HONDA ACCORD ADORNS FRESHER FACE

Honda’s Accord has been one of our favourite cars since it came into the country as Darth Vader’s helmet in 2003. Since then we’ve had two new models, one facelift in 2006 the other all-new (2008). It’s time for a facelift again. While the first facelift made things sober, this one gives Accord a sharper future. Both sedan and Tourer are affected.

The styling revision is quite apparent on the front grille which now surrounds itself with cleaner headlights that feature clear-lensed indicators now located closest to the grille instead of outside the headlights. A different lower front bumper is less gaping. New reversing light indicators and a chrome bar just above where the number plate is placed round up the gist of it. Three new exterior colour Alabaster Silver, Graphite Lustre metallic and Celestial Blue Pearl, are available. Unfortunately due probably to their ages, Accord buyers seem to favour the darker, duller colour palate.

The three different trims at dealership floors are the Elegance, Executive and Exclusive. Goodie features rise higher with each trim from left to right.  Elegance for instance, is the baseline with either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic, 17-inch alloys and dual-zone climate control. Add Bluetooth connectivity, 8-way adjustable front seats, cruise control and satellite steering wheel controls and you have the Executive. Exclusive Accords have all that stuff plus more special bits like rain-sensing wipers, Active Cornering lights, a USB/iPod/auxiliary insert and parking sensors for both front and rear ends.

Honda is an innovative company with a proud history of invention and general bettering of motor cars. One of these is the Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) which reacts to impending accidents in three ways, the last of which (hard braking) is taken just before the accident happens. It follows a beeping alarm, a light tugging of seatbelts and light braking by the car. We’ve seen a similar system employed by the likes of Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW before.

Another is the Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), also used by the three Huns as well as Volvo. Honda’s system operates at between 70km/h and 180km/h. What it does is to beep when the driver veers into the wrong lane unintentionally. Such is determined by the fact that he/she didn’t use the indicator. Sadly South Africans generally do not indicate and could thus find themselves being beeped at incessantly. Should no reaction be forthcoming, the car then steers itself back into the correct lane. Thankfully the driver is always in control and will not encounter a counter-counter steering effect normally experienced with the Mercedes-Benz system.

When it comes to engines, the range is well-equipped. The two petrols are the 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre which are both naturally aspirated. Not very good news for us Gautengers who appreciate a good turbo boost in overtaking. But maybe there’s a solution later. The 2.0-litre gives off 115kW at 6300rpm and 192Nm of torque between 4100rpm and 5000rpm. You can buy it with a manual or automatic gearbox. Nought to 100km/h acceleration is claimed at 10 seconds, top speed 215km/h, average fuel consumption 7.2 litres per 100km and C02 emissions at 165 g/km in manual.

The 2.4-litre is quite a lively thing with its robust 148kW made at a high 7000rpm, with torque of 234Nm sneaking in at 4300rpm. Honda says it will run between 0 – 100km/h in 8.1 seconds, top off at 227km/h while using only 8.8 litres per 100km of unleaded, with average C02 emissions checking in at 203g/km.

Last but not least is the kicking 2.2-litre i-DTEC turbo diesel whose power output is now rated at an impressive 132kW at 4000rpm, up from the old model, while maximum torque of 380Nm spreads outwards from 2000rpm. Give it the correct boot and it goes from standstill to 100km/h in 8.7 seconds, peaking off at 220km/h. Its combined fuel average is 5.8 litres per 100km, while C02s are rated at 151g/km. The same engine can be ordered mild at 110kW in automatic form only.

With its new styling, hi-technology, safety features and engine choices, the facelift Honda Accord will be very difficult to ignore, even for those who always think Germany first at these price levels.

Facelift Honda Accord Pricing

2.0 Elegance (R303 000)
2.0 Elegance auto (R317 500)
2.4 Executive (R358 700)
2.4 Executive auto (R371 200)
2.2 i-DTEC Executive (R388 200)
2.2 i-DTEC Executive auto (401 200)
Tourer 2.4 Executive (R388 700)
Tourer 2.4 Executive auto (R401 200)
Tourer 2.4 Exclusive (R416 700)
Tourer 2.4 Exclusive auto (R431 200)
Tourer 2.2 i-DTEC Executive (R428 200)
Tourer 2.2 i-DTEC Executive auto (R431 200)