A Quickie of a Test Drive: The 2013 Honda Accord 2.0 VTI-L

.

The ninth generation Honda Accord was recently launched here in Malaysia and I managed a short drive in the 2013 Accord 2.0 Vti-L variant. This car sits in the category where it is usually bought by senior managers of companies or by the companies themselves. It is aimed squarely against other large sized Japanese and Korean sedans in the RM150,000 or thereabouts price range and this range of cars is what most Malaysians aspire to have in their driveway, front porch, garage or apartment car park.

Most would want more, but local taxes and excise duties mean that this is usually the threshold amount that most would want to spend on a car. As such, the Honda Accord along with its competitors like the Toyota Camry and the Nissan Teana, all large Japanese sedans fight for a place in the hearts of Malaysian car buyers who want to show that they've made it in life (to a certain extent).

The Design

The Honda Accord 2.0VTI-L is a typical large sized Honda. The ninth generation Honda Accord is a slimmer car than the previous model. It's like the Accord went through a diet and came up looking svelter. It loses the ungainly overhangs of the previous car and there is a more cohesive look to the Accord compared to the previous model.

But whatever you do, do not buy this car with the optional Modulo bodykit. This adds all that unnecessary bulk (and more) to the car and makes it ungainly. And if you compare this car with the current Toyota Camry in terms of looks, this wins by a million miles. If you compared this car with the Nissan Teana it wins too (but the Teana is huge, some people like huge. Small people usually). If you compared it to the Mazda 6 it isn't as fashion forward as the 6, but it positively will not look outdated within the next three of four days when it becomes outdated.

Aside from that I also have to state that this is the first Accord in a zillion years that eschews the double wishbone setup for a simpler McPherson style strut setup. Does it make a difference? I'll tell you about it later.

The interior

All Accords come with standard an 8-inch 480 x 320 pixel WQVGAresolution LCD display screen, single angle reverse camera, Honda's audio system which includes Bluetooth, USB connector, dual zone automatic climate control and alloy wheels. The VTI-L has navigation system but does not have the left hand blind spot camera, LED daytime running lamps, headlamps, and tail lamps; and an adaptive cruise control system.

Honda must have bench marked certain continental makes as the quality of the switchgear is good. Materials used are soft to the touch where it counts and it the double screened dashboard looks like it came from a car of a higher grade. I like the overall feel inside. Every switch, button or knob I touch seems to have some work gone into how it feels whilst operating them.

The driving position is typically Honda which means it is easy to get comfortable whilst driving one. There are enough adjustments to suit almost everyone.

Rear passenger space is good and similar to the outgoing model It was also stated in the design brief that this new Accord is slightly smaller than the previous one as people who bought Accords like things a little smaller (which must be the opposite from every other car brand these days). But from where I'm sitting, there hasn't been much space lost over the previous model. I should know as a business partner uses the eight generation Accord and I have a frequent passenger in it.

Drivetrain

You get a 2.0liter 16 valve SOHC engine in it that makes about 154Bhp and about 190Nm torque. It runs through a 5 speed torque convertor gearbox. This specification is pretty basic and it isn't a Honda 'Earth Dream' engine like the 2.4liter variant. Malaysian Accords however run the 5 speed automatic from the previous model unlike in Japan and the United States which run a CVT box.

I would prefer a newer 6 speed box for more ratios, but I suppose this is still better than buying a Toyota Camry 2.0 which still runs a, gasp, 4 speed automatic or a CVT for that matter.

Driving the darn thing.

It's a Honda, therefore it is actually decent to drive. It isn't overly exciting to drive but it surely isn't dull. What strikes you when you first get in and start the car up (with a starter button) is that the car is quiet. You slot it into gear and as you bimble off into traffic you'd notice that it is pretty quiet. Specs say that this car has active noise control which cancels out unwanted noise via speakers pushing out similar frequencies. As such, at low speeds the Accord 2.0VTI-L is almost as quiet as a Camry 2.0 (which, whilst sad to say, is the refinement benchmark in this category). Tyre roar is minimal compared to the previous model and a mighty big improvement. The gear changes are smooth too with nary a jolt unless you're pushing it.

But refinement takes a back seat when you gun the throttle pedal. The engine above 4,500rpm is coarse and does not have a mechanically refined sound to it. It sounds like something industrial and it isn't like Honda VTEC engines of days gone by. This is because it is a single camshaft design that is tuned for economy (there is a stupid ECO button for owners to play with if they want to – Honda says you'll save more petrol if you prod it...oooooooooh) and isn't tuned to wail like a banshee. This also means that by 5,500rpm or so the car feels just noisy, but isn't really going anywhere. It would do the 100km/h sprint in around 11 seconds but it will be darn noisy whilst doing so. This still is a whole second faster than the quieter at high rpm Toyota Camry. So I'd just drive this car a tad gentler most of the time by being smooth on the throttle inputs if I want refinement in this Accord.

And when it comes to ride and handling I think the Accord rides firmly but not uncomfortably. Body movements are well controlled and if you flung the Accord into a corner it would obey you better than other contemporaries like the Teana and the Camry. The Mazda 6 would outgrip it but it rides like a plank compared to all of the other cars mentioned including the Accord. So did I feel the Accord needs its old double wishbones? Not really. The car steers well with good weighting in the wheel but like most modern helms a little lacking in outright feel. The car takes sharp bends predictably even on the short drive I had around the Penchala Link area. If any of you want an example, a sweeping right hander would be taken a good 10km/h faster than either the big Nissan or the big Toyota before understeer sets in.

This car has a good balance between being sporty when you want it and a nice enough ride for almost every occasion. It is quite easy to test whether the ride is good as the surrounding area has got tons of construction and potholes as well as spilled concrete everywhere. Things does not get jarring for the inhabitants of the Accord over rough roads.

Conclusion

Even though the drive was pretty short, a whole lot of stuff shone through (I'm getting good at this) . It is simple, honest and filled with goodies for the price Honda is asking. To get a similarly equipped Camry or Mazda 6 you'd pay a good RM10,000 more. This Accord also adds good looks that are neither too fashion forward nor shaped like a tank (and you know which uncle car looks like a tank -hint, hint...its the Toyota). I believe that pure refinement but coupled with looks like a tank would not be a good buy. Looks as well as handling over refinement like the Mazda 6 would also not do it after a tired day's work. The Nissan Teana is actually about to get a model change next year and it has ungainly overhangs front and rear over a short looking wheelbase. I wouldn't go for that too.

And so, aside from the unrefined engine noise at high rpm (which isn't a deal breaker in my opinion), I have to say that if I were looking for a company car in this price range, this is it.

2013 Honda Accord 2.0 VTI-L Specifications

Base Price: RM149,800

Body: 4-door SEDAN
Mechanical Orientation: Front Wheel Drive

Engine: 4 cylinder 2.0-litre SOHC VTEC normally aspirated
Power: 154 BHP
Torque: 190 NM
Transmission: 5speed automatic

Weight: approx 1530 kg

Wheels: 225/50r17

0-62 mph: approx 11 seconds
Top Speed: about 200 km/h

Fuel Consumption: 6.5l/100km

For: Low speed refinement, interior quality, exterior looks, decent handling
Against: Industrial and therefore uninteresting sounding engine noise too loud at high revs. Needs more sound proofing up front. Avoid the Modulo bodykit.