Honda cars, to me, hold a reputation for their efficiency, longevity, and effective simplicity. I’ll be honest, and say that not many Honda models as of late have excited the gearhead within me, but I have always had a real soft spot for them. My personal daily driver is a 2007 Civic EX sedan, so when our editor tossed me the keys to this 2014 Honda Accord Touring, I was interested to see what Honda has come up with in the latest version of my car’s “Big Brother”.
The first glance at the exterior of this car may not turn your head every time, but look a bit closer and the details begin to stand out. The hood has become nicely stylized with a few added kinks, and the rear trunk lid gets a similar treatment with an upward slope at the end – adding a spoiler-esque vibe. This car isn’t outrageous, gimmicky, or trying to be trendy – it’s refined, subtle, and really quite elegant. But, those of us with open eyes on the road already know this – when Honda is selling roughly 1000 units a day, you’re bound to have a couple cross your path during your morning commute. That is, if you aren’t getting to the office in one already…
My tester was fitted with Honda’s 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine and a CVT transmission. Putting out around 185 horses and 181 lb-ft of torque, the numbers are all but exciting to read. The Accord defholds it’s own in it’s class putting down a 0-100 time of just under 8-seconds. The car feels reasonably nimble on the highway as it does in city streets downtown Toronto, providing plenty of power for the average driver. One thing I am sure of though, is that the V6 would provide a significantly amplified fun factor for an enthusiast. Power aside, driving dynamics are ample for a family sedan. Steering feel is quite responsive and sharp, but soft suspension contributes to some very noticeable body roll in the twists. In a straight line though, the Accord’s ride is “enthusiast-grade” harsh.
What I enjoyed the most about the Accord is the same thing I enjoy most about my Civic – the interior. It’s functional, with plenty of storage space for whatever stuff you decide to keep in your vehicle, and it is packed with plenty of tech. Plenty of journalists may have said it before me, but I have no qualms with saying it again, the LaneWatch blind-spot camera (now available on other Honda models as well) is one of the most well integrated pieces of technology I’ve seen in a vehicle in a long time. Flip your right turn signal on and the sight from a wide-angle camera built into the passenger mirror pops up onto the main display. I won’t write on endlessly about it, but just seeing that feature in action worth taking this car out for a test drive. (I tried to replicate it on my Civic with a GoPro, but the 4-second delay in their app just doesn’t have the same appeal).
What would make this car great, is if the same speed and seamlessness existed in the infotainment system fitted into the Accord. I found the dial sluggish to use, and there was a noticeable delay when making selections. However, functionality when using the secondary, touch-screen display was much more responsive, leading me to wish it could control more.
The Accord remains much of what it always has been – a comfortable, affordable, and economical people mover. It’s still got plenty of room to seat 5, trunk space to carry.. whatever it is you’re carrying, and decent fuel efficiency. Throughout my week of testing, I returned a combined average of 8.5L/100km with 85/15 city/highway driving in this ridiculous cold weather. Times on the highway saw fuel efficiency results of 5.9L/100km with a bit of throttle-feathering, but I’m no hypermiler, I don’t doubt others can do better than I. Coming in just over the $30K mark, my tester was priced at $30,690 – which is more than reasonable considering how long this car is bound to last, and how much you get within it. This car’s main competition could very well be it’s own hybrid variant, which starts just under the $30k mark, and returns a combined fuel efficiency of 3.8L/100km. However, in the same class, the Accord’s worst enemy continues to be the equally good Mazda6.
2014 Honda Accord Touring Gallery
