2.2 i-DTEC EX GT Auto

I think I'll keep this one.....

I've owned or long-term driven something in excess of 60 cars since I started driving in 1969 (one car per 9 months!). If you add hire cars, family cars and so on, the number's well over 100, with an average mileage of around 20k miles per year over that time. I've written lots of reviews of my more recent cars in the last 15 years and I'm well aware of the "self-fulfilling prophesy problem" - I bought it so it must be great!"

So having established my credentials - is the Accord great? Well, it's pretty Damn good. I bought it after a run of 5 Skoda Octavias & Superbs between 2000 & 2009 and to be honest I'd have bought another Skoda if the heater had worked on my last Octavia and the service manager hadn't been so dissmissive ("a design fault, they all do that") and if my wife had found the seats more comfortable.

So I looked around and bought a Honda. I bought it because I loved the styling of the EX-GT with its body kit, the reputation for bullet-proof reliability, the excellent auto-diesel combo and the feeling from an extended test drive that this is a comfortable quality car.

The Good Bits
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I've owned the EX-GT for 15 months (to February 2011) in which time I've done 17,000 miles, 95% of them on motorways and 5% on twisty Somerset back roads. For a driving experience I have only good things to say. It's very comfortable and stunningly quiet with hardly any engine, wind or road noise. Cruises really well on the motorway and feels surprisingly sporty when pushed on the twisty ones.

Having experienced the occasionally very jerky operation of the VW-group's DSG gearbox, the torque-converter box on the Accord is a pleasure, the engine is smooth and has lots of grunt and overall it's a pleasurable driving experience. The flappy paddles work well and although I prefer full auto, they are useful for downhill engine braking.

It's not the top of the range, but is extremely well equipped. Logical - if slightly fussy - dash layout. The seating is extremely comfortable on long or short trips. It's easy to find the right position with reach & rake adjustment of the steering wheel.

I am surprised how much feel there is from the electrically-assisted steering. The rear-view camera is very good.

Excellent sound system with 6 disc changer in-dash. Hands-free phone system (via bluetooth) is also excellent, although as the set-up is voice controlled, you'll need the manual or a lot of practice pair it with you phone. I believe it has Mp3 connections (etc.) but I don't have a use for them.

For such a big car, with a 2.2L engine, the MPG was a pleasant surprise with 46mpg on a run at 70mph (set on the cruise control). At 80mph (where legal) it dips to 41 and 85-90 is around 38. Whilst these are by no means outstanding, they are quite adequate for me.

Finally, Ms Honda, the best Satnav voice I've heard. Yes HJ, it IS a cross between Joanna Lumley and Jenny Agutter - and unfailingly polite too.

Regards servicing - I have only good things to say for Howard's Honda in Taunton, friendly, efficient and moreover cheaper than comparable Skoda service costs. (I was surprised!!)


Wants (Software upgrade, please)
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The SatNav has dynamic re-routing to avoid congestion. Great! But in "automatic" mode it will re-route without any form of warning and you are left wondering why you need to turn off at the next exit rather that the one 20 miles distant (that you were expecting). I have it on manual mode so a message is displayed offering choices. Also great.... except if you stop immediately after you leave the original route, when you start the engine again the SatNav has forgotten that you were on a diversion and sends you back towards the congestion.

It would be good to have an audible warning that there is congestion rather than hoping you might glance at the screen.

The computer clears the trip memory as soon as you switch off the engine. So if you break a trip you lose the data. (Skodas keep the data for 2 hours after you remove the key).

Would have liked audible reversing sensors as well as the camera!

I would like to have two mobiles paired simultaneously with the car (it only pairs with the first found). Then both my personal and work mobiles would be available.


Not quite so good, but still not enough to put me off bits
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It's surprisingly wide. Lots of front space but this can be a bit unnerving on little country roads.

It doesn't do exactly what I wanted, I'd have preferred an estate, but the i-DTEC auto tourer wasn't available when I bought this one and I wish I had been patient. The boot is compromised by intrusions from the rear suspension (can't fit 2 "two-week holiday" suitcases side-by-side) and there's a surprisingly small amount of leg-room for the rear passengers for such a large car - it certainly can't compare with the Skodas in these departments.

However, for the use I get from it, it's perfect - there's only usually me & my laptop onboard, with my wife at weekends and occasionally the father-in-law .... and if we need a load-lugger we use Tina's Jazz (what an amazing Tardis that is, but that's another story)

The cruise control occasionally switched itself off on the motorway for no reason, but a software upgrade fixed that. A side rubbing strip came loose and new mountings were fitted during a service.


Conclusion

This car is an excellent, comfortable mini-limo, well put together from a manufacturer having a formidable reputation for reliability.

I've noticed the motoring press say that Honda was shooting at the 3-series and A4 with the Accord and had "fallen short". Well, maybe they were, but I prefer to make my own mind up and frankly I feel both Audi & BMW are overpriced - and in no way as reliable and cheap to run. So, the Accord really does it for me. No matter how much I try to convince myself it's time for a change, I can't find a logical reason why I should, so I think I'll just hang on to this one!

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