The Accord's styling changes over the years have been evolutionary, not revolutionary,
although Honda did up the visual ante in the last makeover, putting a little more dash
into the design. The cosmetic restraint is largely due to the fact that Honda is onto
a winning formula as Accord buyers come back to buy again more frequently than buyers
of most other brands.
For 1996, that continues to be true. The most noticeable change in the front is a
chrome accent around the grille. The freshened rear styling features new lights and
chrome accents as well as wider parking lights for improved visibility and a larger
trunk opening.
The Accord is offered in a variety of trim levels and configurations.
The 4-cyl. sedans are available as a base DX, a mid-level LX and a top-of-the-line EX,
which offers a long list of standard equipment and few standalone options. The coupe
and station wagon are offered in base LX or loaded EX versions. For 1995, Honda
finally added a V6 engine option to the Accord lineup. The V6 models, available only
as sedans, are offered as an LX and EX.
The coupe and wagon were designed and engineered in the United States and are built
exclusively in Ohio. Most Accord sedans, likewise, are built in Ohio, though some are
imported from Japan.
We sampled a number of different models for our evaluation, but our primary focus was
on an LX automatic sedan.
Inside, the Accord features a handsome, comfortable interior that feels instantly
familiar to previous Honda owners. The quality of the materials is excellent, and,
like the exterior, the fit and finish are outstanding.
There is plenty of legroom in the front and rear. Headroom is good in the front,
though tall folks might find it lacking in the rear.
Some drivers may wish for a seat height adjuster because the Accord sits low. However,
that is a feature only available on the EX model.
The cloth-covered front buckets of the tested model were comfortable and supportive,
much improved from past generations of Accords. Like so many midsize cars, the rear
seats technically can accommodate three adults, but the center position is not
comfortable for the third person.
Except for the center rear position, all seats have 3-point safety belts.
Unfortunately, they require a separate locking clip to secure a child safety seat.
The low cowl and thin roof pillars provide good visibility to the front and sides,
always a strong suit in Honda designs. Also in typical Honda fashion, the controls and
gauges are logical, easy to locate and easy to operate. Our only complaint was the
small horn buttons in the steering wheel spokes, which are hard to locate in an
emergency, due to the driver airbag. On any vehicle, we prefer to be able to push the
steering wheel hub and have the horn blow.
The trunk, now much easier to access thanks to a larger opening, can easily
accommodate a few suitcases and a couple of duffel bags. The rear seatback can fold
down to expand the trunk even further. However, the locking release is inconveniently
placed in the middle of the rear package shelf.
The base Accord models come standard with a 2.2-liter, single overhead cam 16-valve,
4-cylinder engine coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine is rated 130
horsepower. Also available, on the uplevel EX models, is the 145-hp 16-valve, VTEC
four cylinder on EX models. In addition, Honda began offering a 2.7-liter V6 engine in
its LX and EX sedans.
These models have a somewhat longer nose and a different grille to accommodate the
larger engine, the same V6 that was used in the original Acura Legend.
The character of the Accord changes subtly depending on the engine and transmission
combination, but all are responsive and provide an excellent sense of control.
The 4-cyl. models, the most popular being the mid-level LX with the automatic, are
refined family cars with somewhat sporty manners. The manual transmission adds a
livelier feel. With the base engine, we recommend it be combined with the manual
transmission for peppier performance.
In general, the Accord accelerates responsively and smoothly whether equipped with the
4-cyl. or the V6. Honda 4-cyl. engines are typically among the best in the business.
Obviously, the V6 version is faster, smoother and quieter, though somewhat less
economical in terms of fuel efficiency and price. We found the V6, which is only
available with the electronically controlled 4-speed automatic, created a somewhat
different flavor. It's an even sportier sedan.
Optional on all models (and standard on the V6 versions) is the electronically
controlled 4-speed automatic transmission, which includes a feature called Grade
Logic. The logic system provides smoother shifting when climbing or descending hills.
Indeed, we found the transmission selected the most appropriate gears for all of the
various conditions we drove in.
Thanks to its sophisticated double wishbone suspension, the ride in any of the Accord
models is firm but comfortable, with excellent reflexes in emergency maneuvers. That's
why Accord owners enjoy driving these cars.
The interior is generally quiet, though some noise is noticeable when the 4-cyl.
engine is driven hard.
The Accord provides very good road feel, with modest body roll in turns, and the
steering is quick and accurate. Honda has always put good handling high on its list of
design priorities, and that's what the Accord provides.
Braking is another key element in all-around competence, and the Accord performs well
in this regard, too. To keep the base price down, the basic DX models are equipped
with front disc and rear drum brakes, and an antilock option isn't offered. However,
mid-level and top-of-the-line versions have front and rear disc brakes, and ABS is
either optional or standard. ABS is optional on LX models like our primary test car,
for example, while V6-powered Accords and all EX versions have them as standard
equipment.
Fuel economy averages nearly 28 miles per gallon for the 4-cyl. manual transmission
models, about 26 with the automatic and around 21 for the V6 models.