Which Accord is Right for You?

As you read this, the first 2008 Accords are trickling into Honda dealerships nationwide. Yesterday, the automaker invited journalists to Chicago’s west suburbs to drive its redesigned flagship. Cars.com staffer Mike Hanley took the Accord through its paces earlier this summer — check out his review — but the rest of us got some much-needed seat time across a range of trim levels. The Accord is a competent family car at any price, but we noticed some distinct differences that could qualify — or disqualify — certain versions for your tastes.

Comments

The first thing I wish to know is: Are the seats' design became wider on the sitting surface when comparing the old ones? I mean, I used to ride in my buddy's 04 Accord, and I am being thrown sideways on the seat, apparently it is designed for some 40 inches hips. How is this one?

Sorry, but the Accord is moving farther and farther away in appreciation for me. The Sedan looks like a goofed up Sonata, and the Coupe looks like a mixed up Scion TC & a Pontiac G-6. I know all the coolaide drinker will worship at it's bearings, but Honda just keeps moving farther and farther away from what I appreciate from them. The Civic is another story, how about a V-6 in that.....

How about no Accord is right for people. The car is turning out to be a flop and you know it. After people have seen it in person it really isnt as great as you annonce it to be. Stop trying to force it down our throats and report real news.

Wow, it really does look like a Saturn L-series. I'd hope the back seat would be roomy since it bumped up a class. The car looks ok overall, but good luck finding the right button on that center console. People bash GM's recent radios...but they aren't this bad. Sorry Honda, never going to catch the Camry and good luck against the Altima and new Malibu / Aura.

Wow, it really does look like a Saturn L-series. I'd hope the back seat would be roomy since it bumped up a class. The car looks ok overall, but good luck finding the right button on that center console. People bash GM's recent radios...but they aren't this bad. Sorry Honda, never going to catch the Camry and good luck against the Altima and new Malibu / Aura.

The right Accord for me would be a 2008 Malibu LTZ.

Sorry but I do not need my $30,000 car getting mistaken for a Hyundai.

I always said "When they put our Pilot engine into the Accord and make it larger, I'll buy one."

Looks like my ride has arrived...

I used to buy Avalons until Toyota screwed up their transmissions, threw quality out of the window and decided that customers are a nuisance.
The new Accord looks to be an ideal alternative. It has proven mechanicals so it should be reliable, and the step up in size makes it the largest in the class, a good thing in my book.
The styling may not be ground-breaking but it looks pleasantly conservative and if it has the usual Honda attributes of reliability, solid construction, quality materials, a turbine-smooth engine and high resale value, I think it will be a winner. I'll take an EX-L V6 please. We're a Honda family now.

not for nothing, but i don't remember a similar story for the camry or any other car/truck that goes onto such detail. and will there be one for the malibu?

and isn't the accord more for those that don't know much about cars but just want one that will take from point a to point b and won't breakdown?

Jaun, maybe Honda is throwing a little love (money) at cars.com for the extra attention. .....Nah.

The ironic thing about this car is that the word accord means agreement and not to many people seem to agree that this this car is good. (Me being one of them)

Skip this car and go for the new Mazda6.

hitman, it reminds of the tundra vs silverado face off. they outright hosed the silverado and then to safe face they "revisited the tundra" and said the torque now did it for them.

Three too many stories on the new Accord. Come on cars.com, who's lining your pockets?

My take: Like the last Accord sedan, it's butt fugly. Now they've gone and screwed up the center console too. What a shame.

And the coupe? How dare you compare it to RWD cars. There's no comparison. The Altima and G6 coupe are it's only competition.

Honda needs to fire it's designers. Maybe they should hire Mr. Bangle from BMW.

First off guys we have one of the most stringent editorial policies in the business. We don't even take a free fill-up of gas from the auto companies let alone let them pay for trips etc. Not many other outlets can say that and definitely not our main competition.

As for the Accord, it is by far one of the most researched cars on the entire internet let alone Cars.com. That is why we're going all out on the release of an all-new version of it. We have been covering the Malibu extensively and when it arrives in November it will get similar treatment. Check out our coverage of the new CTS, it has been pretty non-stop!
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/cts/

Third, I wish I had been able to go to the event like the rest of the guys did to drive it so I could weigh in on how good it really is, but why would anyone doubt the new Accord is better than the last one? There have been many stories in many places about supposed decline in Toyota quality but I've yet to see one on Honda.

Fourth, As I said in my days at Autoblog, we drive a lot of cars before anyone else. No one commenting above has driven it yet right? How can you form an opinion on the car until then? I welcome opinions but don't accuse us of some elaborate conspiracy for advertising dollars when you don't know for sure how good it is.

As an aside every journo I've talked to about the V6 coupe loves it. Says it's the inheritor of the Prelude etc. Of course I didn't doubt my colleagues in the first place but I think when you see other articles on the car you'll hear similar things.

