2011 Honda Accord Facelift : First Drive

  • Feb 21, 2011
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Honda's flagship brand, the Accord, has recently gone in for a minor facelift in order to cater to the evolving customer demands. Vikram Gour unravels the changes

The 8th generation Accord has been a great looker since its inception in the market. The sharp edges, long sleek body and rather muscular stance have definitely helped in the appeal department. Even today, the design still looks fresh and I highly doubt anyone would argue the fact that the Accord is one good looking car.

Adding to the Accord’s appeal are the two engines engine options. First up is the 2.4 liter i-VTEC engine that delivers oodles of power in a linear manner. It doesn’t feel like a thrust or surge, but it is a smooth delivery that gels with the entire luxury package. For the speed demons Honda introduced the V6 version which added a whole lot of oomph to the car’s persona and it did translate to great driving dynamics, while being efficient as well thanks to the cutting edge technology of being able to drive on either 3, 4 or 6 cylinders depending on the throttle input.

With competition heating up primarily from the Skoda Superb, which incidentally offered every gizmo you could think of including umbrellas in the doors, Honda obviously realized that the Accord could do with a bit of a boost. In doing so, Honda has revised the front bumper, changed the front grille to offer a bolder chrome look, enhanced the rear with some chrome bezel around the taillights, and spiced up the package by offering a set of alloy wheels that feature an all new design. These changes are across both the 2.4 liter and V6 models. In addition to these changes, the 2.4 liter model also boasts of a sunroof and wooden like interior inserts as standard. These two features were earlier only available on the V6 Accord.

The changes are all cosmetic and though they don’t seem monumental, one must understand that the Accord was a formidable entry level luxury sedan in the first place. It offers a great ride, is extremely plush and has a spacious cabin. Fit and finish is at levels that can compare to higher end sedans and at all this was available at a very decent price point. With the new enhancements, the Accord just becomes a better package to own and the real winner is the customer who opts for the 2.4 liter version, for that is where you are getting more bang for your buck.

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The Accord V6 already boasted of a sunroof and wooden styled trim; however the 2.4 liter version, which incidentally is also the more popular car on the sales charts amongst the two, didn’t have these features. With the facelift being a model upgrade and not a variant upgrade, the 2.4 liter has witnessed the most add-ons and therefore as a complete entry level luxury sedan package it does offer a lot of accessories now making it a great value deal for those in the market looking for a comfortable, stylish feature rich sedan that also turns heads yet is relatively easy on the wallet.

A full blown generation change is still some time away on the Accord and hopefully at that time the company will consider the diesel engine as well for market trends are surely pointing in that direction of demand.

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