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Striking Accord
The name's too long; it's a Honda Accord 2.2 i-CTDi Sport GT Saloon.
But apart from that, it's difficult to criticise this car.
Like most Hondas, the Accord Sport is an enjoyable and stylish drive, and generally capable of much more than is usually asked of it.
Honda takes customer research seriously and, despite the Accord being a popular choice in the D-Segment saloon market, particularly amongst fleet drivers, there was a demand for a version which combines the model's typically high spec level with a sportier appearance and features.
Cue the Accord Sport GT launched late last year. The GT adds a host of goodies (to an already very comprehensive spec) including sports suspension, 17-inch dark graphite alloys, dark chrome door handles and front grille, black-faced red illuminated dials and a boot spoiler.
Less aesthetically obvious are cruise control, a voice-activated sat-nav and Bluetooth enablement.
They successfully combine to make a devilishly handsome car even racier.
At a list price of £20,767, it's not the cheapest car in the segment, but after factoring in the extensive list of standard equipment, from tie-down hooks in the boot to locking wheel nuts, it's certainly competitive.
Armed with Honda's rightly-acclaimed 2.2 turbo diesel, the Accord is a smooth and comfortable cruiser, yet capable of some splendid B-road fun.
It was already a fine handling big saloon but with the considerably firmer suspension settings of the GT aided and abetted by fat 225x45 profile tyres, it's even more satisfying when you fancy a bit of a blast.
Although putting out only 140PS, the sophisticated and quiet diesel pulls with a hefty 252lb/ft of torque, allowing easy overtaking and relaxed motorway cruising - 70mph costs just 2,000rpm and top speed is 132mph. The 0-60mph time is also respectable, at a shade over nine seconds.
The gearbox is one of the best six-speeders I've used, with all gates found easily, smoothly and with nary a notch.
That firmer suspension does mean a harsher ride of course, but the well-bolstered though slightly narrow front seats help here.
As we expect from Honda, the hydraulic rack and pinion steering is excellent, with a good deal of road feel and is not overly-assisted. It's slightly heavier than is the norm nowadays, and all the better for it.
Switchgear and knobs are reassuringly chunky and positive and the wheel controls, including cruise control are easy to use.
Although not a fan of sat-navs, I found the touch screen system ease to use, though I never did figure out how to switch off the sultry voice of my young lady guide.
The main dials are a real delight; big, bright and easy to read and very pleasing to the eye - more of a Mac interface than a Windows one.
But back to the difficult job of finding faults - there are few, but one (a regular gripe) is that for style reasons the rear windows are a little narrow, (or the rear seats are a bit low) which means that smaller children, even in booster seats, cannot see out so well. This is very important, and a normally family-friendly firm like Honda should allow for it.
Another of my regular gripes, about an otherwise super engine, is the delay before the turbo boost arrives - it's about a second after you put your foot down, which I think is too long, though you soon get used to it.
And there's no rear wiper. And I prefer the white to the "Carbon Bronze" colour.
But it's a very, very good car.
11:59am Monday 10th March 2008
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