I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Honda fan. Why shouldn’t I be? So I, for one, was very pleased to hear that Honda South Africa has added a two-litre model – the Accord 2.0 i-VTEC – to the range.

Hondas are great cars. And I’m not just saying that because I’m currently the very proud driver of a Civic sedan (the reigning Car of the Year, nogal) long-term test car. As a friend and colleague of mine puts it: “Us Honda drivers are used to only the best.” 

James Bond on four wheels

Although I’ve developed a very soft spot for my Civic over the past 4 000 kilometres or so, the Accord has always been my favourite Honda. It’s one of the most distinctive sedans on South African roads and as far as I’m concerned it simply smacks of elegance and good taste.

Something like Craig Daniels (aka James Bond) on four wheels: great profile, muscular contours and athletic stance. And then, of course, there’s that great looking rear end …..

Price: From R225 900 to R237 900 Article Options Email to Friend Print Article Remove from Favorites Add to Favorites Remove from 'Articles to Read' Add to 'Articles to Read'

Affordable without compromising on luxury

But back to business. The Accord 2.0 i-VTEC – while now the most affordable derivative in the Accord line-up, still offers oodles of luxury, space, performance and value.

The newcomer’s dynamic appearance is underscored by its competitive performance. Under the bonnet lurks a 1 998 cc, in-line four-cylinder engine, equipped with twin overhead camshafts and Honda's i-VTEC variable valve timing system. Maximum power output is 114 kW at 6 000 r/min, while the torque peak of 190 Nm is reached at 4 500 r/min. 

Now with SportsShift mode

The Accord 2.0 is available with a choice of five-speed manual or five-speed, electronically controlled automatic gearboxes. The five-speed auto features a sequential SportsShift mode which allows the driver to override the automatic shifting of gears to manually select the ratio best suited to individual driving styles and conditions. Once you get the hang of it, it’s really quite fun. 

Acceleration to blow your hair back

I know women aren’t supposed to be interested in this sort of thing, but I just have to mention that the manual version accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 9,3 seconds and boasts a top speed of 217 km/h. By comparison, the automatic transmission version takes a second longer to reach 100 km/h, while the top speed comes to 215 km/h. That’ll blow your hair back, for sure. 

Great fuel consumption too

Frugal fuel consumption is always an added bonus when buying a car and here the baby Accord won’t disappoint either. Fuel consumption for the manual model is a quoted 8 litres/100 km, while the auto achieves a combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 8,4 litres/100 km. 

An interior to swoon over

Then there’s the interior. Please forgive me for swooning over the interior, but if you’ve ever sat in an Accord you’ll understand why. One gets an overwhelming sense of tangible quality:  leather-clad front bucket seats and individually contoured rear bench seats, soft-touch, textured plastics and glossy wood veneer are the order of the day.

A driver's car...

What also becomes obvious inside the Accord is that this is a driver’s car. Everything is ergonomically and efficiently laid out to be within easy reach of the driving position. The three-spoke steering wheel is fully adjustable for rake and reach and features controls for the audio and cruise control systems. 

Considers passengers too

Passengers are also well catered for in the Accord. Thanks to its generous wheelbase and intelligent interior packaging, the cabin provides roomy accommodation with ample leg, head and shoulder room front and rear. Trust me on this one. I tried it out for myself.

Spacious, safe and stylish

While on the subject of space, the Accord's luggage compartment has a capacity of 459 litres, which can be significantly extended by folding down the 60:40 split rear seat backrest. In plain terms, you should be able to fit a whole month’s worth of groceries plus one or two Truworths bags in the back.

But what of safety? As always, this remains a priority with Honda. Active safety systems include ABS with electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and emergency braking assistance (EBA). But if anything does go wrong, the Accord 2.0 is equipped with dual front, side and curtain airbags, side impact beams in the doors, front and rear inertia reel seatbelts with pre-tensioning, ISOFIX child seat indicators and childproof rear door locks. 

Auto activating headlights

 And if – like me – you’re often on the roads between dusk and dawn, it’s reassuring to know that the Accord 2.0's headlights activate automatically and that it has an auto-dipping rear-view mirror. Security measures include a transponder-equipped key linked to an immobiliser and an alarm system.

If by now, you’re all motivated and eager to get behind the wheel of an Accord and experience all the thrills it has to offer for yourself, let me share the biggest bonus of all.
The Honda Accord 2.0 sells for R225 900 (Manual) and R237 900 (Automatic). The price includes a five-year, 100 000 km service plan, a three-year, 100 000 km warranty and a one-year roadside assistance package.

All these features are standard!

And just remember that while the Accord 2.0 is the most affordable member of the range,  its list of standard features remains remarkably comprehensive. While its direct rivals – such as the Volvo S40 2.0, the Mercedes-Benz C180, Audi's A4 2.0 and the BMW 320i – offer most luxury features as optional items, the Accord’s price includes all specifications as standard.

Look what you get for your money...

This means that you get electrically operated windows and mirrors, remote central locking, a trip computer, cruise control, full leather upholstery, electrically operated front seats, auto headlamps and windscreen wipers, steering wheel-mounted satellite controls, alloy wheels, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a sound system with integrated six-disc CD changer and eight loudspeakers, dual-zone climate control, an electrically operated glass sunroof, heated front seats and illuminated vanity mirrors in the sunshields without paying a cent extra.

If only Daniel Craig was this easy to get your hands on.