2008 Honda Accord Euro First Steer
June 23, 2008 by David Twomey
Honda’s all-new Accord Euro has sharp looks and a classy interior that go with the Euro part of it moniker but a price tag that’s more closely allied to the bargain end of the market.
-David Twomey
Honda has made no bones about the fact that this car is meant to maintain its strong sales position for the company and also take on rivals Mazda6, Subaru Liberty and Volkswagen Jetta head-on.
This is a car with a starting price of $32,990 for the six-speed manual that offers a host of standard features including front, side and curtain airbags, active front head restraints, ESP, dual zone air-conditioning, and a host of other convenience and usually luxury features.
The five-speed automatic gearbox adds $2000 to all three models, which include a leather upholstered Luxury at $39,990 and a rather curiously named Luxury Navi that throws in satellite navigation and a reversing camera for $42,990.
At the recent launch of the Honda Accord Euro in Adelaide the assistant project leader on the Accord Euro project, Toshiro Morita, said the benchmark car for the Euro was BMW, because its cars had outstanding features.
He also said the new Accord Euro set out to address criticisms of the previous car by adding more character and making the car both smart and agile.
Honda has sold more than 45,000 Accord Euros in Australia since the model was first introduced in 2003 and the car has helped the company lower the average age of its buyer to 40+ years, in fact most buyers of the Accord Euro are in the 35-50 years-old bracket, married, with a high income and are generally very tech savvy, according to Honda Australia senior director, Lindsay Smalley.
According to Honda the Euro is significantly wider, slightly lower and longer, the styling adopts a more chiselled design, with pronounced muscular wheel-arches that emphasise the car’s wider track and gives the Euro a distinctive, strong stance with a solid, planted feel.
It adds that the distinctive nose and more flowing lines deliver a tauter, more athletic shape.
In our opinion none of this is untrue, the only criticism would be that the new design is a little too derivative of the previous car.
That said the new Accord Euro has real presence – especially from the front, where the aggressive headlights and wide stance give a far more muscular appearance than the previous model.
Climb inside, and things look even better. The front seats – upholstered in leather on the Luxury version, fabric on the base model – are supportive and supremely comfortable. We can’t think of a better place to sit on a long journey.
The 2.4-litre engine, which is described as Euro Four compliant but in fact meets the Euro Five standards that do not come into effect for another two years, is more powerful, delivering 148 kilowatts (up from 140kW) at 7000rpm and peak torque of 234Nm (up from 223Nm) at 4400rpm (manual transmission).
Its sporty performance is all the more remarkable given the improved fuel economy – now just 8.9l/100km (down from 9.1l/100km manual transmission and 9.4l/100km automatic transmission).
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A Honda that doesn’t bang and crash over sharp surfaces is a nice change. How is the road noise over course bitumen?
yeah Laurie, I remember when the RAV4 was a small recreational vehicle. The current version is massive!
This new Accord is creeping into the Falcon/Commodore category when what we really need are more medium cars.
well at least he next gen corrola and civic will be the new mid sizers
Mazda3SP25 – The article is about Hondas not Mazdas matey. Uh :(
Would be nice to have a comparison review of this model against Mazda 6..Caradvice plz do this……
The headlights look like a Mitsubishi Outlander! Not saying its bad – just appear to have the same Daddy.
diesel would be good with this. I like the style (well atleast its much better than the old euro with its hideous back), but underpowered. Mazda 6, ugh so overhyped. Ugly and underpowered compare to accord v6
Maxda3SP25 do you know when this will be on the market I want one now,Mazda are saying nothing at the moment.Mazda 3 still the best looking car on the road(Espically the SP23) yes I know this article is about some peice of crap honda.
Other posters have said European journalists still give the Mondeo the edge ofver the Honda Accord. I have yet to find any evidence of this (all the articles I have read where that was the case were based on the outgoing Honda Accord). The new Accord has only been out since around 1 June in the UK. Newer articles seem to suggest they are much closer. But I HATE Mondeo’s Australian interior options. The somewhat improved UK Mondeo equivalent to a Luxury or Luxury Nav Accord (the Ttanium X) is not available here. So at the moment I think the Accord has the edge. Particularly when it is one of teh few cars that we pay aorund the same price for as a UK buyer. A Lux Nax Auto lists for around 25,000 pounds. When you think an equivalently spec’ed BMW 3 series with Sat Nav lists for around 27,000 pounds (say $63,000 PLUS dealer delivery etc here), I know where the value for our Australian dollars lies in the executive medium car segment.
