HONDA / ACCORD 3.5
This range-topping Accord may not be good value in its own right, but it certainly is against European premiums
RICHARD LEU
What is it?
Like before, the Accord model line-up is topped by a V6 petrol engine. Courtesy of the Legend, which is not sold officially in Thailand, the 3.5-litre V6 is bigger than the outgoing 3.0 which produced 220hp - 55hp less than this new one.
And now that the Accord V6 is subject to the maximum 50% excise tax (over 220hp), its price has shot up by over B1m to B2.88m - enough to get you two basic Accord 2.4s.
But from another perspective, the Accord V6 is still cheaper than European executive saloons which would cost over B5m with similarly specified engines.
Although there has been some sales of this Accord petrol-sipper, Honda it seems is more keen on building its image, like Toyota is doing with its similarly priced and powered Camry 3.5.
What's cool?
Naturally, it's the engine that beckons. For those finding the 2.4 inadequate in power (which Motoring doesn't), the 3.5 is the answer, packing a kind of punch you yearn when driving on long trips.
As well as being refined, the V6 is reasonably economical. We recorded 7.5kpl in city driving and easily achieved double-digit figures on the highways.
Chassis could have had a firmer set-up. |
Accord 3.5 costs B2.88m _ double the 2.4's, but nearly half the Volvo S80 3.2's. |
Refined V6 doesn't necessarily feel the 275 horses it suggests on paper. |
Special thanks go to the cylinder cut-off system that doesn't put all cylinders to work when the car is driven gently. A green light appears on the dashboard to tell the driver when CO2 opponents appear in sight.
To mark out the 3.5 from the other Accords, Honda has tailored the interior with black trimmings that look good in our eyes. Additionally, there's also sunroof and seat memory for the front chairs.
Other than that, the V6 scores basically the same as the four-cylinder version: spacious interior, comfortable ride and driving agility.
What's not?
While the V6 is definitely the star performer of all Accords on sale in Thailand, it doesn't necessarily feel the 275 horses it quotes on paper. In fact, performance only feels fractionally quicker than the outgoing V6.
Blame that on the massive extra metal moulded into the latest generation Accord, and the automatic transmission that has only five forward ratios to squeeze out those ponies on the road (the Legend has six).
lInterior is lavishly equipped; black leather is unique from other Accords. |
The chassis could have been tauter, too, considering the car's concept as a highway cruiser. There's insufficient amount of body control on not-so-perfect roads that are still abundant in Thailand, and you can feel that bulk up front at most times, especially around town.
Apparently, Honda didn't want to lose out on low-speed ride comfort. But unlike before where stopping power wasn't enough, the brakes feel more capable in this new Accord, if a tad short on initial bite at low speeds.
Then, of course, there are the looks which you need to judge for yourself, although we're itching to say that the 2.4 be given fancier mag wheels than these staid-looking versions on the 3.5.
Buy or bye?
The fact that you can get two 2.4s for the V6's money is sort of irrational. If you're an Accord punter, the 3.5 doesn't make any sense at all because the 2.4 still performs sufficiently well and is more economical.
But if you happen to need a high-speed express and find the European premiums just too outlandish in prices - even though they come with proper dynamics the Accord lacks - then the Accord certainly makes sense.
Therefore, it really depends on how you approach this Accord range-topper, meaning that it gets neither a buy nor bye from us.
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TALKING POINT
Flick to page M8 (which you may have already done) and you'll note the Accord's fine diesel being offered in Europe. Will it come to the Thailand?
Unlikely. The European Accord has a smaller, different package from the Thai and American Accord which has been marketed mainly to accommodate four- and six-cylinder petrol engines.
That's also why you won't ever see a diesel version of the Toyota Camry; the 2.2-litre oil-burner Toyota uses in Europe is for the slightly smaller Avensis (read Corona which has already perished from Thailand.
You may have heard of Hyundai's plans of offering a diesel engine for the Sonata in Thailand later this year. That's because it's already available with diesel in Europe; the Sonata is a global model.
However, watch for the US market: the petrol/electric hybrid is rumoured to have been dropped from the plan in favour of an all-new clean V6 diesel and even a diesel/electric combination.
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