Topic: CD Article: 2008 Honda Accord EX-L Sedan four-cylinder

[mdxtasy]

This Accord is a whopping 7.5" longer than the trim Mazda 6 Sedan, yet gives up 1.2 cu. ft. of trunk space to the little guy (14 versus 15.2).  Does this make sense to anybody?

Jaeger

How does interior room compare? 

[Ex-airbalancer]

This Accord is a whopping 7.5" longer than the trim Mazda 6 Sedan, yet gives up 1.2 cu. ft. of trunk space to the little guy (14 versus 15.2).  Does this make sense to anybody?

Jaeger

How does interior room compare? 

And how offer do you pack your trunk untill it is overflowing
I would rather have interior compared to trunk room.
Too bad  there is no wagon in the future plans

[johngenx]

And how offer do you pack your trunk untill it is overflowing

Until we bought a Scoob wagon to supplement the MB, all the time.

[Dante]

It really depends on what base model means?  Is a competitor offering dual zone climate control, sunroof, cd changer, 17" alloys etc in their base car?   I don't know how much less a competitor's base model or how much more content one must have in the vehicle before it's considered value, but I don't find a lot of value in many cars these days. 

MD: I think this where the misunderstanding is. The $30K OTD model is the LX, which does not have ANY of the features you listed. Those features are available on the EX and EX-L, which start over $33K OTD.

Personally, I look at the quality and the quantity of the features I get for the money in a given segment for a given price when I evaluate the value of a car.

[mdxtasy]

MD: I think this where the misunderstanding is. The $30K OTD model is the LX, which does not have ANY of the features you listed. Those features are available on the EX and EX-L, which start over $33K OTD.

I understood.  My question is, do other competitors offer features that aren't on the LX?  If so, what are they and how much cheaper is that vehicle? 

[Dante]

And how offer do you pack your trunk untill it is overflowing

Quite often when you have small kids.

[Dante]

MD: I think this where the misunderstanding is. The $30K OTD model is the LX, which does not have ANY of the features you listed. Those features are available on the EX and EX-L, which start over $33K OTD.

I understood.  My question is, do other competitors offer features that aren't on the LX?  If so, what are they and how much cheaper is that vehicle? 

I'm not very familiar with the feature set in the cars in this segment, but I think the Altima 2.5S (base model) has Auto on/off headlights, push-button ignition, 6-speed manual and perhaps few other small things I don't know about and it costs about $500 less. I know it's not a big deal, but the point is that the Accord is not a breaking any grounds value wise at least.

[mdxtasy]

but the point is that the Accord is not a breaking any grounds value wise at least.

Honda hasn't been a value carmaker for many many years. 

[Dante]

but the point is that the Accord is not a breaking any grounds value wise at least.

Honda hasn't been a value carmaker for many many years. 

I agree with you as I know that very well. This is why I commented on the editor's remark suggesting Accord's good value.

[Jaeger]

And how offer do you pack your trunk untill it is overflowing

Quite often when you have small kids.

Exactly.  And the luggage-crusher hinges won't help you make the most of that small trunk, either.

Jaeger

[safristi]

How many small kids can ya get inna 15Cu Ft Trunk......

[Dante]

How many small kids can ya get inna 15Cu Ft Trunk......

 

[sirAQUAMAN64]

tipping the scales at 1518 kg

Oink. The Tribute is listed at 1524kg and it has a 4WD system tacked on.

My compact 3dr manual transmission GTI is over 1406 kg (3099 lbs). The Accord and your Tribute are slender by comparison.


I think the Cdn pricing is better than the US relative to competitors.

Besides the trunk hinge and lack of lining, the only major thing that bugged me was how much flex there was in the interior door skins when I pulled it or put my left knee against it. Doesn't seem as well built as the previous model. Agree with XTrail the front and side appear BMW-ish... the rear a bit too although I find the sedan's rear very plain on certain colour schemes.

Is there really badging on the car reading 'L4' and 'L6'?

