The new two-door Accord coupe stands apart from the four-door
sedan in its dimensions, smaller in all but width, which is identical.
The coupe is available in four trim lines, two with a four-cylinder
engine and two with a V6, with a six-speed manual transmission
available for the latter.
Interior and trunk
The coupe is lower than the sedan, making access more difficult. The front seats are very
comfortable, with high seatbacks and good side support. Though some drivers deplore the lack of
lumbar support with the cloth upholstery, all appreciated the tilt/telescoping steering column.
Unfortunately, the right front seatback does not return to its original position after being folded
down to let someone get in the back.
As with all coupes, the rear seat is hard to reach. It provides
comfortable seating for two adults if they are not too tall, headroom
being tight. The rear seatback has a 60/40 split.
The trunk is very roomy but handicapped by its small opening that
won’t accept large objects. The pull tabs that unlock the seatback
sections are too far to reach easily, and can’t be used without
dirtying your clothes on the bumper….
Engine and transmission
The 3.0-litre V6 develops 240 horsepower and 212 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration is lively,
especially when the engine reaches 3,500 rpm. This engine is nice and supple and accelerates
smoothly. It also meets Low Emission Vehicle II standards.
The six-speed manual gear shift is easy to use but unpleasantly noisy, which is surprising in a car
as expensive as this. The transmission is well geared, but clutch pickup is abrupt.
On the road
Honda has gone back to its roots by tuning the suspension for sharper handling on winding
roads. As the coupe is sportier than the sedan, the firm suspension is more acceptable. It can be
harsh on some uneven surfaces, but this harshness is due more to the 50-profile tires than
anything else; otherwise, the ride is firm but comfortable. Road holding is very good on almost
all road surfaces, and the suspension has a good, solid feel.
The power steering is very well tuned, stable, precise and reasonably quick, and even provides a
bit of road feel. The four-wheel disc brakes are very good, in all driving conditions.
An inspection at the CAA-Quebec Inspection Centre showed that the vehicle is very well
assembled and more generously rustproofed than the previous generation.
Conclusion
The Accord coupe combines the civilized comfort of a grand tourer with the handling of a good
sport car. It is a car you can live with every day, unlike Honda’s ultra-sporty S2000. With the V6
and manual transmission, this is a car that fans will enjoy as long as they can adapt to the tricky
clutch.
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