Car Reviws |
| 2011 Honda Accord SE Sedan, an AW Drivers Log: Posted: 19 Jan 2011 07:00 AM PST  Honda The 2011 Honda Accord SE Sedan
EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: What a welcome change to be in a normal, everyday car after two days of sliding around on icy roads in our three-ton behemoth long-term Infiniti QX56. Though this Accord does nothing spectacular, it also does everything asked of it without any problems. It feels solid enough, rides quietly and steadily, and has enough power from the four-cylinder to push it along without much drama. The five-speed is a gear short of the competition, but the powertrain doesn’t whine or suffer because of it (though fuel economy likely does). What I’d like is a better tranny interface--at least a slapstick--to allow easier control over the ratios. That kind of thing is especially noticeable when road conditions are poor and you want to select a specific gear for the speed and slickness, but it’s also the kind of feature that makes a mundane car just a tad sportier. This is a solid, workaday performer that seems like a smart buy at this price, and years down the road when it is still running well, it will seem like an even smarter buy. NEWS EDITOR GREG MIGLIORE: I like the Accord. It’s grown on me. The looks inside and out convey a light luxury sense (though parts of the interior trim still appear rather inexpensive) and it drives with a sturdy, everyday purpose. Aside from the grey accents on the dash, the rest of the inside presented well clad in black with comfortable leather seats. The burners were proficient on another cold morning, and the cabin warmed up respectably. The steering is light but points the car in an easy manner, the power is adequate and the suspension is a nice blend of comfort and well-sprung agility. Really, this car needs a few updates to keep pace with the surprising Koreans and other import competitors, as well as the re-emerging Detroit entries. But it’s still close to top-of-class class, and it’s an easy car to recommend. COPY CHIEF WENDY WARREN KEEBLER: This car took us on a 100-mile round trip in a heavy snowfall on a super-cold day. It was steady and reliable--no incidents on the three interstates, where we saw literally dozens of vehicles spun off onto the medians, into ditches or to the side of the road facing backward. Three of these mishaps required police/fire/EMS presence. But we made it home just fine. There really isn’t much else to say about the Accord on this round--we were too focused on taking it slowly and easily and smoothly. ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER TARA KLEIN: I had the Accord for one night, and I was indifferent as I put the keys back in the bin. Unimpressed? Nah. Impressed? Not really. The Accord was nice, but all in all it felt like a generic car that got me home and back to work in the morning without any “wows” being muttered under my breath. I wish this car had more character, and more comfortable seats. While it does perform well for the most part and has a favorable history, the road noise is worse than most and overall carries a blah feeling. I see this car isn’t slated for a full redesign until 2013, but the minor model changes didn’t quite get the Accord up to speed, especially considering notable competitors such as the Hyundai Sonata. 2011 Honda Accord SE Sedan Base Price: $24,480 As-Tested Price: $24,480 Drivetrain: 2.4-liter I4; FWD, five-speed automatic Output: 190 hp @ 7,000 rpm, 162 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm Curb Weight: 3,312 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 27/24.5 mpg Options: None |
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