2009 Honda Accord

From 3arf

This week I became the proud owner of a new 09 Honda Accord. This is the first auto purchase I have made in seven years, so I did my homework on this one. Forthose considering one, here are my two cents.

1. Trim levels: Honda makes it pretty easy here, you get the packages they offer with little opportunity to mix and match options. I drove both the LX and EXL for a few days and despite being the same car, they are different animals. My goal was to purchase a 4 cylinder manual, so this was the configuration of both of my test cars.

The LX has all your basic power options (mirrors, windows, locks), a fairly basic sound system with single CD and MP3 plug. You get steel wheels on the LX that are an inch smaller than the EX. I found the console controls for the stereo and climate control daunting. A LOT of buttons to sift through. It actually reminded me of something you would see on a Buick. The LX does not have climate control and I found the temperature control knob to be fairly hard to reach from a comfortable driving position. Seats were comfortable and in a tasteful cloth. Disclaimer: I am a fan of Honda design and this car does not disappoint. The fit and finish is nice, tasteful muted silver accents and a very readable center display.

Stepping up to the EX, you get quite a few more bells and whistles. The climate control dial is center positioned which solved my reach problem. Again, a mass of buttons that I am still trying to decipher control the stereo which includes additional speakers (including a fairly potent stock subwoofer), 6 disc changer, and XM. While this upgraded stereo is a noticeable improvement on the LX, it still falls behind premium stereos of competitive vehicles with similar trim. I did not get a chance to test out a vehicle with the Navigation system. The EX also includes a moonroof, auto dimming rear view mirror, full power driver seat including lumbar adjust. A note on these seats, these are totally different seats from the LX. If you are used to a squishy rather flat seat, these will come as a shock. I rather like them, but it does put the front seat occupants in a rigid, upright position. If you like to sit side saddle when you drive - look for a different car. I opted for the EXL which gives you heated leather seats. The leather appears to be of high quality and is tastefully done in my opinion

2. Ride: Honda has gone with a sportier ride for this class. Steering is reactive and you certainly feel the road. Both cars are load at freeway speeds compared to other vehicles in their class. It is not engine noise, but rather wind and tire on pavement noise that penetrates the cabin. The EX did seem slightly quieter to me, possibly due to the larger wheels and tires. This was probably the largest knock I had on the car. The manual transmission is typical Honda - very smooth and you can throw the shifter with 2 fingers. Power band really starts at about 3500+ on the 4 cylinder. The EX has adequate power with the base 4 cylinder. It accelerated about the middle of the pack compared to other 4 cylinders in this class but did so with far less engine noise.

3. Bang for your buck: I went into my car search assuming I would end up with either a Fusion or Malibu due to current factory incentives and my impression (flawed, I found) of how much my local dealers would be willing to deal on these cars. At the end of the day, I came down to a decision between the 4 cylinder Malibu LTZ, Ford Fusion SEL, and the Honda Accord. I found the Fusion too small for my tastes and with a redesign hitting the show rooms shortly, the deals would be offset by a change in model hit on resale. Not sure what to say about the Malibu. This car had ample space (especially in the trunk) and a smooth quiet ride. The interior on Leather clad models was to my tastes, hideous. I mean, come on, black and red leather and interior trim on a family sedan? I also could not get the price on this car within a couple grand of a comparably equipped Accord. So for my money and tastes, the Accord was a no brainer. Combine that with historically high reliability and resale and the choice was simple.

Related Articles

Retrieved from "https://3arf.org/en/index.php?title=2009_Honda_Accord&oldid=3439"