THE DRIVER: As styling is a subjective issue, I will choose to overlook the Accord sedan’s controversial skin and concentrate on what makes this sedan the perennial bestseller it is. First is the utter competence of its engineering. It does everything well: there are no glaring omissions or shortcomings anywhere in its makeup. The firm’s powerplants are amongst the world’s best—Honda likes to describe itself as an engine company, not a car manufacturer. This 3.5-liter V6 proffers smooth responsiveness and a blend of economy (24mpg average, partially thanks to the EX-L model’s variable displacement system) and sprightly performance (low 6’s sprint to 60) from its 271hp/254lb-ft. In my experience, none of the competition is able to match those stats.

The Honda’s chassis calibration is athletic without being so stiff-legged as to make it tiring, and its level of steering feel and weighting is best-in-class, and a model for how a powerful front wheel drive car should feel. Brake feel and response are also beyond reproach.
The Accord has grown quite substantially for this iteration—it is now certified as a large car by the EPA—and has a very roomy cabin and simply gargantuan trunk. Yet it drives like a much smaller vehicle, such is the polish of its driving dynamics.

Demerits are all fairly minor: the interior has lost some of its cleanly cohesive design, as now has a very button-heavy center stack, and its perceived quality is dependent to too large a degree upon color. Honda’s odd shift gate for the 5-speed automatic is limited to drive selections for third gear and top only, which frustrates in mountain driving, where the ability to select individual gears for engine braking would be welcome. And because Honda rationalizes their option groups so tightly, certain desirable features like memory seats are unavailable. Finally, while other sources of noise are well muted, road roar is quite pronounced at freeway speeds, making conversation harder than need be. And the sub-standard audio system can’t do anything to overcome it.

In context, there’s little rationally not to like in the newest Accord. It will handle all the duties of a family car with ease, and a level of driver enjoyment that has so far eluded most all its rivals.

THE BROKER: There’s simply no better pick for durability, reliability, or resale. Partially because they almost never get put into rental fleets, Accords hold onto a greater percentage of their value than any other family car. They’ll run over 200,000 miles with a modest amount of care—and still be worth something to boot. There’s no rational argument against.

THE (ROCKY MOUNTAIN) MAN: The V6 has enough power for our challenges, and enough driver involvement to make journeys fun.

Price as tested: $31,425

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