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Honda Accord Review
Overview
The 2006 Honda Accord may be the best of the midsize sedans. The Accord simply does everything well. It may not be best in class in every single area, but we can't think of anything it does poorly. And the coupe packs the Accord's attributes into a sporty two-door.
For 2006, the Accord gets a freshened look inside and out. Meanwhile, Honda has fortified both engines, the standard four-cylinder and the optional V6, with more horsepower. Accord V6 models get new 17-inch tires and re-tuned suspensions for 2006. And all '06 Accords benefit from enhanced sound insulation.
The Accord Hybrid, launched as a 2005 model, achieves excellent fuel economy, generates very little emissions (it's AT-PZEV certified), and delivers more horsepower than the gasoline-only model. And, no, you don't have to plug it in.
The Accord combines high technology and high quality with everyday economy of operation and keen attention to detail. The popular LX and EX sedans are terrific cars with comfort and convenience features that make them great daily drivers. Order the leather interior, and the EX becomes an affordable luxury sedan. The four-cylinder i-VTEC engine is powerful and responsive, delivering strong acceleration performance for passing. The V6 adds another level of sporting appeal.
The Accord Coupe is a quick, no-hassle, high-quality, sporty two-door that's great for commuting. Add the V6 and leather and it's an executive expressmobile.
For these reasons and others, the Honda Accord continues to be one of the best-selling cars in the U.S.
Model Lineup
The Honda Accord comes in nearly three dozen combinations when all the engines, body styles, transmissions and trim levels are all tallied up. But choosing one is easier than it may sound. Your first choice is to decide whether you want a two-door coupe or four-door sedan. Next decide whether you want a V6 or four-cylinder engine, and whether you want a manual or automatic transmission. Then decide whether you want cloth or leather upholstery.
Sedans are available in VP, LX, and EX trim.
The VP is new for 2006 and replaces last year's DX. It's better equipped, and comes standard with air conditioning, cruise control, daytime running lamps, power locks and keyless entry. The VP comes with the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission ($17,995).
LX ($19,775) and EX ($22,200) sedans add higher levels of standard equipment. The new LX Special Edition adds 16-inch alloy wheels, four-wheel-disc brakes with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), in-dash six-CD changer, steering wheel audio controls, body-color side sills and carbon fiber interior accents. The EX is available with leather upholstery, a DVD navigation system, and XM Satellite Radio.
LX V-6 ($23,950) and EX V-6 ($26,850) add not only a 3.0-liter V6 and automatic transmission, but 17-inch wheels and tires and more luxury equipment as well, including a power glass sunroof and heated side mirrors. All V6 models now come with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and brake assist. Leather is standard on the EX V6. A six-speed manual transmission is now available in EX V6 sedans as well as coupes.
Accord Hybrid ($30,140), combines a V6 gasoline engine and an electric motor to provide significantly more power: 253 horsepower vs. 244 for the gasoline-only V6. It also gets substantially better fuel economy: 30/37 miles per gallon City/Highway vs. 21/30 for the standard V6. It also comes with more standard equipment for '06, including a power glass sunroof, heated side mirrors with integrated turn signals, and VSA stability control.
Coupes are available in LX ($19,875) and EX ($22,300) trim only and come standard with the four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. An automatic transmission is available. The LX V-6 coupe ($23,900) comes with the V6 and automatic. The EX V-6 coupe ($26,950) is a performance-oriented model, and comes with either the five-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission as a no-cost option; it also has leather seating surfaces.
Safety is enhanced on all Accords by side-impact and curtain airbags, in addition to the required dual front airbags. Anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) come standard. All V6 models come with Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) and Brake Assist. EX V6 models are also equipped with traction control.
Walkaround
Both the Honda Accord sedan and coupe have been face-lifted for 2006, with a new grille and front bumper, and a new rear bumper, deck lid, and tail lights. Wheels and exhaust finishers have also been restyled.
The sharpened noses of the 2006 Accord sedan and coupe are reminiscent of an Acura RSX. The corners and sides of both bodies are carefully sculpted with a combination of concave and convex surfaces, in an attempt to achieve a muscular and agile look, with subtle and unique three-dimensional window glass, also intended to reduce wind noise. The aerodynamically efficient side-view mirrors are one of the results of wind tunnel testing. The sedan's drag coefficient, or Cd (a measure of how easily it moves through the air), is 0.30, which is quite slippery. The Accord Hybrid sedan is even more aerodynamic, with a Cd of 0.29, thanks to its rear spoiler and angled antenna.
Those in the know can spot the Hybrid by its unique front and rear spoilers and (new for '06) distinctive tail lights.