Looks like there are some Mazda car salesmen posting crap on this blog. Honda’s price drop of $1,000 and adding more equipment to the Accord Euro, must be causing Mazda salesmen a bit of worry. What’s the matter boys, too much free time on your hands doing nothing?
The Accord’s 2nd generation diesel 2.2 i-DTEC is rated in the UK at 50.4mpg (combined). That’s around 5.6l/100km. Even with the frequent 20 to 26c/l gap between petrol and diesel prices, I think I’ll wait till next year to see how that engine handles.
Yep, I think the 2.2 diesel could be well worth waiting for.
Ha, ha, good point Tony.
At the current specs, here is what I think the price of mazda6 should be
Limited Sedan M $27,000
Limited Sedan A $29,000
Classic Sedan M $30,000
Classic Sedan A $32,000
Classic Hatch M $31,000
Classic Hatch A $33,000
Luxury Sedan A $35,000
Luxury Hatch A $36,000
Luxury Sport Hatch M $36,000
Luxury Sport Hatch A $38,000
Remember, for the comparable level, the mazda6 has less feature than the euro.
The frustrating thing about the missing Mazda6 features is that they’re standard in the UK and NZ markets – namely automatic headlights and wipers!
Have to retract one of my previous remarks – AutoExpress UK does put the Mondeo ahead of the NEW Accord in a group test (I thought there were only comparisons of the older model Accord on the net). BUT even so, their review is based on the highly spec’ed Mondeo Titanium X diesel, which specification is not available here and the Accord manual diesel 2.2i_DTEC, which engine is not available here yet. Comparing available top of the range Accord Euro against the Mondeo, I still prefer the Luxury Nav. Mazda6 came third (and again their top of the range Mazda6 has more options than ours). Of course if you want diesel and you want it now and not in 6 to 12 months, the Accord doesn’t figure.
Come on guys… mazda is mazda… you cant compare it with honda. In Japan people most likely only to buy either Toyota Nissan or Honda… but not Mazda except for the RX8. It is like you compare Hyundai and Kia in Korea. And the worst part the resell value for Mazda even more Ford & VW (except Golf) are like crap! You can’t compare them with Honda!
^What the hell are you talking about?
Mazda’s resale value is on par with its rivals, if not better. We are not talking about Japanese market choice but here (in Australia) Mazda is the best selling fully imported brand above Nissan or Honda.
I don’t know what your talking about, but the Accord Euro’s direct rival would be the Mazda 6.
In my opinion, if you could get the interior fit out of the Accord, combined with the space, looks and peformance of the Mondeo XR5, I would buy it in a flash. Unfortunately, it seems like all of the mid size cars are missing some little thing.
Not incredibalbly different to last model, but it looks better. But CarAdvice will (I say) do a test on this against the Mazda 6! ;)
Will be a close one, probably a tie!
By the way, for some people think the New Mazda 6 is/has the same platform as the Mondeo (share the same one) is wrong, they are both completely different!
We should say thank you to Mazda 6. The reason that Honda reduces the price of new Accord Euro by A$1,000 across the range because of Mazda 6. If there is no Mazda 6, Honda wouldn’t reduce the price of new Accord Euro. Look at the new CRV. It is made in Thailand and there is no import duty, price should be cheaper than priovious model which was made in Japan. Honda jacked up its price by A$1,000 across the range when it was released. Why? Because there was no competition, Nissan X-Trial, Subaru Forester, RAV4 were too old.
Honda has released the Accord Euro wagon in NZ but Australia only gets Sedan :/
Boys, I am interested in both new Honda euro and 6.
Which one should i buy?
I am just not sure
Honda euro has better interior.
6 looks better.
Very difficult to choose.
plz post your advice.
Bob, if you can wait, then wait to see what Mazda do.
They must do something. After all, Mazda is becoming too greedy IMHO.
If you have to buy now, I would choose Euro. It’s better value. I don’t like the Euro front grille. Ugly I think. But, you can put the sport grille. Looks much better I think.
