The 2011 Accord does its best not to stand out. You won't hear much noise from its engine, and it will blend in with other midsize sedans in the parking lot. But it will also get you comfortably from point to point.
A sensible car, the Accord comes in a variety of trim levels, from a stripped-down four-cylinder to our near-luxury model, the EX-L with navigation and V-6 engine. But even at this cream of the crop level, the price just tops 30 grand.
The Accord's styling is nondescript, fitting the profile of a midsize sedan well. It is a practical design, but it might be difficult to locate in a parking lot. Some of Honda's angular styling language comes through in the grille.
The Accord is the smallest car in the lineup that gets Honda's 3.5-liter V-6, which also sees use in the Ridgeline pickup, the Pilot SUV, and the Odyssey minivan. It's a solid engine, but not terrible advanced, and puts out 270 horsepower.
The ride quality in the Accord is good. Its suspension damps out bumps well, generally running smoothly. But it doesn't feel quite up to the engine's 270 horsepower, not handling the available acceleration well.
At the EX-L level, this car gets leather seats and faux wood trim. Honda has always made good interiors, but other companies have stepped up their game.
The Accord suffers from an overabundance of buttons, as Honda does not integrate its cabin electronics well. For example, there are two sets of buttons for the two voice command systems on the steering wheel.
The points of interest database includes the very nice Zagat ratings for restaurants. These make it easier to find a good restaurant among the many listings in the points of interest database.
The Accord's phone system can download a paired phone's contact list, making it available on the screen, but you can't dial by name with voice command.