27 June 2013
Sibling rivalry
The ninth-generation Honda Accord has arrived with a host of technology packed into it. Currently there are two Accord body types competing with one another in New Zealand; the Accord and the Accord Euro. The Accord Euro is slightly smaller, with a sportier look, and remains unchanged while the larger Accord, formerly known as the Accord V6, is reworked.
There is a marginal reduction in the vehicle’s overall length and wheelbase but on the inside there is no noticeable difference with ample space to keep all five occupants comfortable.
The engine choices are two new ‘Earth Dreams Technology’ petrol powerplants that have been developed as part of Honda’s effort to reduce exhaust emissions by as much as 30 percent on all new models by 2020. The engine block and cylinder heads are made from lightweight aluminium and the internal moving components are designed to reduce friction while counter-balance shafts reduce harmonic vibrations.
Most car makers use six speed automatics for cars in this sector today, but Honda retains a five speed unit for the the 2.4L Accord, claiming that adding an extra cog would add weight, although the 3.5L V6 benefits from a six-speed auto. Paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel allow the driver to manually select the gears up or down.
The helping hand
There is a host of new driver aids available on the new model including Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation and Blind-Spot Management. Lane Keep Assist uses a forward facing camera to monitor lane markings and at speeds above 72km/h the new electric power steering makes small adjustments to the steering-wheel position in an attempt to keep the vehicle from drifting out of line.
The Adaptive Cruise Control works at speeds above 30km/h and uses radar to detect the vehicle in front to maintain a safe following distance. The Collision Mitigation system warns the driver of an imminent crash by activating flashing LEDs, located on top of the dashboard in the driver's sight, and it tugs on the driver’s seatbelt then applies the brakes if no evasive action is taken to minimise the severity of an impact.
Honda has introduced its own version of Blind Spot Monitoring which rather than alerting the driver of an object in the obscured side view with a warning light on the exterior mirror, uses a reverse-facing camera to capture a clear VGA video of the blind spot area when the left indicator is activated, displaying the image on a large multimedia screen which also houses the satellite navigation display. The camera can be viewed at any time by pressing a switch located at the end of the indicator stalk.
But for the driver’s side blind spot area you will need to take a good old fashioned look over the shoulder to check for a clear path, as there is no basic warning device for the right hand side. Masao Nakano, Chief Engineer for Honda R&D centre, says “the decision to have no camera on the right hand side was made to keep the driver facing forward as much as possible”, an explanation that has raised a few eyebrows, especially as there is no simple warning device of any kind on the driver’s side.
The Accord is especially comfortable to drive on the open road, with our preference from a handling perspective being the lighter 2.4L model which handles the turns with a lot more confidence than the rather nose heavy V6.
Passive safety is in the form of six airbags and ISOFIX child seat anchorage points are located on the outer rear seats. The double wishbone front suspension setup has been replaced by McPherson struts for a 15.2kg weight saving and the rear is fitted with a multi-link setup.
Active safety features include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Emergency Brake Assist (EBA) and Trailer Sway Assist (TSA).
Standard features for the S model include a reversing camera, 17-inch alloy wheel rims, daytime running lights, LED headlights and taillights, as well as front and rear proximity sensors. The NT models receive 18-inch alloys, keyless entry with push button start, navigation, cornering lights and a sunroof. The Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist and Collision Mitigation are reserved for NT models.
The 2.4L i-VTEC has a reasonable 129kW/225Nm of torque and fuel economy is rated at 7.9L/100km and 8.1L/100km for the Accord S and the Accord NT respectively. The 3.5L V6 has a feisty 206kW/339Nm and provides brisk performance while the claimed fuel economy is 9.2L/100km. During cruising speeds and when there’s reduced demand for the full might of the six pack, the cylinder management system deactivates half the cylinders on the V6 to further assist with fuel savings.
The entry level 2.4L S retails for $45,900 and the higher specification NT model is stickered at $55,000. The V6 is on offer in NT specification only with a $60,000 price tag.