To begin with, the 7th generation Honda Accord was nothing short of brilliant. It was an ode of Japanese engineering might, highly respected and much vaunted. It is therefore quite plain to see that the newly launched 8th generation Accord has very big shoes to fill in. But then again, the Accord has improved with each generation, having evolved from a small sedan to the big luxurious 4 door that it is today. The latest rendition of the Accord is not only bigger and mightier, but it is also faster and more refined. Well, what else can one expect from Honda?
Design
The new Accord looks more European than Asian, and is by far the sportiest and most aggressive looking Accord ever. With its sharp features, finely chiselled and sculpted flanks, and those gleaming 16inch alloys, the Accord is definitely no ugly Betty, and never has been. What make it look aggressive are the square-ish fascia, the very prominent grille and the massive dual lens wraparound headlights. The derriere of the Accord is not much different from the outgoing version with the exception of the taillights, which look similar to a BMW 5 Series sedan. The rear also features a sporty trunk spoiler in the case of the top-of-the-line Inspire variant.

Blessed with a generous dose of chrome, a lot of which shimmers around the imposing grille and the new door grab handles, the new Accord is very eye-catching. At 80mm longer and 25mm wider than its predecessor, the new Accord also has commanding road presence. This also translates to a size that is bigger than the Mercedes-Benz E-Class! So the sheer size of the car could pose a problem in traffic, though this might not be a concern for the people who actually buy an Accord, as they would most likely prefer to be chauffeured around rather than driving themselves.

See specs of Honda Accord variants

The interior of the Accord has also been completely redesigned and the materials used have been upgraded to convey a sense of added luxury and quality. Swathed in a sea of soft beige leather, the interior looks welcoming and classy. The new-design dash with the faux wood inserts, (Elegance variant gets “woody” interior trim, whereas the Inspire comes equipped with a nice silver trim) looks and feels fabulous but could do with a reduction in the number of buttons. The focal point of the dashboard is of course the colour LCD screen, useful for displaying audio and air-con info. Sitting behind the chunky leather-wrapped 4-spoke steering wheel, you get the feel of a cockpit as a result of all the buttons and knobs that lie all around you.

Overall the interior is much more roomy and comfortable than before with increments in leg room, knee room and head room, thanks to a longer wheelbase and wider track. However it must be mentioned that the space hasn’t been evenly distributed between the front and the rear row of seats. The rear is spacious by all means, but leg and knee room is definitely not as good as the front row.
Comfort
The level of comfort on the Accord has gone a notch higher with each passing generation, and so is the case with the newest generation of the Accord. This is a car, which has been made to wrap the passengers in a lap of luxury and pamper them with an array of comfort enhancement features. The seats are plush and offer improved support especially under-thigh support with the help of longer seat base. For in-car entertainment, the Accord features an explosive 270watt 6-CD changer audio system with bluetooth and iPOD connectivity wired to 6 speakers. The controls of the audio system are steering mounted and all information related to it can easily be viewed on the LCD screen, incorporated into the dashboard for enhanced comfort and driving pleasure. The steering is tilt and telescoping and the driver’s seat now has 8-way power seat adjustments for achieving the most comfortable driving posture. The air-conditioning is automatic and features 2-zone temperature setting. The rear seats also get air vents for the rear passengers as well as an audio controls for the music system for added comfort. Driving and parking the Accord is made easy with front and back parking sensors and the high seating positioning.
Engine, Transmission and Performance
The old 2.4-litre i-VTEC engine has received some serious tweaking at the hands of Honda’s engineers. It was always a refined performer but now it is even more so, capable of humming away straight to the redline without sounding harsh or strained. Cranking out an impressive 180PS the engine feels powerful and offers excellent response and seamless power delivery. The 218Nm of torque is plentiful and evenly distributed. The engine is mated to a choice of slick manual or automatic transmissions, with the auto employing paddle-shifters behind the steering wheel for sporty gearshifts.

Thanks to the powerful engine, speeds in the neighbourhood of 200kmph can be attained easily. However it is unlikely that anyone would be willing to push the car that hard considering the fact that only a thin red line separates speed and disaster. On the 0-100 jaunts, the Accord is 0.72 seconds faster than Camry’s figure of 9.91 seconds. Another proof of the massive power than lies under the Accord’s hood.

Power is no good without control, and the Accord has that in plentiful. Unlike the earlier model the new Accord’s speed has lesser affect on its stability. This is because the centre of gravity has been lowered with the engine and fuel tank being placed lower on the car. Where the old car felt light and unsure at speeds, the new one feels sharp and well balanced. This can also be accredited to the work done on Accord's steering, chassis and suspension components and the reduction in the car's ground clearance by 18mm. The Accord is the first Honda to make use of a new frame rail system thereby considerably improving car aerodynamics and body rigidity without compromising interior space. The car is 20% stiffer overall as 48% of the body is now made of high-tensile steel.

The 8th generation Accord comes with double wishbone front suspensions, tweaked in order to increase resistance against dive in case of heavy braking, and new multi-link rear suspension with nitrogen-filled dampers.

A new Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) steering has made an appearance in the new Accord. Guaranteed to make your drive effortless and relaxed by making the Accord's steering light at low speeds and quicker at higher speeds, with just 2.56 turns lock-to-lock. The steering connected to the 16-inch tyres, is communicative but doesn't give all the feedback one needs for a spirited drive. The tyres too lose grip and this becomes evident during hard cornering.
Safety
Seldom will one find a premium sedan today without a multitude of safety features. Indians too are nowadays becoming aware of the necessity of safety in a car. The Accord being a premium sedan is bound to be loaded with active and passive safety features. Accord's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body is said to absorb the force of frontal collisions and act as a buffer for the passengers inside. ABS, EBD, Brake Assist (BA), six airbags (up by four from the previous generation), active front head restraints to negate the force of a whiplash and seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters are all standard. The ACE body is accompanied by what most Honda cars today comes equipped with, Honda's G-CON technology. G-CON design works with crumple zones, which absorb impact energy and distribute the G-force evenly through the car's body. G-CON also comes into play in the unfortunate event of a collision with a pedestrian, where it helps reduce the amount of G-Force transferred from the car to the person, thus reducing the injury. Inspite of the considerable upgradation in power, refinement, comfort and size, the Accord is only marginally expensive than the outgoing model. The base Accord costs Rs. 16,79,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), while the top-end Accord Inspire will make your wallet lighter by Rs. 18,14,000 (ex-showroom Delhi). This should leave no doubt in mind that the Accord is the ultimate luxury sedan for someone who can't afford one of the uber-luxurious German sedans.