Honda Takes Four Auto Express New Car Honours
Published: 29th July 2004
Honda Accord Tourer
Accord - Family Car winner
The new car market seems intent on diversifying into new areas. However, the expansion and popularity of various MPVs and off-roaders still hasn’t come close to killing off the traditional family car. Whether appealing to private or fleet buyers, this segment is as hard fought as ever. It’s therefore a testament to the all round excellence of Honda’s Accord that it takes the top spot for a second year.
Whether it’s the mirror mounted indicators, the chunky door handles or the tightness of the shut lines, the Accord displays a level of quality that can compete with premium brands. The high-class feel continues inside - the seats are excellent, the driving position faultless and passenger accommodation first class. It’s also well equipped and nicely appointed with a luxury feel that ups the ante for its rivals.
What’s more, as you would expect Honda doesn’t disappoint with the Accord’s engines, as the 2.0 and 2.4-litre VTEC petrol units are both smooth and powerful, and better still the range is now enhanced by the fantastic new diesel.
Furthermore, the Accord driving experience still impresses whatever the journey. With excellent body control and fine composure over bumps, combined with slick steering, the Accord offers nimble handling and driver involvement. Class-leading ride and refinement round off the package, leaving you with a car that’s fun, easy and relaxing to drive.
Accord Tourer - Estate winner
This is the bread and butter end of the market. You can have all the toys and gadgets you want, but without a decent-sized boot and practical features, an estate car just isn’t worth its salt.
So it doesn’t come as a shock to find this year’s winner, the Honda Accord Tourer, has a cavernous back end – at full stretch it’s capable of swallowing 1,707 litres of luggage. However, even before you raise the electric boot door, the flat roof line and upright tailgate tell you that this is a car with space on its mind.
However, it’s the process of folding the seats flat that is the Tourer’s best party trick. All you have to do is pull a single lever on the backrest and pull forward. This movement activates a clever mechanism, causing the seat base to flip up and the headrest to drop down in one seamless operation. The result is a completely flat and unimpeded load space. Quite simply, no other estate features such attention to detail.
But the reason the Accord wins lies as much with the rest of the package as the boot alone. The Tourer benefits from Honda’s predictably excellent build quality (the clunk as you shut the doors is one particular highlight) and the driving environment is as polished and cosseting as the best executive saloons.
Couple all this with Honda’s excellent engines and a chassis that is more than capable of dealing with whatever heavy loads you throw at it, and you’re left with the best estate car we’ve driven in years, let alone the past 12 months.
Honda Accord Tourer
Our Honda Accord Tourer Guide lists the full specification of the current UK Accord Tourer range, including car prices, fuel consumption, dimensions and other vital data.
Price Range: £18,387 - £27,757
Body Style:
Fuel:
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Models in the range: 14
Our Car Buyer’s Guide covers all of the UK’s major new cars and includes CO2 ratings and car insurance groups. Data updated on the 6th July 2008