I guess the lesson here is, don't state your negative oppinions about new cars that you haven't driven yet or the mediator will step in. . . unless it is a new car from Ford, GM, or Chrysler. LOL

So True Sulli

I can rememeber when the Dodge Journey pictures came out DaveT. was all about bashing it before even driving it but now he wants to say we can't do that. What a hypocrite.

i didn't think the reviews were that positive ... i mean, if the probable mainstream seller is the LX, then clearly the reviewers are not overly excited about the wimpy/ buzzy engine. and the busy and confusing buttons ... then there's the slow-reacting V6 sedan ...

come ON people, the Accord will likely continue to be one of the most popular passenger cars. Honda has hit on a formula for success. don't be haters just because they sell well but you don't appreciate them!

p.s. i love my Mazda6's relatively sporty character and don't like Hondas, but most cars are going soft and squishy as they try to appeal to the masses. i don't doubt that the same fate will befall the next gen Mazda6 ... :(

I think the interior is gorgeous, they did a good job on it. The exterior is hideous- it looks like several teams designed it and didn't talk to each other at all. I showed a picture of it to a girlfriend of mine who has owned nothing but accords and she was like, "what the hell is that, I guess I will have to get a TL now."
That being said, I will agree that it should sell because it is a Honda. They have consistently built great cars, but with the Altima, Fusion, Sonata, and Malibu all showing huge gains in quality, performance AND style, how long will they be able to sell like hotcakes just because of the name plate?

It's called context people. If you simply don't believe what we write than I don't see why you'd spend your time reading it. It's not like we're a right or left wing political show with just one view. There are at least four different journalists weighing in on this blog all the time. I just happen to do the majority of the writing.

Again I'll use the CTS as the example of our non-bias. Domestics can build great cars, and we'll say so.

As for the Journey post I clearly state in the post that I was making a statement without having seen it in person. I was very very clear about that. The second I see it in person in LA in November I'll post a follow up. There are just some things as an experienced journalist who's covered auto shows and the automakers and been in all of their products that you can see in press photos. I can't wait until Chrysler delivers an interior as good as some of its exteriors. I wasn't saying you can't have an opinion on the looks of the Accord, just of how it performs on the road.

Here's what you're referring to from the Journey post:
"The new crossover has a nice look to it, with a profile reminiscent of the Dodge Magnum wagon and a much more pleasing shape than the bulbous Dodge Durango SUV. The interior, however, looks just as plastic-laden as most of Dodge’s current products we’ve tested. Without seeing the Journey in person we can’t say for sure that the quality is as poor as, say, the Avenger sedan, but the photos make us believe it is."

I don't remember so many stories written about the Camry when it came out 1.5 years ago and it's the best selling car in the U.S., it's just not a Honda. Perhaps I'm wrong. The car-press definitely has a Honda and BMW-bias.
So will we see cars.com do 5 stories about the new Corolla when it comes out? I doubt it.

As far as judging it before driving it, judging the exterior appearance is valid from a And it's the best selling small car in America.picture. So is judging a button-filled dash.

Finally, why hasn't Honda come up with a voice-activated Nav such as Toyota's? I think going to a knob is going backwards vs. even a touch-screen.

I'm pretty sure the last generation Accord had Voice Activated nav- before the camry did.

OK Guys again to defend ourselves which you make me feel we have to not because I think there's anything to defend:

1. We weren't in existence (this blog) when the new Camry came out.
2. When the next Camry comes out it will get tons of coverage.
3. When the Malibu comes out it will get tons of coverage.
4. There is something to be said about timing. Honda has a knack for making the cars available and releasing lots of information right when the cars go on sale. So it seems like we're doing everything at once. We honestly don't have much control over that. Call Honda smart for doing it that way or call it overload. It's really not our call. It happened in a similar fashion with the new CR-V last year. This isn't unique to us, there were tons of other journalists at the same events.

GM for example has given out information on the Malibu, like pricing, at different points leading up to the release in November to keep interest up over a long time. It just doesn't seem like we're covering it at the same level but it's when the information is available.

Maybe that insight helps you guys understand why our coverage may appear lopsided. We simply go all out when we get a hot new car no matter the make. Again I don't think anyone can name a more popular car on the market than the Accord, besides the Toyota Camry and Chevy Impala.

Hondas arent cushy enough on the inside for me. from the recent video, i could see panel gaps right there. Im not paying $30,000 for a hardplastic mobile. For the same money i could get a Passat and have a great interior.

what is with the styling of recent Acura/Honda models? it seems like all of the rear ends of the new vehicles look just like Audis. this new one has a rear end like an A6. The Acura MDX has a rear end like the Q7. if honda is so "good" at doing what they do why can they even create styles that are their own?

When I am not sure about a design I wait until I see one on the road. The Camry looks a lot better than its pictures. The Ridgeline was disappointing with the front too rounded and the overall size too big. Same goes for the Nitro; not a bad design, but it needed to be Scion size.

So, I waited until I saw an Accord on the road. Well, I saw two sedans and my opinion is a big thumbs down. Like what a few people here have said, the new sedan looks A LOT like the dead Saturn L-series.

Hopefully, the coupe will look much better.

On a side note, although I like the looks of the Civic, I prefer the 4-door because the 2-door reminds me of the old Toyota Paseo.