The two-door coupe is a different beast from the four-door sedan, sharing a family resemblance in its face but no actual sheet metal. Its flanks and rear deck are more shapely, flowing naturally and gracefully from the roofline. It yields an aerodynamic Cd of 0.29, which is quite slippery.
The Accord's doors are built using a unique method that makes them light and strong. You can clearly hear the quality in the sound when you close them. You feel quality, also, in the light touch required to open the trunk.
All Accord models achieved five-star safety ratings for driver and front-seat passenger in the federal government's frontal crash test. Additionally, the coupe earned a five-star rating for front- and rear-seat passengers in the side-impact test.
All Accord coupes and most of the sedans are assembled in Marysville, Ohio. Some sedans are assembled in Japan and Mexico.
Interior Features
New interior styling freshens the cabin of the 2006 Honda Accord. A new instrument panel, a new steering wheel, new fabrics for the seats, new satin chrome accents around the vents highlight the changes for 2006.
The seats are great, generously wide and tall in the sedan, with springs and urethane padding designed to reduce vibration. The driver's seat provides a one-with-the-car feel thanks to good side support. It features a manual height adjustment (power on premium models) that jacks up plenty high for even the shortest drivers, and yet drops low enough to provide good headroom for taller folks. Front legroom is generous. A tilt-and-telescope steering wheel is standard.
The seats in the coupe seem a bit different and feel even better than those in the sedan. You sit lower in the coupe. The side bolsters are more aggressive, providing a more secure fit at the torso. The leather is nicer than the cloth.
The sedan's rear bench seat is roomy and comfortable, especially for two people with the center armrest flipped out. It offers decent support, though it's fairly flat. Rear-seat legroom is slightly better than in the Nissan Altima, but the Toyota Camry provides an inch more.
The Accord's trunk is smaller than that of other mid-size sedans, but the flat trunk floor makes loading easy. The Accord's trunk measures 14 cubic feet (11.2 for the Hybrid version because of its extra computer and battery pack), compared with the 2006 Camry's nearly 17 cubic feet and the 2006 Altima's 15.6. The Accord coupe's trunk is slightly smaller than the sedan's, holding less than 13 cubic feet.
The instrumentation is excellent, comprising large, clear analog faces with LED illumination, the latter a feature associated with higher-priced luxury cars. A big speedometer in the center dominates the instrument panel. The switchgear, primarily three big dials located in the center of the dash, is simple, if not particularly attractive. Automatic dual-zone climate control is available on EX models.
Interior space is used efficiently, with the audio, climate and optional navigation system controls integrated into a single unit. This frees up space for exceptional cabin storage, including a good-sized glovebox, a big center console, a bin under the audio system that will hold 12 CDs, and door pockets deep and wide enough for a purse.
Honda's interior fit and finish is good. Attention to detail is seen everywhere: coinholders, cellphone cord hooks, grab handles over every door, console lights, power outlets, sunglasses holders, adjustable armrests, convenient and versatile access to the trunk from the rear seat. By holding down the Unlock or Lock buttons, all four windows on LX and EX models can be raised or lowered. Up to eight cupholders are provided; a couple of them are big enough to hold a liter-sized water bottle yet feature spring-loaded prongs that can grip a paper coffee cup. If you wanted to distill this attention to detail down to one example, it might be the solid, pleasurable sound of the turn-signal click.
Three sound systems are available for the Accord. LX V-6 models and above come with a six-disc in-dash CD changer, a 180-watt amplifier, and four twin-neodymium speakers with polypropylene cone woofers and soft dome tweeters. But here's the real-world test: We took the V-6 coupe six-speed on a flat-out blast through the Malibu hills, engine revving to redline, windows wide open, CD celebrating Bob Marley, and even with all that exterior noise, max volume on the sound system wasn't necessary for the full effect.
The available XM Satellite Radio is a great feature to have when traveling, because the stations don't change as you drive across the country. You still get ads, but fewer and less obnoxious ads than you would hear on FM. XM Satellite Radio is nice to have around town, also, for listening to the 24-hour news and sports broadcasts, or for staying tuned into your favorite types of music (classical, jazz, '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s).
Honda and Acura's navigation systems are among the best. The system is programmed with 8 million destinations. The Accord's system offers a voice-activation feature. Say, "Find nearest Japanese food" to the dashboard, and it will guide you there. If you know the phone number of a business establishment you're trying to reach, it will take you there. Of course, you can press the buttons and avoid one-way conversations with your car.
Honda's intelligent dual climate control, packaged with the navigation system, factors date, time, latitude, longitude, and vehicle direction into its calculations in an attempt to maintain the perfect temperature for driver and passengers.
