Honda - Accord Euro NCAP - Not Yet received a rating
Honda has few peers when it comes to making engines and with one of the best diesel engines you can buy, the Accord, which has ruled its class for many years, still remains a front-runner. Offered in both Estate and Saloon versions the Accord offers a superb ride with excellent economy, yet remains fun to drive.
The Honda Accord is available with 2-litre petrol, 2.2-litre diesel and 2.4-litre petrol engines, in 4 trim levels: SE, Sport, Executive and Type-S. One of the best diesels on the market .
If fuel economy is your biggest concern, take a look at the 2.2 CDTi diesel it behaves like a petrol but still delivers impressive fuel economy figures (52.3mpg combined and 61.4 extra urban) and a C rating on the VED Banding scale. Arguably one of the greenest cars of its class.
Dual front, side and curtain airbags, remote central locking, cruise control, dual-zone climate control and electric windows come as standard on all models. Sport models get front fog lamps and 16 inch alloy wheels, while the Executive version comes with High Intensity Discharge headlights, leather trim, six CD auto changer,
DVD, satellite navigation and electric seat adjustment. S specification is similar to that of Sport, but available only for the 2.4-litre engine.
Euro NCAP gave the Accord a four-star rating. Every model has ABS, electronic brake force distribution, six airbags, deadlocks and an alarm. Executive and Type-S models gain stability control. Lane Keep Assist system, to prevent the car from drifting out of its lane, and adaptive cruise control are optional.
With a fantastic reputation for reliability, you are almost guaranteed worry free motoring. In fact in the latest JD Power customer satisfaction survey the Accord came top of its class. However just in case something unexpected should happen, every new Honda car is protected by a comprehensive warranty. In addition to the 3 year or 90,000 mile (whichever comes first)
Mechanical Warranty, a 3 year Paint Surface Warranty protects the external paintwork and a structural corrosion warranty covers any corrosion perforating the body from the inside out.
About the manufacturer
Honda - the green thinking persons manufacturer - is committed to environmental technology and is at the forefront of changing advances in fuel, low emissions and alternative energy sources for the future.
Not only are they looking to cut environmentally damaging emissions but in association with The Carbon Neutral Company Honda are promoting projects that absorb, neutralise and offset the carbon dioxide emissions produced by cars. Greener driving gifts offered by participating dealers to new owners, the planting of forests in the UK, and swapping Kerosene burners for solar panels in Sri Lanka are just a few of the initiatives.
Honda were the first manufacturer to launch a hybrid car, and lead development of fuel-cell cars. Their Swindon factory has cut the amount of landfill waste from 60kg per car to just 7kg since 1996 and is on target to reduce this to Zero by 2010.
All major Honda plants worldwide already meet the toughest international environmental management standards (ISO 14001), covering a host of environmental areas, such as waste disposal, water treatment and energy use.
Honda is committed to recycling materials and conserving resources and energy at every stage of its products, from research, design, production, sales, services and disposal, to minimizing and finding appropriate methods to dispose of waste and contaminants. For example reuse of leftover raw steel from stamping for engine and brake components, the use of returnable shipping containers, the development of emission reducing door and truck-sealer materials and on site solar panels. Honda has annually received up to $1.2 million in revenue from recycling paper, cardboard and plastic alone from its facilities.
Having recently won the What Car? Reliability Supertest 2006 Honda has also won the Fleet News survey in its FN50 report - for the second year in succession - for most reliable manufacturer, thus reducing the volume of old oil and other used parts in circulation.
Honda has introduced a new generation of petrol engines around the world that provide extremely low emission levels and increased fuel efficiency while still improving driving performance. To improve energy efficiency even further they have developed gas-electric hybrid vehicles that achieve ultra-high fuel economy. This includes the Civic Hybrid, the first mass-market car with hybrid power.
Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles have huge "green" potential for the future and it was Honda that developed one of the first fuel cell electric vehicles in the world.
Honda has also produced another fuel-cell first: the ground breaking FCX fuel cell electric vehicle. Likely to be in production in the next few years, this is the first car of its kind to obtain approval for commercialisation in the US.. Propelled by electricity, that is generated by a hydrogen-oxygen chemical reaction, the FCX fuel cell vehicle releases absolutely no damaging emissions. The only by product is harmless water vapour; the exhaust virtually vanishes into thin air.