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With five adults on board, the Accord’s V6 shrugs off small matters such as mass and inertia. This car has been tested to generate a 0-100 km/h time of barely more than 7 seconds. On short stretches of road, the car accelerates to 120 km/h seemingly as easily as the old car did to 60 km/h. At 200 km/h on the open highway, the car still feels composed, with a substantial reserve of acceleration still available. Seamless acceleration is provided by the five-speed automatic. There’s no power mode switch or manual override for the gearbox, and this time, we’re happy to report that there’s no need for them. The transmission has the brains to figure out exactly when you need a downshift, and how to hold a gear for a corner. Why else do you call it an automatic? There’s a small switch below the steering wheel, marked TCS. Pushing it turns off the traction control system and lights up a yellow warning triangle in the instrument panel. Even with the system off, we couldn’t induce any torque steer, either from complete stops, or in the middle of a corner. Even in a torrential downpour, the car’s steering stayed true to the desired direction. Though the steering doesn’t provide much feedback and feels too light, it is precise and there’s no dead zone anywhere in its arc. The brake pedal feels firm and confident, even when scrubbing off speeds in excess of 180 km/h. Just as there’s no replacement for displacement, there’s no substitute for a proper double wishbone suspension at each corner. (Even if that doesn’t sound as catchy.) The Accord feels firmly planted even on imperfect roads, never floaty and never harsh. Superior driving dynamics, including a powerful engine, responsive chassis, and obedient steering, combined with a properly designed cabin and complete safety features, provide more comfort than a whole boatload of toys such as reverse sensors and power sunshades. The only driving tools we are missing here are HID headlamps and bigger wheels. In 3.0 V6 VTEC guise, Honda has a worthy flagship in the Accord. It has the presence, the chassis, and the cabin to compete against the entry-level German and Swedish sedans, and trump all of those not equipped with a top-line engine. The balance of power has just changed. ● |
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