Thx Jerry.
I think new euro looks like the transformer. lol
I just had test drive of both euro and m6. I found they were basically the same, but euro seemed more powerful. I will ask Mazda’s saleman about what they would do to their car.
Bob, I would like to tell you what I think of the Accord, but no Honda dealer seems to want to help me. One dealer valued my car at a low trade in value, so I basically told them where to go. I have been to another dealer twice, first time they were busy, so I can sort of understand, but second time I went in with my 8 and a half month pregnant wife, sat in the cars and had a good look around and still got no help. I prefer the look and feel of the Accord, but I can’t get over the poor attitude of Honda’s sales staff.
where do you live SteveH? Are you in Melbourne? I guess it’s a matter of timing. This happened to me before.
I bet you want to have a test drive, don’t you. If you want a test drive, it’s good if you tell them straight away that you want to test drive. Give impression that you know what you want and you’re ready to make a deal straight away (even if you’re not prepared. There is always a way/excuse to cancel if you’re not ready).
Tell them “I want this Accord. I’m ready to make a deal today if the price is right”. You’ll get attention straight away. If you want to ask a lot of questions, get the salesman into the car while you test drive and ask him/her during the test drive.
Best of luck with your hunting and your coming baby.
Hi Jerry. I am in Melbourne. I can’t even get hold of a salesman to ask for a test drive at the moment as I must not fit some sort of pre-determined demographic that they have. Plus I am after a manual transmission, so they seem to be pretty thin on the ground. Seems like a really nice car to sit in at least.
SteveH I have the same experience with the Honda sales rep. in Melbourne. I rang for a test drive and make a time for Sat morning, on arrival got a call from the rep saying they are too busy better come back weekdays. Like Jerry said if they know you are just testing around they are not interested. Wait till the car sales drop then these sales rep will come running. It is like most arrogant sales rep too busy dont care.
SteveH & John, what dealer did you go? The trick “I want to test drive this model. I’ll make a deal today if I like the car & the price is right” always work for me.
May be I’ll pay a visit to that dealer. See how I go. I too want to test drive the new euro.
Honda Australia is now out of touch. Honda Australia believes that customer will come and beg. In Sydney, Honda Australia shuts down one of the oldest Honda dealer because this dealer does not fit to Honda’s image (big showroom and located on the main road). Good luck in the future Honda.
I would rather the Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6 thanks more desirable and better looking. Honda for some reason has a toyoda image problem, selling to the ageing masses wearing bowler hats, cardigan’s with no sense of where right or left is, Honda drivers are the worst in the world for it, I have stopped in the middle of Sydney Rd Melbourne for nearly a minute until this idiot made up his mind holding up a tram and about 50 cars, I guess that is where road rage starts….
Honda drivers licence come from weet bix box’s
Finally had a test drive of the Accord from New World Honda in Berwick. Very good car and better than the Mondeo XR5 and Mazda 6 in my opinion.
Didn’t need to claim I was going to buy the car there and then. Just said I was comparing it to a couple of others and wanted to get an idea of how the Accord Euro stacked up.
Don
You are “spot on” Honda has lost the plot, well as far as customer service goes at least.
I have owned several new Hondas since 1995 and have found that, warranty coverage is nowhere near as good as it used to be for one thing.
The fact I am a tall bloke exempted me from buying a Accord Euro in ‘05. So I found myself a second hand Lexus.
It is time to change again for me, but Honda Sales staff attitudes at some franchises leave an awful lot to be desired. (Adelaide) That coupled with Hondas warranty attitude to its buyers in recent years, leaves me cold frankly!
I think this new Euro looks & seems to have the goods this time (for me at least). I wonder if the leg room has improved from last Euro?
But Toyota and Mazda have some fine products to compare as well. This segment of the market has plenty of choice for consumers.
My worry is that the power increase doesnt match the size and Im assuming weight increase. The one American review I watched noted that it seemed more sluggish then the outgoing model. Also, pricing seems quite high… thats in the league of the big Aussie sixes where it cant compete for performance and features wise aint that much better.
gentlemen
I have driven 6, jetta tfsi, 2009 accord euro amongst others. Interior of honda is quality at base level compared to ALL. I agree with comments about honda sales staff being unhelpful, seemingly believing their car sells itself compared to others (adelaide). With that said, nice drive, more controlled but yes, seemingly less squirt than the old. I have never felt 148kw doing less, for a 4cyl, the jetta hammers, for the honda it revs, and revs but it does not launch. The 6 is again a nice drive but to claim ’sports’ pretensions is marketing brief conquering actual delivery.
