2008 Honda Accord
by Rebecca Antioco- 03/08

The first Honda Accord was introduced in 1976, and in 1982 it became the first Japanese nameplate to be assembled in the U.S. Now a stalwart in the over-populated mid-size category, the Accord enters its eighth generation with a redesign for the 2008 model year.

While visually similar in the previous generation, the coupe and the sedan diverge a bit for 2008, with the coupe seeing the most benefit from the redesign. The sedan has shed most of its blend-in-with-the-crowd styling anonymity, at least from the front and rear, but still, there’s nothing particularly distinguishing about it. 

As usual, Accord is available in a dizzying array of configurations. Entry-level LX and LX-P sedans are powered by the base 2.4-liter 177-horsepower four-cylinder engine; an upgraded 190-horsepower four-cylinder is standard on EX and EX-L sedans and all coupes (LX-S, EX, EX-L); a 268-horsepower V-6 is available on all EX trims. All four-cylinders come equipped with a five-speed manual transmission, with a five-speed automatic an $800 option. The same five-speed is standard on six-cylinder models, with a six-speed manual transmission available on the EX-L coupe. Got all that?

I drove the LX-P sedan with the 177-hp four-cylinder. It came nicely equipped with power accessories, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, alloy wheels, fold-down rear seats and a six-speaker audio system with an MP3 auxiliary input jack. Upgrade to EX trims and you’ll get 17-inch wheels (up from the LX’s 16-inchers), a sunroof, and a six-disc in-dash CD changer. The EX-L adds leather seating, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, heated front seats, auto-dimming mirror and XM Satellite Radio. A navigation system with voice activation and Bluetooth compatibility ($2,200) is available only on the EX-L.

As is typical with Honda, the interior is nicely appointed and attractive, but basically on par with offerings from both Toyota and Nissan. Seats are sufficiently supportive and adjustable via the eight-way power adjustment on the driver’s side (LX-P trims and higher; four-way power adjustment for passenger’s seat on EX-L). Center stack controls are intuitive once you’ve memorized the array of buttons and knobs; or, you can just rely on the steering-wheel-mounted controls for the audio system.

The Accord is an excellent family sedan, with ample head and legroom for both front and back seat passengers. In fact, it boasts the largest interior in its class.

Safety features on all Accords include active head restraints, a slew of airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control, brake assist and tire-pressure monitoring system. In government crash tests, the Accord earned five stars for rollover protection, in front crashes for all passengers and in side-impact tests for front seat passenger protection; it received three stars in side-impact tests for rear passenger protection. It received the highest rating, Good, from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

On the road, the Accord was reasonably responsive, but I’d recommend upgrading to the more powerful four-cylinder at the very least, or the V-6 if you crave a little more excitement. The ride is quiet due to a stiffer body and additional sound-deadening materials; handling is admirable and the steering responsive.

The best word to describe the Accord sedan is capable. It offers a good balance of comfort, quality and value, and is practical without being too boring. And with a wide range of trim levels, each well equipped, there’s an Accord to fit almost any budget. Overall, the vehicle is predictable, consistent and just what you’d expect from Honda. And that’s not a bad thing.