Road Test
It's no secret that the approval rating of Honda Accords is high here at C/D. Accords have earned first-place points in four of six comparison tests since 1997, and they've made our 10Best list in 17 of the 21 years we've been giving the award. It's an enviable track record, and no other car comes close.
Nevertheless, in our first test of the latest Accord (October 2002)-a top-of-the-line EX four-door towed by the new 240-hp, 3.0-liter V-6-there was a wistful subtext to an otherwise positive report. The subhead of the story summed it up: "Sedan perfection, unclouded by emotion."
Like anyone else, we appreciate high quality, flawless road manners, smooth power, and a solid value story. But we also value passion. And that EX four-door was exactly as passionate as Lt. Commander Data running a routine systems check on the bridge of the Enterprise.
Which brings us to the Accord coupe. Properly equipped, with the V-6 backed by a manual transmission, it raises the Accord's EQ ("emotional quotient") by a large order of magnitude. Quicker on its feet, quicker straight ahead, quicker to provoke smiles at the helm.
The key elements of this character shift-tires and transmission-aren't very mysterious, but they combine to make this particular Accord unique among its stablemates. The EX four-door rolls on Michelin Energy MXV4 P205/60VR all-season tires, wrapped around 6.5-by-16-inch aluminum wheels. Our EX two-door tester came with a set of Michelin HX MXM4 P215/50VR Pilots on 7.0-by-17-inch wheels. The Pilots are also an all-season design, but bigger footprints and shorter sidewalls produce better grip-0.82 g versus 0.74 for the EX four-door-as well as better braking performance: 181 feet from 70 mph versus 209. These are not particularly impressive numbers for a sports coupe-an Acura 3.2CL Type-S stopped in 178 feet and pulled 0.86 g on the same tires in a comparison test last year ("Hobson's Choice," July 2002)-but the CL rode on stiffer suspension components and also offered something that's absent in the Accord inventory: a limited-slip differential.
On the other hand, the EX V-6 coupe does offer the CL's six-speed manual-transmission option, a welcome departure from previous Accord powertrain policy. You could shift for yourself in previous Accords-but only if you were willing to limit yourself to four cylinders. V-6 versions were available only with automatics.
The EX breaks with this tepid tradition. For the first time in the Accord's long history, V-6 and manual transmission are not mutually exclusive concepts, and the six-speed's precise engagements and short shift throws enhance the pleasure of piloting this rig by a bunch.
They also enhance performance. With a five-speed automatic sending power to its front wheels, the EX V-6 four-door needed 7.0 seconds to reach 60 mph and covered the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 92 mph. The six-speed two-door hit 60 in 5.9 seconds and hustled through the quarter-mile in 14.5 seconds at 98 mph. Although the coupe did weigh 140 pounds less than the sedan, that's still a pretty strong testimonial for the efficiencies of a standard transmission. We should also add that the Accord manages to deliver the engine's substantial output to the drive wheels with only the barest hint of torque steer. This is not your father's Saab 9-3 Viggen.
Beyond all that, this car stacks up as a pretty good buy, with a substantial list of features-a steering wheel adjustable for reach and rake, a power sunroof, leather, heated power seats-baked into its $26,360 base price.
It would be lovely if Honda also offered the CL's limited-slip differential for the EX two-door. After all, the CL won't be needing it anymore, having joined the ranks of the dearly departed. But with or without that enhancement, the six-speed EX V-6 package ranks as just about the hottest ride in the mid-size, subluxury coupe class.
It may not eliminate our mourning for the old Prelude. But it does stimulate the driver-gratification glands. As much as we respect them, we can't say that about the other members of the latest Accord family.
-Tony Swan
