A younger and more stylish Accord

It had been quite a time since I last sat behind the wheel of a Honda Accord. So when the opportunity came last year to spend a week in it I did not hesitate.

Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) presented a major refresh for the Accord in 2016. It is reengineered with a sportier and bolder look, sophisticated and premium finish, and dynamic driving performance to provide customers with exceptional ownership experience.

On the outside the Accord has a more aerodynamic styling with its sharply creased and contoured hood and more pronounced front grille.

For me what this means is that the sedan is built to meet the demands of the changing times. Gone is the heavy looking, daddy-type Accord and in its place comes a sleek and younger looking Accord.

Seamlessly complementing its new look is Honda’s signature LED Lighting, which includes full LED headlights, Daytime Running Lights (DRL), Active Cornering Light and LED Multi-Projector fog lights.

I particularly liked the lights because driving at night can be a problems and being behind the wheel of a sedan that comes with great lights is a definite plus.

There is also the rear also with a new bumper and LED guide tail lamp design.

The Accord has alloy wheels, which are designed to be sportier and this completes that younger looking Accord. 

Sedan For The Stylish

I threw my Daddy-car bias aside when I saw the refreshed design of the Accord. Gone was my thinking that this sedan is a car only older executives would drive. I liked what I saw — and that was only skin deep.

The cockpit clearly displays where you are headed.

Under the hood there was more to be discovered. For starters Honda has kept what has made their cars top in their class with its revolutionary Earth Dreams Technology engines.

In the Accord what one does notice is that the sedan was made with improved fuel efficiency without sacrificing its aerodynamic driving performance. The 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder model comes with a 5-speed automatic transmission also with paddle shifters. The Accord is equipped with cruise control and a Remote Engine Start Function that conveniently starts the vehicle engine and turn on its Intelligent Dual-Zone Climate Control System from the outside, which allows the cabin to cool even before entering the vehicle. And, in the tropics that is such a welcome development.

I was more that ready to take this baby for a spin, but first I needed to check out its interiors.

Inside, the Accord features high level of luxury and craftsmanship with its ergonomic layout and comfortable seating matched with plush and high-quality materials. The Accord’s center console and dashboard have been fitted with elegant piano black trimming for a more sophisticated finish.

For its infotainment, the Accord retains the dual screen set-up.

I was in awe of the top screen or the intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with improved display resolution, which can now show different information simultaneously such as trip computer, audio and compass. The bottom screen has been updated with Honda’s advanced 7-inch touch screen display audio with navigation.  These screens work hand-in-hand to operate the hands-free telephone function and audio streaming via Bluetooth connectivity.  The i-MID and advanced display audio can still be controlled easily via the controls mounted on the leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood accent.

To provide uncompromised driver and passenger comfort, Honda retained in its latest Accord features such as leather seats, power adjustable front seats, push start button, intelligent dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, rear air-con vents, a pair of pull-up rear window shades, power operated rear windshield sunshade, and rear center armrest audio controls. An auxiliary switch, a new auxillary switch can now be found in the 2.4 variant.  This switch allows rear passenger has access to enable him to adjust the front passenger seat to his liking.

In terms of safety, six airbags are now standard in both variants of the Accord to ensure utmost safety of its customers.

The other plus is that LaneWatch Technology has been included in the Accord’s comprehensive safety features. The LaneWatch technology helps improve visibility of the driver’s blind spot. This can be activated by engaging the right turn signal or by pressing the LaneWatch button on the turn signal switch to view a constant real-time display on the vehicle’s i-MID.

Before I set off of my adventure to Tarlac, I must add that the Accord’s wide array of passive and safety features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HSA), multi-view reverse camera, front and rear sensors, and Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) — are there only to make sure that I stay safe in its cockpit.

I finally start the engine and hear it roar. Tarlac is my destination because I wanted to experience the comfort inside the Accord as I drove through the NLEX and TPLEX.

I had fun and stayed comfortable in the embrace of my super comfy ride.