2011 Honda Accord Review
Price
from: RM138,950
to: RM172,040
Installment
from: RM1,325/mth
to: RM1,641/mth
2011 Honda Accord at a glance
Honda wants to move upmarket with the Accord. And delivered they have. The 2011 Honda Accord, with its muscular styling, has equally adept abilities to match the looks. Crucially, it now feels like a premium car.
2011 Honda Accord quick specs
| Body Style | Sedan |
| Class | Large Family |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2011 Honda Accord ratings (overall rating : 4/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
Being lower, wider and longer, the Honda Accord now looks sporty and muscular, compared to the conservative design of its predecessor. The sleekness, apparent from the side profile, complements the low, squat stance well. The front and especially the rear have been trimmed from the somewhat overweight design of old, now looking neat and tidy. Overall, the 2011 Honda Accord is powerful-looking with unmistakable road presence.
Handling
The Honda Accord handles even better than its predecessor, which handled well, proving more agile and more composed through corners. The steering feels well-weighted, while grip levels are high. The 2011 Honda Accord strikes a wonderful balance between ride and handling, the latter not compromised even as the suspension is tuned softer than for most rivals. We are glad to report that the 2011 Honda Accord now drives as sporty as it looks.
Comfort
The ride is soft and supple, enough to cushion the harshest of surfaces. Wind and road noise is impressively kept out of the cabin. The driver-focused cabin is easy to get comfortable in. From the multiple adjustments for seat and steering, to big, comfy front seats, and the unhindered all-round visibility, the cabin is set up for miles-crunching. The dash design however consists of quite a number of buttons and switches, all rather similar, affecting the overall ease of use.
Quality + Reliability
Honda has benchmarked the Accord against premium rivals, with the ambition of bringing the Honda brand more upmarket. Indeed, the classy cabin uses premium materials, finished and fitted to high standards. Honda has one of the best, if not the best, reliability record, thus the robust mechanics should stand the test of time with little problems.
Performance
Two engines are available: a 2.0-litre with 154 bhp and a 2.4-litre with 178 bhp. Both engines are silky smooth, and equipped with i-VTEC, which boosts power at upper rpm range. The 2.0-litre is actually quick enough for everyday driving, and sounds gratifying under acceleration too. The 2.4-litre naturally feels more urgent on the road, providing more thrust for moving off from standstill and overtaking, but may not do enough to justify the price premium. Five-speed automatic is mated to both engines, although the 2.0-litre makes do without the paddle-shift.
Roominess
The 2011 Honda Accord shares the lead at the top of the class in this aspect. While the front head- and leg-room are excellent, and the rear headroom is similarly good, the rear legroom is compromised by the huge front seats, though still generous by class standards. The rear seats are almost as comfortable as the front two. The boot size is average, but should be more than adequate for most people.
Running Costs
In a test sanctioned by AAM (Automobile Association of Malaysia), the 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre returned 17.0 km/litre and 17.2 km/litre respectively, which are outstanding figures. Maintenance and depreciation should be reasonable. Honda models are highly reliable, which should lower the servicing and repair costs in the long run. Wearing the Honda badge means strong residual values, especially with the Accord's popularity in Malaysia.
Value for Money
The 2011 Honda Accord brings with it an array of abilities and a generous equipment list, and is keenly priced against main rivals. By that, we are referring to the Toyota Camry, Mazda 6 and the similar others. But if you compare the 2011 Honda Accord against premium rivals from Volkswagen, BMW or Audi—like Honda wants you to—we have an absolute steal on our hands.
Equipment
The 2.0-litre gets 16" alloy wheels, front fog light, rear sensors, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio control, dual-zone air-conditioner, and six-speaker audio system with six-CD changer (MP3 & WMA enabled). Safety kit includes dual front i-SRS airbags, ABS + EBD + BA, pretensioner seatbelts, and active headrests. The 2.4-litre adds 17" alloy wheels, leather interior, 8-way power driver seat, premium audio system with subwoofer, cruise control, paddle-shift, more airbags and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA).
Environment
The engines offer good performance at lesser expense of the environment, as compared to the rest of the class. The 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre emit 182 g/km and 204 g/km respectively, which when considered alongside the excellent fuel consumption figures makes the 2011 Honda Accord one of the “greenest” in its class.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Muscular, powerful looks
Ride and handling
Strong engines
Busy dash design
Compromised rear legroom
Ubiquity
See Another Model
Top Competitors
Price : from RM141,088
Price : from RM175,000
Price : from RM137,202
Price : from RM148,933
Price : from RM165,363
