2008 Honda Accord Car Review

It's been 31 years since the Honda Accord came to the United States. After seven models of the Accord, the 2008 version shows modest improvements across the board, but nothing that will stop your walk or crunch your budget.

The V6 models are set apart from the 4-cylinder versions with chrome finishes on the door and grille. Dual exhausts grace the rear view of the V6 Accord. The New Accord is longer and wider by a few inches (2.3 in the wheelbase and 3 inches longer to be exact), but isn't noticeable from first glance. The extra size makes its presence felt when you enter the car.

The seats are wider in the front and very comfortable. They are soft, but have a firm, supportive quality which helps on those longer journeys. The back seat is roomier, by a couple inches, from even the 2007 Accord. Now, instead of cramming yourself in the back, you actually have the space to sit comfortably. An upgrade to leather will run you around $2,000 across the board, but does not offer any extra width or padding. The 2008 Accord has an extra inch in headroom as well. A six-foot plus person has plenty of space, where older Accords posed a serious problem for tall occupants.

The real difference in the Honda Accord models comes in the engines. V6 in the 2008 Accord will run around $2,100, so many will consider 4-cylinder models. The 4-cylinder LX is 177 horsepower and lacking some performance power. It gets 31 MPG on the highway, so there's a power vs. economy trade-off. The shifting is more labored in the LX model, which you can feel whether you are in the city or accelerating on the highway. The EX model, which has an extra 13 HP, is a nice upgrade if you don't want to spring for a V6. It has significantly more power, especially about 50 MPH. The only downfall of the EX model is the acceleration is a little harder and louder than a driver would expect. The 4-cylinder models don't have the best turning radius in the world, but still fall within the scope of normal.