The Honda Accord has long been an automobile associated with quality, safety reliability and value; it just doesn’t get any better. Years ago Honda suffered the reputation of an automobile that lacked craftsmanship and reliability; a reputation that has long since changed making Honda one of the pre-eminent values in the automobile arena today with the Accord, its flagship model.

Features

The EX-L tops the Accord line outfitted with a 2997 cc aluminum alloy motor pushing 244 hp @ 6250rpm. The entire Honda product line features “Drive By Throttle” technology which refines acceleration assuring quick smooth response much like what you would expect in a luxury class vehicle. The Accord delivers on this point as acceleration and 5 speed gear changes are seamless and smooth. Handling is nimble and confidence inspiring aided by wishbone front and double wishbone rear suspension. Roll is minimized by the addition of a front stabilizer bar but not quite the Black Forest tight. Variable power assisted steering is a great surprise, for a car in this class tossing 3371 lbs. around with authoritative agility, cutting in and out of traffic with a surgeons precision. The car is fun to drive! Turning diameter is a respectable 39.6 ft lock to lock and visibility is good. The 17 inch wheels absorb much of the road abuse though changing from the All Season tires to a quality tire will likely make the expansion strips a little less noticeable. This is the one point that really disappointed me about the Accord. Braking was better than average with ventilated front and solid rear disc anti-lock brakes. The pedal was remarkable solid feeling with no mush.

Interior

The interior of the Honda is handsomely appointed with little clutter, aided by an exceptional voice activated onboard navigation system available on the EX only. Leather trimmed, heated with drivers 8, and passenger 4way adjustable seating is comfortable and built to cradle most bodies hospitably. Lumbar support is offered to the driver with everyone else left to their own devices. Legroom is a comfortable 42.6’ up front and 36.8” in the rear with ample headroom, though taller consumers would likely feel the static cling of the head liner. The front dash cluster is simple with tachometer, speedometer, fuel and oil gray backlit gauges. The stereo is a 180 watt 6 speaker six stack CD player. Here again I felt that Honda made a compromise of the stereo. Frankly I was disappointed that a better stereo wasn’t offered in this up line model. All the usual comforts including dual electric mirrors, locks, cruise control, leather wrapped telescopic wheel, dual illuminated vanity mirrors are all part of the Ex package. The shaded power moon roof brought in way too much sunlight and heat and could have been a little more user friendly with tinting.

Gas mileage is a respectable 20mpg city and 29 highway with other models offering up to 26/34 on regular unleaded with the Hybrid running 28/35.

Safety

Safety is not an issue with the Ex as it comes equipped with dual stage, dual threshold front airbags with weight and position sensors deploying the bags in stages to minimize potential injury to occupants depending on the severity of impact taking into account split second calculations of body weight to impact ratios. Front side and side curtain airbags round out this complete airbag package. Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) is the Honda version of Electronic Stability Control, overriding driver error as the result of driver error under and over steering and can brake individual wheels, adjusting power to assure your driving experience is a safe one. Wheel slippage during acceleration is a thing of the past with VSA

The Accord is built to absorb high impact, earning a Good rating (the Highest) from the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety rating on the:

Structure of the safety cage: The dummy movement was controlled with contact with structural components of the body, only rebounding from controlled forward thrust into the airbag then back into the seat with no injury. Driver area was intact with minimal intrusion into the driver’s compartment on a front offset 40mph test.

Head neck injuries: Good
Chest Injuries: Good
Leg Foot (left); Good
Leg Foot (right): Good
Dummy restraint: Good

Rear Crash Protection simulated at 20 mph, is not as good with an overall rating of Poor due largely to the Dynamic Rating which represents the acceleration of the dummies torso (modeled after an average sized man) and the time from impact initiation to the dummies impact on the head restraint accounting for the force of impact recorded on the occupants neck.

Seat and head restraint Geometry on the Ex model was rated as Good with the LX rated Acceptable. It should be mentioned that seats that can safely accommodate taller people are considered to have good seat geometry and only then are subjected to the Dynamic Rating; all others are rated as Poor. The Accords Side Impact results at 31 mph received a Good rating.Priced at under $29,000 msrp, theAccord is not cheap but still a value for its class. Generally I don’t negotiate at the dealer but opt to use a third party website and email to solicit best deals from all the dealers in whatever radius I choose, often coming back with offers below dealer list, which, with holdback and manufacturer givebacks still offers the dealer a tidy profit allowing me to avoid the stupidity of the dealer dance altogether.

Price

It would be interesting to note the true cost of ownership for the 2007 Honda Accord for a 5 year period breaks down as follows, as outlined by Edmunds:

• Depreciation $15,940
• Financing 5,888
• Insurance 7,627
• Taxes & fees 1, 951
• Fuel 7,836
• Maintenance 3,498
• Repairs 533
Total Cost For 5 years $43,273

These associated costs for operating costs and depreciation are high are high according to Edmunds, though if you research Toyota Camry, Nissan Maxima, , Hyundai Azera, Volvo S40 and Subaru Legacy, they all are within a few thousand of each other for 5 year costs. It is interesting to note that the Acura TL, the luxury counterpart of Accoed, came in at $48,694, which would be a good alternative though front end costs would be higher. Please note that these figures as estimates based on national averages and should be considered benchmarks to weigh in during the buying decision.

Driving Impressions

The Honda Accord exhibited good road manners in traffic, easily getting into interstate lanes with confidence good handling and acceleration engender. You can drive the Honda aggressively at high speeds as well as it handles busy two lane traffic around town. The cabin is quiet and engine noise is minimal. I was a put off by the noisy all season tires and the expansion strip clunk that was prevalent at all speeds. I was most impressed with braking and handling. Fit and finish is good, though I wish the flimsy and I may add expensive, window controls are generic and unimpressionable giving a hint at cheap corner cutting on an otherwise smart looking interior cabin. Visibility is good with minimal rear pillar intrusion. The 9 spoke aluminum wheels are smart looking and easily maintained though, I must admit looked like plastic hubcaps at first glance. Acceleration is animated and you feel good moving this little beast around.

Final Impressions

The 2007 2007 Honda Accord is a smart looking vehicle that feels larger than it is though it is still a little too low sitting for my taste. It is a car for the times with good curb appeal aside from its lower front end posture. Overall, it is a car that is feature rich, and a good value for your hard earned cash. While the crash results may be troublesome to some, you cannot get into the best midsize car category with anything less than an Audi A4, Saab 9.3 or a Subaru Legacy.Crash tests results from NHTSA are listed as 5 Star, though I have always placed more weight on the Insurance Institute results; a matter of personal preference. At the end of the day, you generally end up incorporating an emotional component on this purchase, based on aethetics, prestige or impulse, which is fine, however, I feel strongly that you need to have all the facts at hand to minimize surprises later.

While the 2007 Honda Accord is nice car, based on what I read, saw and experienced, I walked on this one primarily because it didn't have a bigger feel to it, the low front end profile and that hard ride that is bound to get worse as the suspension ages; here again, a matter of preference.