[2JDM]

If I went on a roadtrip with my family, with our Accord, the trunk would be stuffed (5 people). Thats why we have an Odyssey. 

Accord is for city runabouts (we don't bother taking the van, even with 5 people in the city).

Odyssey is for highway trips.

[hondasalesguy]

How is it that the Accord - now by FAR the largest vehicle in its class (if you consider its classmates the likes of Altima, Camry, Sonata and Mazda 6) ends up with the SMALLEST trunk?  Is it specifically geared towards extra-large passengers with extra-small luggage

Maybe the idea of more people space is more appealing to most people who probably fill their passenger cabin most every day, but likely only FILL their trunk on weekends, or maybe only on the occasional weekend jaunt?

Let's face it, not too may families of 5 people buy a mid size sedan as their primary people hauler anymore, they get vans or SUVs and the sedan is their commuter or city car.

Every day of my working life I have people come in and look at our cars. When they open the trunk of the Accord, they ALL say "pretty big". NOBODY complais that the trunk is inadeuqate for this class of car. 14 cubic feet may not be class leading, but it will fit a couple monster suitcases, lots of golf clubs, or whatever else the other guys car will. The new Camry actually downsized their trunk slightly, and the new Altima is an overall slightly smaller car than the one it replaced.

[johngenx]

Hhhm.  So they (most makers) are now making the cars bigger and bigger (Accord chasing MB's S-Class!) but the trunks are not increasing, or even decreasing.  That means?  More "people" space.  Why?  No one taking luggage?  No...

People are getting bigger.  Like basketball players?  Nope, like Sumo Wrestlers...

http://www.nhpf.org/pdfs_bp/BP_Obesity_7-03.pdf

[Rupert]

Have difficulty with the EPA ratings for this 'full size car'. The same highway rating as a much smaller Accent weighing a full 1000 lb less. Engine efficiencies don't vary that much. Highway ratings are mostly a function of weight. How can this be?  Does this car have regenerative braking and electric motors.    $25000 to $37000 in Canada---$20000 to $30000 in US. Is this the right way round? Speedo is a bit small for the bi-focalled drivers IMO. Don't need to know RPM in an automatic car.

[Jaeger]

Accord is for city runabouts (we don't bother taking the van, even with 5 people in the city).

Odyssey is for highway trips.

That's funny - I thought family cars were generally for families as primary transport, and small compact sedans were for city runabouts.

Sure, minivans make more sense for large families, but to suggest that cargo capacity is an irrelevant consideration within the family sedan segment would be something of a unique viewpoint.

As for what "class" the Accord is in - well, that's just a label.  But the FACT is that it is closer in dimensions to a Chrysler 300 than to Altima / Sonata / Camry - none of which are generally described as "too small".  The Accord is plenty big by any definition.  Too big for some, including me.

Here's hoping they don't inflate the TSX to such corpulent proportions.

Jaeger

[sirAQUAMAN64]

The Sonata is classified as a 'large car' too by the EPA.

I agree on the people space vs trunk space relationship to a point, but the new Accord's trunk is smallish. However, I would say some cars are just more space efficient than others. A car like the Grand Prix or Impala's interior is wasteful IMO while the Jetta has useful interior space and a massive trunk (17.6 cu ft), the Taurus loads of both (21 cu ft trunk), and this Accord at least feels spacious inside and not flabby. On a largeish sedan, first and foremost to me would be interior spaciousness.

[MKII]

Hhhm.  So they (most makers) are now making the cars bigger and bigger (Accord chasing MB's S-Class!) but the trunks are not increasing, or even decreasing.  That means?  More "people" space.  Why?  No one taking luggage?  No...

People are getting bigger.  Like basketball players?  Nope, like Sumo Wrestlers...

http://www.nhpf.org/pdfs_bp/BP_Obesity_7-03.pdf

The car makers want to appease the gods at CR. Easy in and out egress makes for BIG bonus marks/points.