Honda Zips Up the Accord

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There's a new audio package with an RDS system that allows a user to seek specific music formats in a variety of formats, including AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3-aux. The new Accord is the first to offer hands-free Bluetooth cellphoning. And the optional navigation system is not only easy to program but boasts a positively massive, eight-inch display.

The new car features sportier seats, but ones that are quite comfortable over long distances. Among other advantages, they feature an expanded range of motion. The larger cabin means more space between front-seat occupants, filled with a larger center armrest.

We were surprised that Honda didn't opt for one of the new ambient lighting packages many of its competitors are bragging about. We were also surprised that the automaker doesn't offer separate rear-seat climate control switches, something Honda officials admit they skipped to hold down pricing.

Do such things matter? Everything impacts sales these days, in the hotly competitive market. Last year, Accord sales dipped to 360,000, down from a peak of 386,000, with the outgoing, seventh-generation, and an all-time Accord best of 416,000.

Part of the problem, admits Honda planner Gary Robinson, is that to some potential buyers, Accord has become, er, sensible. Like old shoes, practical and boring. No wonder the average buyer's age is now 50, up from 41 a decade or so ago. Younger, hipper buyers, the company concedes, have been opting for sportier offerings, notably the Nissan Altima. But Toyota 's Camry is also picking off Honda's more conservative set.

So it's going to be a tough challenge to win back either group, if not both. Of course, the recent run-up in fuel prices will help since, says marketing chief Bonawitz, "We're seeing movement back to mid-size sedans from SUVs" and other truck-like vehicles.

The new Accord could be a perfect destination for such shifting buyers. The car offers the roominess they'd expect, and plenty of content. It's peppy, reasonably fuel-efficient, and offers a wide range of safety features.

Are we now ready to think of the Accord as Mocha Chocolate Gelato, perhaps, or even Cherry Garcia? Well, maybe not, but the 2008 remake is definitely a much more exciting version of French Vanilla.

2008 Honda Accord

Base price: $19,500 (est.)

Engine: 3.5-liter V-6, 268 hp/248 lb-ft; 2.4-liter in-line four, 190 hp/168 lb-ft; 2.4-liter in-line four, 177 hp/161 lb-ft

Length x width x height: 194.1 x 72.7 x 58.1 in (sedan)

Wheelbase: 110.2 in

Curb weight: 3213-3583 lb

Fuel economy (EPA city/hwy): 19/29 mpg (V-6 sedan); 19/28 mpg (V-6 Coupe); 21/31 mpg (four-cylinder, both versions)

Major standard features: Power windows/locks/mirrors; six-speaker audio system with AM/FM/CD/MP3 and RDS; steering wheel-mounted audio controls

Safety features: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes, traction control; active head restraints; tire pressure monitors

Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles

Provided by TheCarConnection.com—The Web's Automotive Authority