Two sides / Honda test drives

Rather, it hasn't just remained the same, but has noticeably expanded its character. The sporty component hasn't gone anywhere. But now it's no longer fair to call the Accord purely sporty. It has transformed into a sporty-premium car. And this combination is felt in many details. Take, for instance, the exterior — the model's long-standing calling card. You'll agree, among its Japanese classmates, this sedan has always stood out most advantageously. It has never looked like a typical "Japanese car." This was especially evident in the last two generations. The previous version lacked a bit of premium feel, and its design was clearly dominated by sportiness, which partially affected the interior as well.

The new model is perfectly fine in this regard. It has absorbed the best features of the seventh-generation Accord, remains recognizable and proportionate, and the plasticity of the body panels is still unmatched among other cars. Moreover, the new Accord looks solid in any trim level. It seems Honda has set a course for their products to be compared not with "domestic" rivals, but with European luxury brands — BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi. Well, there are grounds for comparison. And it must be admitted that the new Accord doesn't lose to them. By all accounts, it's a solid and confident car. And in some ways, it even surpasses some on that list. It surpasses them with its sporty spirit.

Only BMW and Alfa Romeo can boast such energy. It turns out to be an interesting paradox — you sit in a solid car, but beneath its contours hides a dynamic temperament. It pushes the driver toward active driving even with the two-liter engine. And what about the version with the 2.4-liter engine, whose power now exceeds 200 hp? By the way, only Honda among Europeans is ready to offer such a powerful four-cylinder unit without turbocharging. As before, it loves high revs and reveals its full potential when the tachometer needle rushes toward the red zone. True, as with all recent Honda engines, the transition to combat mode is smooth — i-VTEC is tuned intelligently, not forgetting about the comfort of the driver and passengers.

In tune with the engines, the new Accord has excellent gearboxes. The automatic works very smoothly and unobtrusively, quickly shifting gears, and the manual lever is so precise that working with it is a sheer pleasure. The gear ratios also perfectly match the character of the high-revving engine. With the manual, the Accord is more sporty, while with the "automatic" — of course, more solid and comfortable. The original interior is another plus in this car's favor. The front panel successfully combines the idea of the "space-age" Civic and the prestigious Legend, incorporating the best from the interiors of both models. Comfortable yet grippy seats thanks to their profile, spaciousness, and excellent sound insulation. And how precisely the steering wheel with electric power steering works! It's even unclear what could be faulted here. And are these nitpicks even needed? Why look for trifles in a balanced and polished product? You just need to enjoy it. And you can enjoy it in different ways — sporty or calm. It all depends only on the owner's mood.