2009 Honda Accord

I purchased my 2008 Honda Accord EX-L with Navigation to replace my 2007 Toyota Camry that was totaled in an accident (not my fault, but that’s a whole other story). I spend quite a bit of my time driving, averaging 20k per year. Now that I’ve owned my car for a little over 6 months, I can provide an honest evaluation of the car. Likes: • Seating is very comfortable, well bolstered, and supportive. Even on longer trips, I am comfortable. Driver’s seat has a lumbar support that I don’t find useful, but others might. • Engine is efficient and powerful for a 4 cylinder. Automatic transmission is smooth and shifts are appropriate. Grade logic control eliminates the need to ride the brakes if coasting down a hill • Automatic climate control does a good job at keeping the cabin comfortable. Just set it and forget it and it work right. • Styling is unique. Headlights, taillights, and fog lights are well placed and provide sufficient illumination. • Steering wheel control buttons for radio and cruise control are well labeled and placed in convenient location. • Integrated key and remote are compact and key is not sharp, unlike Toyota key. • Being able to open all the windows and sunroof with the remote control is great on hot summer days. • Sightlines are excellent. Very small blind spot compared to other vehicles • Reverse camera helps squeeze this car into very tight spot. Automatically displays on the navigation screen when the vehicle is put into reverse • Navigation system display is clear and easy to use • Blue interior accent light is a nice touch • Clear, easy to read gauge cluster • Large, spacious glovebox • Convenient center storage console with power plug and aux input jack • MaintenanceMinder helps save me money by letting me know when the car actually needs service through monitoring oil, rather than mileage based intervals. • Voice control of navigation system, radio, and climate control is not only cool, but very useful. • Navigation system can be programmed when vehicle is in motion, unlike other vehicles I have driven. • Back seat is actually inhabitable by real, living adults. Enough legroom for a 6 foot tall guy. • I have not had any issues with this vehicle (it only has 13k on it right now). • Suspension is tuned just right for a little more spirited driving without being overly stiff for everyday commuting. Strut towers help keep everything stiff. Dislikes • Air conditioning, radio, and navigation controls are all clustered together and take a while to get accustomed to. • Passenger seat is not power despite driver seat being power • Lack of integrated turn signals in the mirrors. • Radio display is very primitive looking and plain hard to read. I would suggest a dot-matrix display for better detail and clarity. Same for the climate control display and clock that are integrated into the radio display. • Unable to display exterior temperature and odometer at the same time. Also, same note about radio display applies to the odometer • Maintenance indicator should use words for service (like GM vehicles) rather than cryptic codes • Aux jack that comes with the vehicle only allows audio input, not charging or control capability of iPod. Aftermarket accessory Peripheral PXAMG fixed this issue for me.

I would definitely recommend the Honda Accord to any person considering a new car. If you are looking for similar vehicles, I would also take a look at: • Toyota Camry • Ford Fusion • Nissan Altima