Merc1

Remember those fifth-generation Honda Accords? They came out in 1994 and what fantastic cars they were: the first ones with VTEC, and later V-6s. So good we picked them as our 1994 Import Car of the Year.

I have fond college memories of that generation coupe for three reasons: the "hot-cam" VTEC engagement, spacious rear seat (don't ask), and swoopy (for the time) styling. Sure, sixth-generation coupes had taillights reminiscent of the NSX, but the fifth-gens always stood out because their curvy hips were accented by pie-wedge taillights. Don't believe me? Fire up Google Images and check 'em out for yourself -- before and after Gen 5 -- Honda stuck the Accord with characterless horizontal taillamps. Yeah, I know, I'm obsessing, but when a vehicle lineup is as solid as the Accord's, you tend to focus on the little things.

Which is why it brings me great pleasure to report that, after a 14-year absence, non-horizontal, non-boring taillights have returned to the Accord sedan and coupe.

But wait, there's more: In addition to injecting a dose of style to the Accord's butt, Honda has significantly butched up the rest of the car. Some say it has the lines and headlights of a Hyundai Sonata, but I disagree. Call me crazy, but if the new Accord Coupe resembles anything, it would be its own stablemate, the Honda Ridgeline truck. Just look at the nose: Sure it's been laid back a bit and smoothed out with those backswept headlights, but squint your eyes and you can see the Ridgeline face in that six sided grille. No?

Okay, so maybe I am crazy, but believe me when I tell you the new Accord drives like dream -- at least the 268-horsepower Accord Coupe EX-L I just drove did.

Pull out into traffic and punch it and the coupe just goes. In addition to 200 more horsepower than the first-generation, 1976 Accord CVCC, the 3.5-liter V-6 in the eighth-gen coupe makes 248-pound feet of torque. And yet, at WOT, there's no wheelspin or torque steer -- unless you do something lame like floor it around a corner -- and even that is easy to counteract. The Civic's dreaded "rev-hang" is nowhere to be found either; release the E-throttle and the engine winds down immediately, and quietly.

The variable ratio steering is tight and well-balanced, in fact the whole car feels a level up on the competition in terms of responsiveness. There's little body roll or other delay when you decide to change direction. The closest dynamic comparison would be to recent BMWs -- though the Accord coupe requires lighter steering and shifting inputs and consequently reacts less sharply.

The six-speed manual is in the finest tradition of Honda manuals: fast, precise, with great feel. I'd rate it a hair below the Civic's for precision, but it has a weightier action I like better. It doesn't beat the king of Honda's lineup; the direct-linkage six-speed in the S2000 is still best in brand and one of the best in the industry, but the coupe can lay claim to one of the best 'boxes in the segment.

Can't say enough about the interior either. Honda has always done tight panels and high quality surfaces, but with the new Accord they've really outdone themselves. Other manufacturers must be ashamed f when they look at the seamless, matte finish, silver gray plastics. New Camry owners might be the most offended. Their cool colored, semi-opaque plastic rimmed audio/HVAC/nav panels look like first-gen Apple iMacs -- which is to say, not bad, just old. The new Accord dash displays are MacBook Pro all the way. Don't even get me started on the leather.

Honda identifies the sedan's chief competitors as the Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima. Naturally, the coupe versions of both of these are Accord Coupe rivals as well. While the Accord Coupe EX-L handily beats the old, big-booty, long-overhang Camry Solara, tougher is the competition presented by the Nissan's Altima coupe -- that thing is a dead ringer for Infiniti's scorching G37 coupe. Though they share the same profile and similar rear-end styling cues, based on the strength of the Nissan's face, the Altima coupe narrowly edges out the Accord coupe for looks. The drive is a different story -- and one someone else is going to have to write since I have yet to spend time in the Altima.

I can say, from my time in the Accord Coupe, that Honda has just put all other front-drive sedan and coupe manufacturers on notice. The 2008 Accord Coupe EX-L -- cute butt and all -- has just brought sexy back.

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M

monster

Decent interior design but the front is ugly and the rear reminds me of the TT. How popular are these type of cars in the US?

Merc1

The coupe is a big seller and the sedan is like the 2nd best selling sedan on the market, so very popular.

M

monster

Ok I am surprised. I thought people who want a sports car will buy something smaller and more sporty, something like a Nissan 350Z or an RX-8, or any Euro sports sedan, well that is what we do down under.

bmer

Very nice interior! Way to go, Honda! The front is nice too except for the unimaginary and dull lower part. Rear is OK as well.

NarutoRamen

Honestly guys, I saw one of these at my local dealer (had to take my sis's car in for service). I have to say, they look much better in real life then they do in pics. I'm not saying they super hot, it's just that like many new cars for some damn reason, these new hondas look better in real life than they do in pics.

Osnabrueck

Aside from the somewhat disappointing front fascia, I have to give a hearty thumbs-up to the new Accord Coupe. The interior walks all over its peers, and has a level of detail that leaves little to be desired. They've managed to wring most of the bland out of the car, which is some real icing on the cake given the Accords pedigree.

As an owner of a '04 Accord Coupe I can't say that I'm eager to see these on the road. I've finally reached the point of bonding with my recently-purchased Honda (good times) - no doubt, I'll be jealous when I see an '08 V6 EX rolling by. It's always a bummer when your "current model" status is revoked.

On the other hand, I could never justify the cost of a new Accord. If I overlook ascetics, the '08 doesn't offer any massive breakthroughs that would trump the motoring experience in my '04 V6 EX. The only biggie is the available Bluetooth hands-free calling, since it will soon be illegal to talk with a handset in California.

Nitpick - I'm not enthusiastic about how the touch-screen has been changed over to an iDrive-type solution. Maybe it works well in practice, but I can't imagine that it's an improvement upon Honda's brilliant touchscreen Nav.

Yannis

I don't like it.

I have seen before each and every part of the car in a previous Honda or in a competitive model.

A photo of this car should had been next to the word "bland" in lexicons.