The restyled 2008 Honda Accord EX-L looks good and offers a very comfortable drive. It works well as a commuter and family car, and its low emissions make it an environmentally conscious choice, but don't expect the most cutting edge cabin tech.
The V-6 engine in the Accord is a remarkable piece of engineering. Not only does it produce 268 horsepower, it gets the best emissions rating, PZEV, we've even seen on a 3.5-liter engine. It produces decent mileage, too, getting an EPA rated 19mpg city and 29mpg highway.
With its dual tail pipes, you would think this car has some performance credibility, but its handling and transmission keep it from being a thrill ride.
Honda made big changes in the interface for the 2008 Accord's cabin gadgets. The stack is now loaded with buttons and the LCD, no longer a touch-screen, gets set deep into the dash to prevent glare.
We were amused by the quick start guide in the Honda's glove box, which covered the navigation system, voice command, the stereo, and Bluetooth hands-free cell phone integration.
The premium stereo in the Accord EX-L is barely above average. It uses two tweeters, four mids, and a subwoofer, a fairly typical configuration for today's cars.
