THE GOOD 12 - PART IV

HONDA ACCORD

The North American Accord would seem large in Europe, expensive in developing markets, and a little too front-wheel drive Down Under. For North America, its intended market, the Accord (new and old) suits perfectly. The Accord has taken on a smidgen of exaggerated growth, but Honda has managed to build a larger and more powerful car that also happens to be more fuel efficient. If the sub-luxury midsize sedan market were split in two camps, the Accord wuld be the one car seen riding the fence.

Most competitors are blaa, but some are quite fun to drive. The Mazda 6 and Subaru Legacy fit this sector well. On the other side are blaa cars with enough qualities apart from driving fun to meet sales success. Think Camry. The Accord wraps this all into one car. It's not an S2000, but it's no Pilot, either. The Accord is a sharper-than-you'd-think driving tool, with the space; reliability; perceived quality; and efficiency you expect from a family car.

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Engines: 177, 190, or 268 horsepower and 161, 162, or 248 lb-ft of torque from a 2.4L four-cylinder or 3.5L V6.

Mileage: City high = 22mpg. City low = 19mpg.

Base USD Price: $20,360

Anything Else? The Accord's basic 4-cylinder engine makes seven more horsepower than did the original V6 Accord of the mid-'90s.