatically lowering when reversing in favor of easier parking. Inside the Accord there are several places to store small things: drinks, car tickets…
The test car is equipped with the sportiest engine available in a Honda Accord. If you were delighted with its performance in the previous generation, the 2.4 DOHC i-VTEC will pleasantly surprise you this time, because its improvements are much more impressive in practice than on paper. This is an improved version of the previous generation unit, which primarily differs in higher power and torque, as well as an optimized valve control system (i-VTEC) and the fact that it meets the future Euro 5 environmental standards. The engine develops 201 hp. at 7.000 rpm and a maximum torque of 234 Nm at 4.300 rpm. Compared to its predecessor, it has an 11 hp increase in power. and torque by 11 Nm. It is important to note that the torque of the redesigned engine is available at lower rpms, which increases flexibility. Undoubtedly, the most competent person for evaluating engine performance is the reigning rally champion of our country Vladan Petrovich: “I have to admit that I expected this from Honda. The possibilities of the engine are really great, but its elasticity in small working areas should be especially praised. This elasticity reduces the need for gear changes, which is a pleasure for this model. Once again I want to thank the Honda engineers who worked on the transmission. While I'm not personally a fan of semi-automatic transmissions, the Honda Accord's five-speed transmission deserves a clean ten. In "D" or "S" mode, or when using manual mode with levers behind the steering wheel, the gearbox changed extremely quickly, with no delays or jerks, and was carefully thought out. The Accord engine is very happy to respond to the throttle. At 4.000 rpm it behaves brighter, and at high speeds an enviable "portion" of horsepower reaches the ground, which is accompanied by a metallic and harsh engine sound. Accelerations are great and overtaking is a real chore in this car.”
Accord will also give you a pleasant surprise at the gas station. Driving on the open road at 90 km/h, the Accord 2.4 i-VTEC consumed just 7 liters per 100 kilometers, and on the highway at 130 km/h, the Accord recorded a consumption of just 8,5 liters. per 100 kilometers. The recorded average consumption in the test was 9,1 liters per 100 kilometers, but we must note that we realized that half of the kilometers were driven in urban conditions. As you know, at the beginning of the XNUMXst century, automakers faced a small problem to combine excellent driving performance with good comfort, and in the middle class of cars. The Honda Accord's suspension is literally fantastic. The vehicle's center of gravity has been lowered, the wheel track has been widened, the front suspension has been completely redesigned, and the rear suspension features the proven multi-link suspension with variable damping. With greater body rigidity, the new Accord responds more boldly and precisely.
Management has become more responsible and safe, and vibrations have decreased, which Vladan Petrovich confirmed to us: “In sharp changes of direction, the stability of the Accord is at an enviable level, and at high speeds it gives the driver a feeling of confidence and safety. The modified suspension perfectly resists the laws of physics, and the body tilt is minimal. Even when going through rough corners quickly, the Accord will stay neutral without losing contact with the ground. Passengers will definitely feel the stiffer finish of the shock absorber, which is especially evident when crossing potholes. But it's all within comfort. I was under the impression that Honda's engineers combined stiffer dampers with softer springs and thus provided a great compromise between comfort and good agility. However, one should be careful in the border areas, because for those with too much sporting ambition, the suspension can be sluggish, and let's not forget that this car weighs more than 1,5 tons, with pronounced overhangs. Also, I think the progressive power steering could be more "communicative". More information from the backstory doesn't matter, but that's individual too."
In addition to the VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist - Honda ESP) system, this is standard equipment, but what is available to new owners for an additional fee is ADAS (Advanced Driving Assist System), a system consisting of three technologies. The first of these three is LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), which uses a camera to detect an uncontrolled vehicle entering a lane. ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) uses millimeter-wave radar to maintain a constant distance from the vehicle in front. ADAS is a CMBS (Collision Avoidance System) that monitors the distance and speed between the Accord and the vehicle in front of it, alerting the driver when a collision is reported, helping to reduce the impact of a collision. After all of the above, we said goodbye to Accord with positive impressions. Aggressive appearance, high-quality interior, top-end equipment, a fantastic engine and an enviable pedigree. And all this for 23.000 euros, as much as you need to put aside for the base model with a 2-liter engine. For the test copy (2.4 i-VTEC and Executive equipment kit) it is necessary to defer EUR 29.000 with customs and VAT.
Video test drive: Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC Executive
