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2008 Honda Accord EX-L Navi Review by Justin Pritchard / Auto123.com |
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Everyone in my immediate family drives a Honda Accord. My parents each have an EX- one a 1996, the other a 2000. My brother drives a sporty 1992 EX-R, and combined they've got well over three quarters of a million kilometers clocked. I'm the odd man out with a Nissan 240SX, but the rest of the gang loves the economy, ride and smoothness the Accord reliably delivers each and every day. The fleet was joined recently by the 2008 model for a test, and the added insight from a family of Accord owners would be welcomed.
The new sheetmetal The side profile now carries some European sculpting, the head and tail lights wrapping well into it. The silhouette is broken up by a character line and some chrome accenting. Accord has a new word in its vocabulary this year: "Move". It clears the fast lane in a jiffy with its scowling wide-set headlamps and big grille with metallic surround. It's never looked this confident. The rear styling, complete with a low-deck trunk and dual outlet exhausts, was largely unappreciated. The new cabin Inside, the two-tone khaki color scheme was set off with wood-trim, and it proved lively and upbeat. Large windows and a sunroof work towards an airy atmosphere, and if you don't mind the Buick-like color combination, you'll find it very inviting. Do be warned, as lesser models can look downright boring inside with little more than gray plastic for color. Accord remains an easy car to enter and exit, with plenty of storage and power outlets. A full-grown family of five, though slightly snug, won't be uncomfortable. The trunk is generous, though narrow in the centre due to intrusive wheel wells. The Navigation system The helpful navigation system resides in a dash-mounted screen, controlled by a centralized command knob. It's similar to the setup used by the Germans, except that it doesn't rid the dashboard of countless buttons and switches. This creates an initially-overwhelming clutter that may remind you of a scientific calculator. Once learned, it's relatively simple to use.
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