Model Tested: Honda Accord 2.4 i-VTEC EX Saloon Automatic
Price: £26,680
Tested: August 2006
Road Tester: Alex Eckford

Overall rating: 79%
The Accord has a long history as a dependable, roomy saloon car, and the current model, launched in 2003, adds a big dose of style to the mix. But with quality rivals such as the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo still selling well, can the Accord cut it?

1. Looks
The Accord looks great, with its V-shaped grille while the rear light clusters lift the Accord above the sober styling of its predecessors. Things are improved further by the 17-inch multispoke alloys of our test car.
8/10

2. Looks inside
The leather interior of our EX test car suits the Accord well, the fittings and dash feel solid, but the plastics look a little low-rent. There's plenty of storage space, and the dashboard instruments are well presented.
7/10

3. Practicality
There's room for four, but five making a long journey would find it uncomfortable. At 459 litres, the Accord's boot is big, but it's hampered by a small opening.
7/10

4. Ride and Handling
The Accord feels lithe on twisty roads, and stable at motorway speeds. Body roll is minimal and only hard cornering on broken roads causes discomfort.
9/10

5. Performance
The 2.4-litre petrol engine produces 187bhp; it's a unit that comes alive at high revs. The 0-62mph dash can be despatched in 7.7 seconds before topping out at 141mph.
7/10

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6. Running Costs
The 2.4-litre engine is the thirstiest in the Accord range, averaging 30mpg. Insurance is group 14, but with CO2 emissions of 218g/km, the Accord falls into the second most expensive tax band, F.
7/10

7. Reliability
Hondas are astonishingly reliable so the chances are, apart from servicing and replacing consumables, you'll never need to see the inside of a garage.
9/10

8. Safety
Our test car featured an interesting extra; the Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), which monitors road-markings and adjusts the steering if the car drifts out of line. It also judges if the car in front is too close and applies the brakes accordingly. The Accord has six airbags and a four-star EuroNCAP rating.
9/10

9. Equipment
The sat nav performs extremely well, with a European map stored on DVD. Our test car featured 6-CD changer, Bluetooth hands-free, an automatically-dimming rear view mirror plus automatic headlights.
8/10

10. X-Factor
The Accord has good looks inside and out and plenty of features, while the inclusion of extras like ADAS take this car the extra mile. The only downside is the relatively high price.
8/10