Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord V6

[Noto]

(Though Honda/Toyota reliability would be appreciated in this segment no doubt)

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=93982.msg1130977#msg1130977

[Northernridge]

I see that rates, incentives, discounts etc. on the mid-size segment are substantial relative to say CUVs which are all the rage. And, safety ratings are also excellent.

I also think that picking on the driving dynamics of some of these sedans is a little weak given that the alternative for most people will be a tall wallowing, underpowered AWD CUV instead.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

(Though Honda/Toyota reliability would be appreciated in this segment no doubt)

http://www.autos.ca/forum/index.php?topic=93982.msg1130977#msg1130977

 

[johngenx]

I also think that picking on the driving dynamics of some of these sedans is a little weak given that the alternative for most people will be a tall wallowing, underpowered AWD CUV instead.

And while I much prefer the RWD or AWD of the Mercedes, the truth is that the FWD Accords and Camrys are very nice cars to drive.  They're extremely refined now and unless you really push them, the FWD is barely noticeable.

Go back almost 20 years to when we were buying both C and E class cars.  The quality difference in terms of the interiors and exteriors of the Mercedes to the Accord/Camry was immediately evident.  The Honda and Toyota were good cars that were priced below the Germans, but they also felt much less expensive.

Today, the Germans have priced their entry level cars more competitively, but at the same time, the Accord/Camry crowd have really leaped in terms of what you get for your money in terms of not only features,  but in how they feel and look.  Today, for $30K you can buy a spacious sedan with a lots of luxury features that is bank-vault solid and drives wonderfully.

[bombastic]

Competitors Ford Focus??? Really? Maybe Fusion?

[mmret]

This highly cromulent car embiggens the appeal of the mainstream midsize sedan as a concept.

[DriverJeff]

I know it's FGC blasphemy (and the badge police will probably ticket me) but the Accord and Camry have gotten so good and feature laden that it's getting harder and harder for me to justify paying 2x the price for the likes of the Berlin taxi as a daily driver. On lease (for example) I could get an Accord Sport for just over a third of the E350 monthly lease payment and I wouldn't feel sorry for myself driving one.

My mind goes like this:

I could get an Accord and 4Runner Trail for less than the price of the Berlin taxi (wife daily driver plus cottage hauler/off road explorer). Then sell the the RL and Sierra and buy the Corvette...or Cayman...or new TT...or, well you get the idea.

  Now this is the way to do it!

[johngenx]

I could get an Accord and 4Runner Trail for less than the price of the Berlin taxi (wife daily driver plus cottage hauler/off road explorer).

You know, when you put it in that light, the cost of an E-Class seems kinda ridiculous.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

This highly cromulent car embiggens the appeal of the mainstream midsize sedan as a concept.

Jebediah approves of this message. 

[tpl]

I could get an Accord and 4Runner Trail for less than the price of the Berlin taxi (wife daily driver plus cottage hauler/off road explorer).

You know, when you put it in that light, the cost of an E-Class seems kinda ridiculous.

But an Accord is an old man's car, an E class is a successful man's car....or has that all changed now?   

[Northernridge]

I could get an Accord and 4Runner Trail for less than the price of the Berlin taxi (wife daily driver plus cottage hauler/off road explorer).

You know, when you put it in that light, the cost of an E-Class seems kinda ridiculous.

But an Accord is an old man's car, an E class is a successful man's car....or has that all changed now?   

I hear all the time that the Berlin taxi is an old man's car.

[Kris78]

The Canadian mid-size segment as a whole dropped something like 25% year over year in 2014.

I was waiting for you to back up my hunches with numbers. lol

I'm here to help! 

Using June YTD from goodcarbadcar... (these are June 2015/2104 YTD)

Toyota Camry   9,416   8,026   17.3%                       
Ford Fusion   7,690   9,777   -21.3%
Honda Accord   7,142   8,860   -19.4%
Hyundai Sonata   6,947   5,257   32.1%   
Chrysler 200   6,342   4,497   41.0%
Chevrolet Malibu   5,482   2,942   86.3%
Nissan Altima   4,110   4,484   -8.3%
Volkswagen Passat & CC ¤   3,131   4,062   -22.9%

So, taken as a whole, I'm not sure if the midsize market is that bad off.

Meanwhile, in the states, the midsize car market has expanded slightly...
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2015/08/usa-july-2015-ytd-midsize-car-sales-figures.html

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Canadian mid-size segment as a whole dropped something like 25% year over year in 2014.

I was waiting for you to back up my hunches with numbers. lol

I'm here to help! 

Using June YTD from goodcarbadcar... (these are June 2015/2104 YTD)

Toyota Camry   9,416   8,026   17.3%                       
Ford Fusion   7,690   9,777   -21.3%
Honda Accord   7,142   8,860   -19.4%
Hyundai Sonata   6,947   5,257   32.1%   
Chrysler 200   6,342   4,497   41.0%
Chevrolet Malibu   5,482   2,942   86.3%
Nissan Altima   4,110   4,484   -8.3%
Volkswagen Passat & CC ¤   3,131   4,062   -22.9%

So, taken as a whole, I'm not sure if the midsize market is that bad off.

Meanwhile, in the states, the midsize car market has expanded slightly...
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2015/08/usa-july-2015-ytd-midsize-car-sales-figures.html

Of the cars you've listed, total sales are up 4.7% for the period.

Last year's drop was a big one, so I wouldn't expect it to keep up at that rate of decline.

[dragonfly]

No, what I mean by end times, is an end for the family sedan, or at least certainly the V6 version of said people-mover. Families buy crossovers these days, plus maybe a hatchback.

In Canada, maybe, but in the US large-ish V6 sedans are still popular.

I have a 2015 Chrysler 200C AWD..295 HP and 262 lbs of t...Goes like a raped ape..looks great inside and out... rear seats flop down.19 inch wheels which look fantastic...Same price..I wonder what the 0-60 times are on the Honda...5.8-6 secs on the 200....I love this leather bound beauty...(30mpg hwy/24 around town)....Thanks for a nicely written review   Jackie

[Ex-airbalancer]

No, what I mean by end times, is an end for the family sedan, or at least certainly the V6 version of said people-mover. Families buy crossovers these days, plus maybe a hatchback.

In Canada, maybe, but in the US large-ish V6 sedans are still popular.

I have a 2015 Chrysler 200C AWD..295 HP and 262 lbs of t...Goes like a raped ape..looks great inside and out... rear seats flop down.19 inch wheels which look fantastic...Same price..I wonder what the 0-60 times are on the Honda...5.8-6 secs on the 200....I love this leather bound beauty...(30mpg hwy/24 around town)....Thanks for a nicely written review   Jackie

What! Is the Hyundai love over ?

[redman]

"Honda’s 3.5L V6 makes a brisk 278 hp at 6,200 rpm and 252 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm. That’s certainly enough; when on the move it has the potential to prevent a WRX from getting in your way while merging."

Blasphemy  Simply blasphemous 

[mmret]

"Honda’s 3.5L V6 makes a brisk 278 hp at 6,200 rpm and 252 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm. That’s certainly enough; when on the move it has the potential to prevent a WRX from getting in your way while merging."

Blasphemy  Simply blasphemous 

And then a curve came up and the Honda understeered into the weeds whilst the WRX slide by in a fury of turbo whoosh and glory with its driver holding his middle finger high up in the air.

Well yes, but the Accord V6 driver probably isn't wearing a flat brimmed cap, so at least there's that.
Unless its a Brampton Accord V6 driver of course.