Road Test: Honda Accord V6

Review by Jay Williams - 13/January/2010

More power, more economy, more space, more refined, more technology and more environmentally-friendly. Enter the eighth-generation Accord V6, proving that Honda is a genuine contender in the Australian large car market.

Australians still love their family cars for their ease of driving, comfort, passenger-carrying capacity and their ability to take the task out of long journeys. Honda has not only addressed these key aspects, but has also addressed the issue of poor fuel consumption which has plagued V6 petrol engines in the past, through the use of its Variable Cylinder Management or (VCM).

In short, the engine can shut down two or three of its six cylinders when they're not needed, such as highway cruising, which reduces the amount of fuel it burns.

Unlike its smaller sibling the Accord Euro, the Accord V6 seems kind of bland compared to the sleek and sporty looks of the Euro, but in saying that the Accord V6 has come a long way in terms of styling.

Drive: 4/5

Sitting behind the wheel of the Accord, the sheer size of the vehicle soon becomes apparent. The vehicle is longer than the Commodore, Falcon and Aurion.

But once I set off on my journey I noticed that the steering was very light, I mean you could drive this vehicle with your little finger - but I'd advise you not to. This was great for manoeuvring the large vehicle in urban traffic, but became a little unsettling on the more twisted of roads. The Accord didn't have the level of response that I would have liked but that was forgiven by the high level of comfort.

The overall feel of the Accord V6 was effortless, the suspension was soft and comfortable, soaking up any bumps or potholes thrown at it.

Highway driving is what the Accord does best, cruising along at 100km/h was a breeze. Engine and wind noise were kept to a minimum and were further muted by the sound sounds of the premium six speaker sound system.

Engine: 4/5

The model we test drove had the 3.5-litre V6 i-VTEC engine which produces 202kW and 339Nm of torque and features Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology.

The 5-speed automatic may not be the most advanced gearbox on the market but it works well with Honda's high tech 3.5-litre V6 engine. The shift action from the gear levers mounted behind the steering wheel work well, but seem out of place and are probably more suited to a sports model rather than a family cruiser. In short not bad for an auto slushbox.

Honda's 3.5-litre V6 lacked low-end torque, but what it lacked in low end power more than made up for in the mid-range and top-end power. The Accord V6 is big and it's got more power than Commodore, Falcon and Aurion.

Even though the Accord has more power than its competitors fuel consumption wasn't an issue, with the help of Variable Cylinder Management or (VCM) technology the V6 engine can run on either 4- or 3-cylinders but there's no way of telling which mode it's running while you drive the car, the transition of cylinders was seamless.

After a week of combined urban and country driving we found fuel consumption to be around 10.5 litres/100km.

Exterior: 4/5

The design of the Accord V6 is intended to convey a prestigious presence much like that of a higher end car, but without the price tag.

Touches of chrome around the windowline and front grille are tastefully done, while smaller touches like the sharp body lines and twin exhausts tips add to the car's sense of purpose.

Dimensionally, the Accord’s overall length of 4945mm is 115mm longer than previous models, the width of 1845mm is 25mm wider, and the height of 1475mm is 20mm taller. Even though it is larger in every dimension, the vehicle's torsional rigidity has increased by 20 per cent as a result of advanced body construction.

The overall look of the Accord is classy, my only complaint would be with the rear of the vehicle, while the front end is angular and chiseled, the rear seems heavy and chunky.

Interior: 3/5

Stepping in side the Accord V6 for the first time you will be greeted with an abundance of buttons cascading down the centre console. It's intimidating at first but once you've become familiar with the instruments you realise that everything is laid out in a logical way.

The buttons on the steering wheel allow you to control audio options and cruise control. Things like the electric window and mirror controls are located on the driver's side door.

Speedo dials are well marked and easy to see, and at night are illuminated via a white light which is easy on the eyes.

As mentioned before, the Accord is longer than its competitors, which results in more cabin space. The back seat has more than enough room to cater for taller passengers, and is very comfortable.

That feeling of spaciousness is continued up front, with the 8-way power adjustable driver's seat (with power lumbar adjust) and the reach/tilt steering wheel means drivers of any size will feel comfortable.

The usual host of gear is present - multifunction steering, six speaker sound system featuring aux in and mp3, six cd stacker, cruise control and electric windows and side mirrors.

Even though the interior was spacious and comfortable the overall look and feel was bland, plus the use of hard slabs of black plastic didn't really appeal to me either.

If only Honda had applied the same design elements from the exterior to the interior.

Overall: 4/5

The standout of Honda's Accord V6 would have to be the 3.5-litre V6 engine with VCM technology, the changing from six cylinders to three and back again works well and helps dramatically to keep fuel consumption to a minimum.

With more accolades than any other car in its range, Honda's Accord is the company's most awarded car and with innovations like VCM, it'll be a contender for many more awards to come.

In short, the Accord V6 is value for money, has great specification, space, power and efficiency - what more could you ask for?