-The Accord, nobody gets excited about them, but nobody get scorn for driving one either.
Can we find some passion in this story?
Let's get in the 2011 Accord V6 EX Sedan with navigation and check the tech.
Now, I've always like the cabin of the Accord.
I've always thought it's one of the most grown up looking interiors of cars in this class.
I think the materials are pretty good, though.
Some knock it for being behind the time.
I don't really see that.
You do have a lot of buttons on this vehicle as part of a Honda Acura world.
Starting on the steering wheel, you got your audio controls, your cruise controls.
But then 2 sets of voice controls, one for voice commands, one that is separate for voice commands for the Bluetooth system and hanging up, and taking a [unk], it gets a little busy.
And that doesn't get any better over here, a big old pot belly full of buttons
and this control knob which leads to, on this car, a navigation system that is disappointing.
That's the old school Honda interface, and by interface, I mean, the way it's laid up but more importantly, the way it's rendered which ain't a thing of beauty.
That is one ugly map as of 2010.
Five years ago, pretty cool.
Five years later, not cool.
Honda Acura has a got better system but it's not trickled down to our Accord.
Yet, not even to this high trimmed EX-L.
Now the screen is not touch, which is good unless you got the arms of an ape.
'cause it's about 9 yards away from you.
But that's fine 'cause this controller is pretty clear and straightforward.
Once you're in the system, it remains one of the more clear and simple to use in terms of the knob and the graphics on the screen or it's got pretty darn good voice command system.
Let's get in there and try that.
Address, street.
-Which street?
-Fillmore.
To--
-What street number?
-1000.
-Please select the number.
-1.
-Would you like--
-Okay.
Cancel route.
-Cancelled.
-Now, that's about as clean and straightforward as voice commanding gets in cars these days.
Not real fancy, but notice how I can read off commands that are on the display that is meant for graphical navigation with the knob.
Not every car is that clever where you can just call out what you see on the screen and the system will understand it or you can go there with the knob.
It's a nice uniform integration.
Let's go to our audio system.
AM/FM.
XM Radio on this EX-L.
Our CD is a 6-disk changer down here.
No hard drive available on this guy.
Auxiliary bring us to a USB jack down here, which I've got an iPod Touch hooked up to and it recognizes and works just fine, and of course, you got an auxiliary jack right next to it and power right next to that.
This is a nice little center to take your portables and dump them in there.
Now, because we have an L, we've got better sound on this guy.
7 speakers, 6 drivers around the cabin, and a sub.
270 watts of power versus, I think, it's like a 140 on the base rig which is pretty scrawny.
Because we have Nav, we also have a rearview camera activated by the one choice only 5-speed automatic.
A pretty basic camera though the visual quality is good.
It's got curve lines and it's got some distance markers.
That's it.
It doesn't track you with trajectory or anything like that.
And it's not available ala carte.
Also, because we have an L dual-zone automatic temperature control, you've got a single on the lower trim Accords.
Let's go for a drive.
Accord V6s are all 3.5-liter units with a single overhead cam; 271 horsepower; and 254 foot pounds of torque, 0 to 60 in 7 seconds, quite respectable; and 20-30 MPG.
One choice on the gearbox, 5-speed automatic, a little antiquated and no paddles thankfully.
Kind of a long list of cool tech not available on this car like realtime traffic, lane departure warning, blind-spot detection, adaptive cruise control.
Honda keeps this platform pretty simple on the Sedan and even navigation is at trim level not package or an option.
On the road, the Accord is just well-put together.
It handles like a lighter car but not a flimsy one.
Smooth is generally the note unless you ask the engine for everything it's got and then you realize when Audi cost so much more.
Though, you'll win that one down the road at the service writer's desk.
The Accord is just a nice car for real world everyday driving and that's how it got to the rarified ranks of one of the few top-selling cars in the world.
Okay.
Let's place this 2011 Accord EX V6.
You're gonna pay 278.
Then, if you want the L trim level another 2350 on top of that.
That's gonna bring you all kinds of leather, improved audio systems substantially so, Bluetooth handsfree link, and also you're gonna get dual-zone climate control.
Kind of a no-brainer.
The one I'm not so convinced on is that Nav option.
Yeah, it does roll in a rearview camera that I value, but that Nav screen is so damn ugly.
I think I'm gonna save 2 grand and just use my phone.
