Honda Accord Euro 2004 Review

In less than 12 months since its debut Down Under, it has taken leadership in the luxury-car segment, deposing the Holden Statesman.

Honda set what it thought was a fairly reasonable sales targets for Accord of 375 units a month.

Last month, the tally was three times that – taking the January-April total to 4233.

Honda is happy to admit it was spectacularly wrong.

Place an order today for a specific colour and trim combination – and do not expect delivery for at least two months.

There are not that many cars in the marketplace that can illustrate that level of demand – almost a year following release.

The brand may have made a blue on sales estimates. But its design philosophy was right on the money.

Honda set out to sculpt Accord in two clear-cut body forms to appeal to two defined group of buyers.

Critics claimed following the launch the concept of sticking the same nameplate on two cars was a recipe for total confusion. Not any more. The move has paid handsome dividends. Accord comes in a sleek, sporty guise powered by a spirited 2.4-litre four-cylinder motor with variable valve timing, called the Euro, with prices starting at $34,250.

Then Accord comes with three-litre V6 power in a bigger, wider-bodied form for buyers who want something more conservative – with prices starting at $39,990.

In a clever move, Honda offers the larger car with the smaller engine – for a saving of $5740. With two bodies, two engines and three specification levels on offer, little wonder Accord Euro and Accord V6 are commanding such a following.

The V6 already has been tested in Carsguide. This time around, the Euro was put through its paces.

Both the Euro and V6 share some worthwhile enhancements, including five-speed automatic transmission with grade logic control and improved double wishbone suspension. The two bodies are claimed to be 27 per cent stiffer than before to optimise suspension dynamics.

And both versions come with dual-stage front airbags and, for the first time, side airbags, controlled by a sensing system.

Styling aside, one of the highlights of the Euro is the 2.4-litre double overhead camshaft motor which comes with full i-VTEC variable valve technology. The motor puts out 118kW compared with the 110kW output from the former single overhead camshaft VTEC motor of 2254cc capacity. Torque is up from 206Nm to 218Nm.

To differentiate between the driving feel of the two models, engineers have tuned Euro's chassis for a more agile, sportier feel and the hydraulically power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is improved for greater stability. The standard anti-lock braking system, which is standard along with electronic brake force distribution, has been enhanced to reduce braking distances and better pedal feel.

While the V6 Accord clearly has been penned for older drivers, the Euro is aimed at the younger buyer.

The front features a bold grille flanked by shallow, wrap-around headlights which give the model a rakish face.

The front is set nice and low allowing the belt line to sweep upwards towards the trailing edge of the boot. Complementing the wedge-shape is a nicely rounded roofline which presents a four-door coupe profile. Inside, the main instruments are enclosed under a hooded binnacle and the centre console houses the information system.

Seating is ultra-supportive and comfortable and the fully adjustable steering column will help drivers of all sizes to set themselves in their chosen driving position.

Once under way, the low levels of mechanical and road-induced noise make a significant contribution to the enjoyment of driving the Euro.

Honda "floats" the body subframes on rubber mounts to minimise vibration transfer. The 2.4-litre iVTEC motor is a willing power source which gives the car top response to the fly-by-wire throttle input.

The new five-speed automatic is an excellent transmission, changing up and down in seamless manner.

What a giant stride forward from the days of three-speed automatics which could discover a number of set speeds and conditions at which they would get terribly confused and jump first up, then down, making life behind the wheel far from pleasant.

The car steers precisely and the ride and handling gains which result from the re-worked suspension is easy to spot.

Both the Euro and Accord V6 pick up stability and traction control as part of the basket of additional finery.

At a glance

Accord has been one of the pillars of Honda's towering presence since the first-generation model was launch way back in 1977.

The debut model was a 1.6-litre engined two-door hatchback which helped the brand establish itself – along with the superb Civic.

The new two-model Accord takes the nameplate on two parallel journeys which is an interesting exercise.

Roughly 70 per cent of Accord sales are Euro – which still makes the Accord V6 a highly profitable proposition.

In sum, Accord is two winners in one.