Introduction

You'd think by now this car would be an also-ran. The Honda Accord is entering the fifth year of its current model cycle. An all-new one is just over the horizon. Meanwhile, Toyota has just launched an all-new Camry for 2002, while Nissan has introduced an all-new and much larger Altima. And there's no shortage of competition from other automakers that compete fiercely for buyers of mid-size sedans. The volumes are high so a lot is at stake here. In spite of all this, we feel the 2002 Honda Accord is the best mid-size sedan available today. Simply put, it does everything well. The interior is roomy and comfortable, the chassis is responsive and well damped, the brakes are excellent, and both of its VTEC engines (a 3.0-liter V6 and a 2.3-liter four-cylinder) are incredibly smooth. It is remarkably easy to drive and every aspect of it is user friendly. Honda sold 414,718 Accords during calendar year 2001, making it number one in passenger-car sales, and it has been one of America's best-selling cars for the past 10 years. Not much has changed with the Accord since last year. For 2002, Honda has added a new SE trim level that adds popular features to the value-oriented LX. Another thing that hasn't changed is its quality, durability, and reliability. J.D. Power and Associates ranks the Accord's mechanical quality and body and interior quality as "better than most." An entire generation has grown up with Hondas, and 26 years of Accords have proven it to be a safe choice, a car that a family can buy and more or less forget, turning their attention to the other concerns of a daily life. We feel the Accord offers a bit more driving excitement than the Camry or the Taurus and a higher quality interior than the Altima.

Walkaround

Honda freshened the Accord last year with a new engine hood and fascia up front and a new deck lid and tail lights in the rear. The overall effect is even more sharply chiseled than before. Even so, the Accord is beginning to look dated. It was last completely redesigned for 1998. It retains an understated, refined appearance. The nose is short, and the hood and cowl are low, which complement the glassy cabin to provide excellent visibility from inside. Honda designed the Accord Coupe to have its own identity as distinct from the Accord Sedan. Only the coupe's headlights and door handles are shared with the sedan. It was enhanced last year by a more aggressive look to the bumpers, a body-colored front grille, and new alloy wheel designs. The Coupe is a handsome car, and a good choice for busy executives who want a car that is both sporty and practical.

Interior Features

Honda used airline business-class seating as a model for the Accord interior, which is a marvel of space efficiency. The front seats are wide and comfortable and there's a surprising amount of room for rear seat passengers. It is a true midsize sedan. Generous front and rear door openings make it easy to get in and out. It's easy to load cargo because the trunk opening is large and offers real luggage capacity. Leather interiors are available in light tones that are warm and inviting, really nice. The instrument panel features a two-tone finish with big gauges that are highly legible. Features associated with luxury cars abound, particularly on the high-level models. Sun visors offer sliding extensions. A HomeLink remote control system can be programmed to open garage doors, turn on house lights and turn off security systems. The air conditioning system, designed to quickly cool the car down after getting in on a hot day, uses an air filtration system to keep pollen out and reduce diesel fumes from buses and trucks. Our EX-V6 came with a superb 6-disc in-dash AM/FM/CD stereo. It sounded great. And the controls are a paragon of excellent design with big buttons that are easy to identify and use. This one does not require any reading of the owner's manual nor does it require taking your eyes off the road for long periods of time. Switching among six CDs, changing songs, scanning stations is all easy to do.