2005 Honda Accord Review

Specifications

Drives Smoothly, Handles Well, Looks Nice

Now in its seventh generation, the top-selling Honda Accord continues to offer its customers value, reliability and comfort - a safe choice for a midsize sedan buyer.

But what about the Accords wild side? What about speed, horsepower, torque, a finely-tuned suspension, a swift-looking exterior? Put aside all the things that make the Accord a safe bet and youre left with the comparatively aggressive V6 Coupe, complete with a racy six-speed manual transmission. Its still a safe bet, but with a whole lot of sass.

In all honesty, its not every Honda that gets me excited. But when the words Accord, V6 and Coupe were mentioned together in one sentence, I got a little tingle in my spine. That tingle soon advanced into a shiver (and a giggle) as I sat behind the wheel of the leather-trimmed, sporty and stylish V6 Coupe, firmly gripping the aluminum shift knob and saying to myself “finally, something to be inspired by.”

Upon igniting the engine, the clear white gauges, including speedometer and tachometer, further fueled my inspiration. The cabins layout was tightly, cleanly and sportily finished. Everything was within arms reach, and easily identifiable. This is not an uncommon finish to a Honda interior, but what set this model apart was its un-boringness. In actual fact, its much the same cabin as the Accord sedan from the front seats forward, with the addition of some bright metal accents that add a little jazz and flare, enhancing the overall experience.

What really got my motor running, other than the interior, was revving the 3.0-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, VTEC-equipped V6. A
maximum of 240-horsepower is not too shabby, complemented by 212 lb-ft of torque, making it ready to rumble at the drop of the clutch. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is accomplished in 6.9 seconds, which isnt exactly sports car fast but quite good for a luxury-trimmed coupe. One things for sure, the V6 Accord Coupe makes for quicker sprints than the base models 160-horsepower four-cylinder can muster.

While accelerating to and cruising at highway speeds, or even at upper-range engine revs, the coupe was mighty quiet. I wish I could have heard the grunt of the V6 a little more, but it was subdued due to the Accords engineers doing their job well. Thats good, right? Yes, for those who want the bang of a V6 without hearing it, and no, for those people like me who want to hear it and make my presence felt. But I guess thats where modifications come in, and we know how popular Hondas are to modify.

Improvements for the 2005 model year include new side-curtain and front-side airbags, making the Accord Coupe an even safer bet than last years car. Also, there is a new wheel design for the 17-inch alloy rims, onto which are mounted P215/50R17 all-season radials, standard with the V6 / six-speed combination. In addition, illuminated steering wheel controls help brighten the cabin and a new coin pocket design stores loose change more efficiently, I assume. The exterior and interior styling remains relatively unaltered since the Coupes major facelift in 2003.

Along with a quiet cabin comes a smooth ride. The front independent double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension made for an airy ride. The suspension was firm yet subtle, in that it almost seemed to glide across the pavement, without the bumpy drawbacks often associated with sport-oriented models. The coupe also performed well in tight turns, improving its fun factor while also benefiting accident avoidance situations. When I needed to brake promptly, the four-wheel power-assisted, front ventilated disc and rear solid disc brakes with ABS came to my aid. Even in the rain, the rubber gripped the concrete quite well.

While the Accord V6 Coupe isnt quite as large as its sedan sibling, with a wheelbase shorter by 2.75 inches and overall length by 1.85 inches, I was surprised at how good the visibility was for a coupe body. The side windows are relatively large, enabling me to see without too much hassle; however, rear visibility isnt optimal. The rear seats and trunk sit relatively high, so backing up and parallel parking werent the easiest, but feasible.

That shorter wheelbase doesnt really help the already-lacking rear passenger space, with 36.1 inches of head room, 31.9 inches of leg room and 46.1 inches of hip room. In a way, I love coupes because of their sportiness, but practicality suffers. Then again, thats why people buy sedans. Okay, Im being cheeky, but when its Easter weekend and the whole family is going out for a Sunday excursion with two medium-sized dogs, its a mess. Not because the dogs shed but because the seating is tight, and when the mangy mutts are breathing in your face, its not a pretty sight, or smell. There is, however, room for two medium-sized adults to fit comfortably; throw in a third, and its squish city.

While the rear seats are somewhat compromising, the list of standard
features isnt. The Accord V6 Coupe comes with some of my favorite amenities such as the six-speed manual, leather seats and trim, heated seats up front, power locks, windows and mirrors, keyless entry, a kick-butt AM/FM/6-disc in-dash CD changer, and an eight-way power drivers seat. Air conditioning, cruise control, tilt steering, driver and front passenger dual-stage, dual threshold airbags, front-side airbags, a security system (and a large dash surface area for propping spring loaded stuffed toys) are also on the list.

At the end of the day, the Accord coupe drives smoothly, handles well and looks nice. While its not the most practical vehicle, its hot nonetheless.