2008 Honda Accord EX-L Review
Test drove: 12/30/2007 — 1/7/2008
Honda Accord Suits Me, But Needs Alterations
I recently had the pleasure of buying a new suit. This was a chore not only because I haven’t done that since my working days, but also because I have no idea how trendy a suit should be, or how timeless. Can a suit be both? Is it possible? I wonder because I just test-drove the 2008 Honda Accord, and it feels like that suit, only in car form.
The Accord was redesigned for 2008, and I’ve not seen such anticipation for a new car in a long time. The Accord got quite a bit of attention when it was unveiled this past fall, and most people seemed to like it — though I heard some comments that it was too stylized and trendy. I disagree. I think it’s very contemporary, yet doesn’t abandon its roots. And it will still look good in 15 years (and you know that if you buy one you’re likely to have it that long). If you wear the same suit for 15 years, however, you should seriously consider updating your wardrobe.
Like a good suit, the Accord gives a very nice first impression. I could wear it, er, drive it to the grocery store, to a business meeting or even to the country club (if I belonged to one) and be neither pretentious nor sloppy. I would be sharp but not too bold, crisp but not fastidious, comfortable but not squishy. I would be perfectly presentable.
The Accord’s leather interior has a sophisticated, tailored look and feel, even though the seats are a bit hard. The newly designed interior is fresh, but instead of feeling frou-frou and over the top, like some couture designer, it still feels Accord-y and Honda-like. The controls are mostly all in the same place they were before (trust me, my father-in-law has a 1991 Accord). The first time I got in the car to drive I felt right at home.
The kids were content in the back. Legroom is abundant, and the space is comfortable. There’s an opening in the center of the backseat that goes into the trunk that the kids had fun putting their stuff into — it wore on me a little, but was otherwise fine. The trunk is large and can house anything your typical day might throw at you. It’s not going to swing a trip to the home improvement joint, though, because the rear seats don’t fold. Uh-huh, you heard me. There’s the aforementioned pass-thru for some lumber or skis, but that’s it. Interesting, yes? It seems wrong that a folding rear seat, so prevalent in today’s sedans, didn’t make it into Honda’s flagship. The rear seats do fold down, through a lever found in the trunk. Thanks to those readers who pointed that out!
A problem for me, though, was that the rear seats are so curvy and contoured that my kids’ boosters didn’t fit correctly back there. They wouldn’t rest flush against the seatback, so my kids’ bottoms got wedged between the seatback and the back of the booster. Also, the seat belt connector isn’t placed widely enough for it to stay clear of the booster. Any time the kids got into the car we had to readjust the seat and finagle the seat belt receptor out from under the booster, in effect wrapping the seat belt around the booster. That didn’t feel good at all, and was surprising to me in this car. Maybe the Accord could use some tailoring.
Lastly, this car has tons of standard safety features, but only a three-star side-impact rating for rear passengers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That means there’s an 11-20% chance of serious injury in an impact. That three-star rating is distressing, especially in conjunction with the booster seat problem. (I don’t even have a car/suit pun to lighten that statistic up.) On the bright side, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Accord Good — its highest rating — all around in crash tests. In fact, the Accord is an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Perhaps this discrepancy will be the subject of another column some other time, but in the name of keeping you well-informed … there it is.
If your kids are out of car seats and you want a sedan, there’s a good chance you’re already considering the Accord. As far as I can tell, if that’s your situation this car should fit you well for many years.
For more information on the Honda Accord and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or comments regarding this review, write to editor@motherproof.com.
LET’S TALK NUMBERS
Latch Connectors: 2
Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair-Ample
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair-Ample
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair–Great
Fun Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove On): Some
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| 2008 Honda Accord EX-L | |
| Base price: | $28,060 |
| Price as tested: | $28,310 |
| Engine: | 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 |
| Fuel: | 19/29 mpg |
| Length: | 194.3” |
| Width: | 72.7” |
| Step-in height: | n/a |
| Turning radius: | 18.8’ |
| Cargo space: | 14.0 cu. ft. |
| NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Frontal Impact | |
| Driver’s side: | 5 Stars |
| Passenger’s side: | 5 Stars |
| Side Impact | |
| Front occupant: | 5 Stars |
| Rear occupant: | 3 Stars |
| Rollover resistance: | 5 Stars |
Comments
Miss Sara,
Just a little typo on the Specs sheet.
