http://www.japan-hopper.com For all your Japan related needs - Hotels, Restaurants, Activities, and much more on the map of Japan Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:46:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 ja http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php#comments Wed, 14 May 2008 05:19:09 +0000 James307 http://www.japan-hopper.com/?p=1686 There’s nothing wrong with a good, healthy dose of competition. And in the automotive industry, there’s no better example than in the midsize sedan category.

The top three players — Honda, Toyota and Nissan — all have loyal followers, and each manufacturer works nearly continuously to outdo its competitors.

Amongmost successful vehicles, Honda needs little help with the Accord. But for 2008, the Accord was redesigned and it’s a prime of example taking a vehicle that’s already an industry leader and making it better.

Between the coupe and sedan and seven trim options, the Accord is available with more than 30 configurations. My weekly drive was the EX-L. With its new 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V6 engine and navigation system, it’s the most expensive non-hybrid Accord on the market at slightly more than $30,000. It has a five-speed automatic transmission. (A six-speed manual is also available.)

The new Honda is bigger and “badder” in all areas, which might mean one downside — fuel economy. But that’s not the case. The new Accord, with both four and six-cylinder engines, is at least equal or exceeds previous year models’ gas mileage averages.

How did that happen? It’s because of the Honda’s cylinder-deactivation technology. It allows the engine to run on six, four or three cylinders depending upon driving conditions to maximize fuel efficiency. The new Accord with a V6 engine now averages more than 3 mpg over last year’s V6. And the ‘08 engine has 24 more horsepower.

As the largest Accord ever manufactured, the ‘08 edition offers 14 cubic feet of trunk space in the sedan and and 11.9 cubic in the coupe. It’s the most of any of the major players in the midsize class, although the Altima Camry and Hyundai Sonata have very similar interior dimensions.

Like recent previous Accord editions, the 2008 version performs admirably in all areas, steering and handling to acceleration.

Safety Features — Dual front, front side and side curtain airbags; Fuel Mileage (Estimates) — 19 mpg (city), 29 mpg (Highway); Warranty — Bumper-to-Bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles; Base Price — $30,260.00.

James Raia/www.theweeklydriver.com ]]> http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/05/14_141686.php/feed