WHEN Honda launched the new Accord last summer, it was confident the new model would be a match for the Audis, Mercs and BMWs.
Sales soon proved the claim was not just an idle boast. The Accord really did have the ability, looks and quality to take on the German big three - and win.
In estate car - or Tourer guise - it hasn't got the biggest load bay in its class but enough for a couple of golf bags.
What it lacked, until just recently, was an automatic gearbox for the popular diesel powertrain. Now the range is complete. The diesel auto will appeal to a wider range of customers, especially in the corporate market, where user choosers eating up thousands of motorway miles will often only consider an automatic transmission.
Company car tax legislation has helped the growth in diesel sales and resulted in 'petrol heads' reassessing their needs. For many of these drivers, the final hurdle to driving a diesel is whether or not it is available as an automatic.
The automatic gearbox is mated to a four cylinder 2,199cc oil burner that produces 148bhp. Quiet and clatter free, it offers quick and slick power delivery.
The package works well. This is a true long distance machine of quality build, excellent comfort, and full of home from home touches that prove much costlier when supplied under a German badge.
The Tourer 2.2 i-DTEC EX GT sells for just over £28,000 but driver and passengers want for nothing by way of safety, essentials, or executive-spec trim.
The steering has plenty of feel and the car is well balanced and agile thanks to a low centre of gravity, wide track, better body rigidity and new suspension layouts - double wishbone at the front, multi-link at the back.
It's not entirely free of faults. The windscreen is quite shallow and angled, which creates blindspots. The dashboard layout also seems confusing and too fussy. The driver is faced with banks of switches, dials, display screens and levers. It's a case of information overload.
The automatic gearbox is a straightforward five speed. There are steering wheel paddles but the transmission software doesn't allow for anything too imaginative. The 'manual' gear changes are really only a kickdown type function to shift down a gear for extra revs when needed.
- Alistair Coull
FEW car makers are able to achieve such a compact and sleek profile in estate form as Honda manages with the Accord Tourer.
Its sweeping contours tell you that it is classy and different from its rivals.
From every angle it looks good - even the rear quarters are cleverly sculpted to blend into a neat and attractive tailgate.
There's sensitive sculpturing elsewhere, including the morphed wheelarches which, together with a bold grille, give the Tourer just the right degree of attitude.
The aesthetic trade-off is that the load area doesn't match up to that found in some rivals. However, there's enough room for a decent amount of luggage, especially if rear seats are dropped.
The low-slung body and alloy roof rails add to the sports/ lifestyle ethos so successful with Audi and BMW rivals and a new suspension in the latest all-new Accord estate significantly improves comfort.
Powered by a 2.2-i-DTEC diesel unit, the test car excelled in suppressing noise pollution from the engine. The 148bhp unit boasts a sprint to 62mph in 9.6 seconds and top speed of 129mph.
The engine proved to be a real smoothie, both in terms of performance and discretion: no clattering cacophony from under the bonnet. It's surprising just how many companies still market diesel-powered cars which I consider unacceptably vocal and I'm talking about premium cars, not bargain basement models. So often, diesel cars in the £20-£30,000 bracket disappoint on this issue.
The Honda's overtures are relatively hushed, even when the Tourer was hard-pressed, and occupants are not troubled by wind or road noise.
The cosseted ethos is enhanced in the cabin by good, solid furnishings and the overall impression is of style and quality.
This is reflected externally by precision panel alignment, superb paintwork and tight shut-lines from bumper to bumper.
The Japanese Tourer in this, the top-of-the-range EX GT form, performed smoothly and displayed impressive flexibility.
It proved one of the most comfortable estates of its size and, arguably, one of the best in class.
The Tourer can smooch around town as easily as it can glide during top motorway travel . When faced with a string of close-linked S-bends, the Honda remained surprisingly composed, with only a little body-roll.
Efforts to ensure a composed and pampered ride haven't resulted in diluting the handling characteristics. Again, they may not match that of German rivals, but the Tourer's handling is pretty good. Steering at low speed feels somewhat vague, but on the open road, it's much better.
With a combined fuel figure of 48mpg, and traditionally high residuals, the Honda Accord - with bags of equipment, is a well put together package.
- Val Jessop
FAST FACTS
Honda Accord Tourer 2.2 i-DTEC EX GT 5dr
Price: £26,345
Mechanical: 148bhp, 2,199cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox
Max speed: 129mph
0-62mph: 9.6 seconds
Combined mpg: 47.9
Insurance group: 11
CO2 emissions: 157g/km
BIK rating: 17%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 90,000 miles