The 11th generation Accord finally goes on sale in Japan
Since the first generation debuted in 1976, the Accord has grown to become Honda’s global model, and the new 11th generation was launched in Japan on 8 March 2024. Motor journalist Naoto Shimazaki reports on his test drive impressions.
Each generation of the Accord has proposed new values
My very personal top three Accords of all time would be the 3rd generation Litra in first place, the 4th generation US Wagon in second place, and the first generation in third place. Each of these cars was very attractive at the time, especially the 3rd generation, with its novelty of retractable headlights, gentle ride due to the 2600mm wheelbase, functional and smart instrument panel shape similar to the E30 BMW 3 Series, and the style of the aerodynamic deck, which was full of character. The style of the aerodynamic aerodynamic deck was outstanding among Japanese cars of the time. Driving down Aoyama Dori at night, I remember thinking how cool the blue-green Nippon Seiki instrument lights were.
The Ohio-born US Wagon, also available in the fourth generation, had a large minimum turning radius as its only weak point, but if you turned a blind eye to that, the quiet, smooth ride and truly elegant wagon style were also enticing. At the time, I happened to borrow a test car from the factory, and I wrapped the entire enclosure in an air cap and placed it in the luggage compartment with my JBL speakers (L40, which I still use to this day), which I had to replace the woofer unit with, and took it to the audio shop.
As for the first generation Accord, the first three-door hatchback debuted in May 1976, just the year before the author obtained his driving license. It attracted attention as a model more advanced than the Civic, but for the young author at the time, who was about to get his license, it was a somewhat mature car, and rather than driving it myself, I was more interested in admiring its smartness. The first generation of the ‘saloon’ notchback sedan also appeared in 1977, the year after the hatchback was launched.
Style that stands out for its simple beauty
Now, time has passed since the introduction of the first hatchback, and the new Accord, now in its 11th generation, has made its debut a short while after the end of the 10th generation.
My first impression is that it has been made into a very attractive sedan. What I particularly liked was the style and driveability. Style? Not so different from the previous generation? However, while the fastback’s silhouette is similar to that of the 10th generation, the design is completely new and its ‘quality’ has been enhanced.
The extra press lines and chrome decoration used on the front of the car have been thoroughly eliminated, and the only shiny external elements are delicate chrome moldings along the side window graphics, the back edges of which naturally vary in thickness and stop. The entire body is sleek, too, and the overall length of the car (+75 mm over the previous generation) is pleasant to look at. I think that the style has been finished in a way that stands out for its simple beauty without any superfluous details.
The interior comfort is also of a high level
The interior, incidentally, is also equipped with a horizontal, horizontally-oriented instrument panel, which is the standard for recent Honda cars, with a 10.2-inch meter display and a 12.3-inch display in the center, which is also treated casually. New grains are used on the instrument panel (and upper door trim), giving it a high-quality look and feel.
Above all, the comfort that is typical of a high-end sedan (the Accord is now Honda’s flagship) is quite good, especially in the rear seats, with a slightly raised torso angle, a firm seat length, and excellent leg, overhead, and side room. The Torso Angle is hard to imagine from the outside, but it is a comfortable place to relax, without any logic. The door opening is also large, so getting in and out is stress-free.
Of course, there is a driver’s seat.
Of course, when you sit in the driver’s seat, look around, and start driving, there is no discrepancy between the car’s movements and your own operations, and you instantly feel a sense of oneness with the car. This is the moment when you think, “Ah, a good sedan like this is great”.
The car drives as if all four tires are absorbing the road surface
On the other hand, driving is characterized by a sense of stability and security, and yet it just feels good to drive”, to put it in words.
The actual vehicle uses new technologies, such as a motion management system that increases turning performance while increasing front wheel load through integrated control of the brakes and powertrain (motor), and an adaptive damper system that uses a new six-axis sensor to change damping force in real-time.
The effectiveness of these features means that (although the author’s test drive was on a dry road surface) the four tires felt as if they were absorbing the road surface and gripping it evenly, with a sense of stability in the changes in attitude and a driving performance that allows you to fully enjoy the comfort of the car.
This is what Naoki Yokoyama LPL (Large Project Leader), who is responsible for the development of the car, was talking about when he said, “I had a lot of fun driving it in the US”. …… The tires installed were Michelin e PRIMACY 235/45R18, and the suspension was designed to fit these tires perfectly.
Very quiet and comfortable to drive
Of course, the e:HEV’s powertrain also features a direct-injection 2-litre engine combined with an electric CVT with two motors and a system that provides appropriate control according to the driving mode. The workmanship is so natural and quiet throughout the range that it is hard to tell when the car is switched to EV mode, for example when cruising. The paddle operation allows the driver to select the level of deceleration, which is quite in line with actual driving conditions and allows smooth one-paddle driving instead of one-pedal driving.
The Honda Parking Assist, which can be trusted to park almost automatically, is also a credit to its skills, putting the car in place without a hitch, and the Honda Sensing 360 driving safety support, with new features such as forward crossing vehicle warning, is also reassuring. I can’t mention the specific names of the music and artists who were provided in the BOSE test car for listening, as they are in breach of copyright law, but if I were the author, I would like to go for a drive a little further afield on my own, listening to the new Nora Jones album, which will lighten my heart. ……The car made me think so.
translated by DeepL