Introduction

The combination of low price and superior quality became synonymous with the Honda Accord and made it the best-selling car in America for several years. Currently the second-best seller, the Accord has its sights set on Ford Taurus' No. 1 spot. According to our test driver, every update and refinement Honda has made to the newest edition of its bread-and-butter car is certain to keep most, if not all, Honda fans in the fold. And our tester should know - he drove a 1988 Honda for years and loved every mile of it. If you're not one of those loyal owners, however, the sticker price of the new Accord might make you pause. The 1994 Accord EX we tested carried an MSRP of $20,187. That price was for the top-of-the-line, fully equipped version of the basic Accord. It came with air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo, power windows and door locks, dual air bags and a whole lot more as standard. It also boasted a 2.2liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, absolutely stunning styling updates, many creature comforts and Honda's trademark flawless fit-and-finish. Unlike prior years, though, our '94 Accord EX didn't necessarily stand head and shoulders above other cars in its size and price range in terms of engineering and manufacturing integrity. We're not implying that Honda has slipped; it's just that a number of other domestic and imported makes have improved.

Walkaround

The impeccable paint application and zero defect level of fit-and-finish on our Accord EX were the only exterior touches that reminded our test driver of his old Honda. Our Accord EX was a genuinely new, contemporary car. From a near needle-nose front-end configuration that angled back nearly 45 degrees from center, the hood swept upward at a sharp angle to meet an expansive, acutely raked windshield. The modern, slippery profile continued with a gently bubbled roofline and concluded with an upward curvature of the rear fenders and trunk lid. This created a raised rear deck that seemed to beg for a spoiler. Recessed door handles and door-to-door protective side moldings matched the body color perfectly, A pointed grille with a single centered bar rested beneath the Honda logo on the hood of our Accord. Headlamp assemblies, covered in clear, impact-resistant plastic, angled back about 45 degrees to meet the fenders and wraparound cornering lights. A substantial front bumper assembly, vinyl-covered and paint-matched to the body, curved outward from the fenders to complete the slight needle-nosed look. Amber cornering lights imbedded in the low segment of the bumper, as was a black vinyl air scoop. The only feature that seemed slightly out of place in this contemporary styling treatment was the huge taillight assembly. Though highly visible, they were a little too squarish and horsey for this subtle, yet striking, vehicle.

Interior Features

Like the exterior, the interior of the Accord EX Sedan bore virtually no resemblance to Hondas of old. Instrumentation was recessed under the dash, shielding it from glare, and contained speedometer and tachometer dials, analog fuel and temperature gauges and a complement of warning lights. Power window and door lock controls were on the full-length driver's armrest, just in front of a finger recess centered for easy door closure. Cruise control buttons were between the right spokes of the four-spoke tilt steering wheel, which had a broader adjustment ran than other steering wheels we've taken on test drives. Front and rear seating was uniformly comfortable. All the seats were nicely contoured and were covered with a high-quality textured velour. The driver's bucket seat featured a power height assist, adjustable lumbar support and, like the front passenger's seat, an adjustable headrest. Rear seats offered fixed headrests and a pull-down center armrest, and they provided a surprising amount of legroom for a car with this size wheelbase. The layout and design of the center console pleased us. It offered an armrest positioned at just the right height with a covered storage area beneath it, room for a cellular phone and a padded transmission shift lever. The front of the console housed the AM/FM stereo with a CD player and angled slightly toward the dash, making it easier to review and adjust the audio system's controls.