Well I drove Euro and Mazda 6 both horrible cramped, very noisy little buzz-boxes…I’ll stick with my Maxima which costs no more that either of these “applauded and lauded” vehicles.
Hi
i was just on this website randomly and realised that there is no honda accord diesel in australia i live in england and own a accord diesel its very smooth and powerful will it go to australia? In England accords are also much more expensive mine was £25,000 and its not even top spec i think thats around $50,000 is that alot? the diesel is well worth waiting for. i would have prefered a BMW but they are even more expensive for the 320d its about $70,000.
I saw the car in the flesh today and it looks even better. But I am confused, this car seems bigger than the new Accord 6. So why make two cars (accord-soft/ accord euro-hard) when the Euro is not that sporty anymore. And still don’t know why they persist with the Accord name for both cars. Regarding the wagon, big mistake not to sell it here. Odyssey argument doesn’t stack up, unless euro wagon is a seven seater. I think the Mazda 6 has always been more feminine in the style department, whilst the Euro is opposite.
Despite the parity of Aussie Dollar to US Dollar in recent times, the Euros prices dropped by a mere 1K. The equivalent Luxury version with Navi is around USD34K in US (from memory), versus AUD44K downunder.
Aussie car buyers are fleeced – BIG TIME.
Does anyone know when the diesel Auto will hit the market in Australia?
I drove the 2008 Accord Euro Auto on the weekend and was underwhelmed by the noisy high reving low torque petrol motor.
looks great when you see one out on the road, even in boring silver. the guards and overall profile is perfect. the old one was bland bland bland.
interier on this one is a bit messy though, would have prefered something more elegant
engines… well 4 cylinder’s are ordinary, but atleast its not unreliable like the aweful Mexico built Jetta
I have just bought the latest Accord Euro. Now 2400 km. And I want to trade it !!!!!!
Had a 2003 model (purchased Jan 2004) as ex-demo car. Really onlu one problem that I put up with for 4 1/2 years. Otherwise the Honda experience was good. Problem – a completely inaccurate speedo reading. Had the RAA (Adelaide South Australia) check it out. The variation was around 6% under correct reading. Honda Australia refused to do anything – the dealers said their hands were tied as HA did not give them the capabilities to make adjustments.
When the new model was to be released I waited for the deal to happen. What I have found is the new instrumentation is out by 8%. UNACCEPTABLE. Again, nobody wants to try to do anything
For heavens sake, Honda run an F1 team – you cannot tell me they wioll accept an 8% error in instrumentation readings !!!!
Holden Commodores are tested by RAA before delivery to SA Police – if speedo error more than 2% the car is rejected !! So if it is good enough and possible for a little Australian carmaker to get it right, it should be mandatory for a global carmaker like Honda to do it just as well – and even better !!!
I expect better for the amount of money outlayed.
Anybody else had a similar experience??
From my records, I have had the following customer service experience at these Mazda & Honda sites:
Good (Staff were attentive, respectful, informative, not pushy)
- Honda Heidelburg (Victoria) 2002-2006
- Honda Austral (Qld) 2006-2008
Bad (Staff unattentive, arrogant, lack of helpful product info, rush you to make decisions)
- Honda Brighton (Victoria) 2002
- Mazda Austral (Qld) 2008
Hope this info is useful for others… as for me, I tend to only stick to GOOD customer service providers, as evident from my loyalty of a number of years staying with them.
But on a realist point of view, the customer service can be controlled/managed by head office through policy and training, etc. But Dealers can also employ GOOD staff and avoid terrible sales people. Heck i even had good experience with a trainee at Honda Austral; informative, enthusiastic and attentive.
(FYI, I’m thinkiing of getting the prev Honda Accord Euro, most likely 2005-2008 model, rather than new 2009 model, mainly coz global economy is bad shape and also I still like the sharper looking older model, which is cheaper to buy!)