2005 Honda Accord EX V6

Conventional wisdom may not consider a Honda Accord as a high-performance car, but with 240 horsepower that's exactly what it is.

For this review we drove an EX V6 model, which is the top of the line and includes everything as standard equipment. There are dealer installed accessories available, but no "options," as such. The four-cylinder Accord has 160 horsepower, but the V6 makes 240 and delivers remarkable performance that's accompanied by a creamy smoothness and response that's crisp as a new morning. Conventional wisdom may not consider a Honda Accord as a high-performance car, but with 240 horsepower that's exactly what it is. Step on the gas and the Accord V6 will leave drivers of many well-known sedans with big-time performance reputations with a diminishing view of its taillights. It's EPA rated at 21 mpg City, 30 mpg Highway. And, to top it all off, it meets ULEV emissions standards, which means that in some places in the country, what comes out the tailpipe is cleaner than what goes into the engine.


There are two transmission choices, a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic; the automatic is the obvious choice and it works in perfect harmony with the engine. The Accord's suspension includes the sophistication of upper and lower control arms front and rear—no struts here. The DX, and four-cylinder LX, have disc brakes in front and drums in the rear, but all the others stop with four-wheel discs.


It's worth mentioning the Accord's safety features. As standard equipment, all Accords have anti-lock brakes, dual-stage front airbags, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. Beyond that, the Federal Government's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Accord a five-star rating in the frontal-crash test, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it a Best Pick after it received a top rating in the offset frontal crash test.

The Accord EX V6 is loaded with features, has impeccable fit and finish, and sets the standard for user-friendliness and ergonomics.

For comparison, we also drove the Accord Hybrid, which offers the environmental benefits of a hybrid powertrain, better fuel economy and even more performance. The Accord Hybrid cranks out 255 horsepower and truly outstanding acceleration, and matches that with fuel economy numbers of 29 mpg City, 37 mpg Highway. Without the navigation system the price is just a little over $30,000, and with navigation it's a little above $32,000. Still, with all the wonder of the Hybrid, the non-Hybrid EX V6 is slightly more pleasant around town due to an operational characteristic of the Hybrid: As the Hybrid rolls to a stop the engine shuts off; release the brake pedal and the engine starts up again. The start-up is instantaneous, but there's a slight motion, which some may not notice, some may, as the driveline takes up the varying inputs.


The Accord EX V6 is loaded with features, has impeccable fit and finish, and sets the standard for user-friendliness and ergonomics. It also cranks out 240 silky and eager horsepower, handles with precision and response, arrives with a great record of reliability and customer satisfaction, meets ULEV emissions standards and costs well under thirty grand. If there's a better all-around sedan value out there, it's going to have beat the Accord. (www.honda.com)