It is a 2008 Honda Accord, not 2008 Audi S5.
I wondered how many cup holders are there in this new version of Accord.
Posted by: J | Feb 1, 2008 9:03:18 PM
I really question the ability of the so called "mom" in judging/analysing the Accord. First of all, I went to the dealership to check on the folding seats and it does indeed fold, on all versions (LX, EX, LX-L, EX-L). The seats are award winning, if her kids are that small, then it's advisable that they use child's seats for added comfort, safety. I, personally, have not found any of the problems with the seats that were mentioned my the tester. Yes, as she mentioned, the Accord is a top pick for safety, so her kids will only be safer in, say, a Humvee. This is the first article I read on this website, and judging by the inconsistencies of the analysis of the Accord, I don't find it credible.
Posted by: Barbara Hall | Feb 1, 2008 9:25:53 PM
The styling looks like the Saturn L series with a Hyundai front grille. That's not a criticism - the Saturn was a lot nicer car than people gave it credit for.
Posted by: Jack | Feb 1, 2008 11:29:11 PM
I drove the 2008 Accord V-6. It is nice and peppy but my 2004 Honda Accord V-6 actually seemed to accelerate a little quicker?
I wish Honda offered a Honda Accord Hybrid like Toyota does with their Camry Hybrid. Superior fuel economy values with the Hybrid!
Posted by: Rich | Feb 2, 2008 8:21:08 AM
My bad, people! Sorry about the seat-folding mistake! I had no manual with my test car, and online research led me to the conclusion that the seat didn't fold. I own it, I dropped the ball on that one. Please forgive.
As for the cupholders, it's so funny. When I mention them, I get heat. When I don't mention them, I get heat. :) There were two cupholders in the front (which have a folding cover, I always love that) and two in the back in the armrest.
It's funny you mention the pep of the V-6, Rich. I liked that the Accord had power but felt that there wasn't as mush pep off the line as I expected. Now, it was just a matter of some adjusting my expectation for that and it was fun.
And thanks, J, for pointing out the typo. I'll get that fixed ASAP.
Posted by: Sara Lacey | Feb 2, 2008 1:39:52 PM
3 stars in the back is a problem. That means a Volvo S80 is a better and very close in price with rebates and incentives. 34 vs. 30. Honda is not worth it.
Posted by: A.S. | Feb 2, 2008 6:39:11 PM
Rich, there actually was a hybrid Acord out before the Camry even. But for whatever reason, Honda canned it shortly before this new generation Accord came out.
My husband has a 2003 Accord that we're quite happy with though it is about as bland as it gets. We were incredibly impressed by how much guts the 4 cylinder has. So much so that when we recently replaced the stock tires with some higher performance tires, my husband has found himself actually enjoying tossing it in and out of corners.
This new version has a lot more character and style which makes it a tempting follow up. Though it is a bit larger than our 2003 sedan.I wonder how much of that heft is noticeable behind the wheel.
Posted by: HDC | Feb 2, 2008 6:56:27 PM
Problem with Accord Hybrid was that it really had boosted performance but not fuel economy. People didn't buy the concept and it was scratched from the lineup.
A little about keeping Accord for 15 years - plenty Accords made between 1999 and 2002 were assembled with faulty transmission. Honda even was forced to give 109K warranty to those owners. Warranty of course didn't prevent transmissions from failing. Replacing one is north of $3K.
In other words, you never know which car you going to keep for 15 years.
Posted by: Tony | Feb 2, 2008 8:58:01 PM
thats so ture i had a 2003 acura tl type s auto, my transmission went on me at 62k miles. i told my self to never buy a auto v6 honda ever agian, my frist honda was a 1991 5 speed that got me 230k miles and it last 15 years thats why i got a 2008 5 speed honda now
Posted by: sammy | Feb 7, 2008 9:53:33 AM
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The entire rear seatback of the Accord folds as one piece. It can be released from inside the trunk.
Posted by: EMyers | Feb 1, 2008 6:49:53 PM