Honda Accord Sport

PREVIEW

SPECIFICATIONS

1. The Accord Sport is powered by a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine with 189 hp and 182 lb-ft of torque. Non-sport models make do with 185 hp. 2. Both a super slick six-speed manual transmission and a continuously variable automatic are available. 3. Fuel economy is rated at 24 MPG city, 34 MPG highway and 28 MPG combined. We achieved a 35 MPG average! 4. For $23,715 plus $790 destination, Sport models add 18-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, chrome exhaust finishers, fog lights, a leather steering wheel and a 10-way power driver’s seat.

Let’s face it; if you’re looking for automotive excitement you can pretty much ignore the midsize sedan segment. There are tons of great four door family cars on the market today but none of them will get true enthusiasts all hot and bothered. Trunk space and fuel economy matter, not acceleration and skid-pad performance.

But what if you’re an automobile fanatic and what if you’re tied down like a North Korean political prisoner, forced to drive one of these vehicles against your will? Well, all is not lost because you can always buy an Accord.

INTERIOR

When it comes to fulfilling the mission statement of a sedan the Accord performs very well. Its interior is comfortable and its back seat quite spacious. At 15.8 cubic feet the car’s trunk is also quite large – slightly more generous than a Nissan Altima or Toyota Camry – plus its opening is gigantic, like, large enough to fly an aircraft through.

Despite the boot’s enormous access portal the overall trunk is shaped somewhat like a funnel; it tapers significantly toward the front of the car. Upping its versatility the rear seatback folds flat, although the pass-through is laughably small. Still, it’s great for lengthy items like copper pipe or Pablo Escobar’s rap sheet.

As for the rest of the Accord’s cabin, the materials quality is good but not great. It’s appropriate for a family car but that’s all. Fit and finish is pretty nice and most of the controls are as simple to use as a light switch, though some of the infotainment system’s menus can be a bit obtuse until you learn them.Inconveniently the backrest is not split. Most cars with this feature offer 60/40 divided backrests, meaning part or all of it can be lowered depending on the cargo you’re carrying. However, hauling long cargo in the cabin cripples its seat capacity.

As with any car there’s always a spot for the driver, front and slightly left of center. On the road the Accord Sport handles reasonably well; this car doesn’t stand out in any particular way, which is a good thing because it goes about its business without distracting or otherwise irritating its passengers. 

                           

UNDER THE HOOD

Even though the company’s midsize sedan offering sells by the hundreds of thousands every year - typically coming second in the annual sales race toToyota’s ever-popular Camry - it’s still a masterful piece of engineering. Quantity hasn’t watered down the Accord’s quality; you can see and feel that it’s built for long-term service.

About the only midsize sedans offered with a manual transmission are the Volkswagen Passat, Mazda6  and Ford Fusion… Not that many ‘Murican customers opt to row their own gears. That’s a rant for another day.

Of course if you must have an automatic Honda will happily sell you one with a fuel-saving continuously variable transmission. That CVT may sound like a death sentence to driving fun, but in reality it’s one of the best examples implemented by any automaker.Back to the Accord, its shifter is light and easy through the gates, but it’s also super precise. The clutch works beautifully as well, with an appropriately weighted pedal and a broad engagement range. These attributes help make driving this car a real joy.

The Sport version of Honda’s Accord sedan is powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. Trumping Mazda’s SkyActiv name in the ridiculousness department this powerplant is labeled “Earth Dreams.” Yep, the eco movement has officially lost its mind; common sense disappeared decades ago.

Unlike Honda engines of years past this unit doesn’t surge ahead at the upper rev range. Its power delivery is much more linear, which is just fine for a family car.Like many of the company’s other engines this one is smooth and frisky; it’s not afraid to spin freely and always maintains its docile composure. Thanks to direct fuel injection it puts out 189 horsepower with 182 lb-ft of torque. Non-Sport versions of the car make do with just 185 ponies, though you won’t notice a difference either way.