First Drive: 2013 Honda Accord Sedan

The Honda Accord has been around since 1976. On September 19, 2012, Honda released the ninth-generation Accord Sedan, with the Accord Coupe being released on October 15, 2012. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, Honda had only one model available for test drive, the Accord Sedan. To keep the line going, there were five Accords available for test drive. On day 5 of the Houston Auto Show, I took one out for a test drive. The Accord I drove came with a 2.4L I4 engine paired with a CVT automatic transmission. The Accord can come with a 3.5L V6 engine that can be paired with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual transmission can also be paired with the 2.4L I4 engine. The Accord is a front engine, front-wheel drive mid-size car.

As far as exterior styling goes, there is nothing special about the Honda Accord. It is slightly more refined than the previous generation Accord. There is nothing special regarding the interior styling of the Accord. I have seen much worst interiors in other cars, but I have also seen much better interiors in other cars than in the Accord. The Accord does come standard with an 8" LCD screen, a single angle backup camera, dual zone automatic control. The optional navigation system includes a 6" touchscreen. Also available is a tri-angle backup camera and wide angle passenger blind spot camera. Safety features include an optional forward collision warning system, lane departure warning system, and blind spot monitor. The safety features do work and are noticeable on the test drive. I had a good amount out head room and leg room behind the wheel. The seat was comfortable.

The Honda Accord I drove came with the 2.4L I4 engine, paired with a CVT automatic transmission, that produces 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and reaches a top speed of 120 mph. The Accord has a smooth ride, but it did not feel as a fast as some other cars I have driven. It was quiet inside the Accord during the test drive. Prices for the Accord start at $22,470. That is a reasonable price for a mid-size sedan.


The Honda Accord is not a bad car. It has a comfortable, smooth ride. The engine provides good power for being a 2.4L I4 engine. But I have only one word to describe the Honda Accord, boring. I was bored behind the wheel of the Honda Accord. The Accord did not feel as fast as the 0 to 60 mph time suggests. Cars that go from 0 to 60 mph in under 8.0 seconds have good acceleration. The interior has good features, but the layout and styling is nothing special. The exterior styling is bland. The Toyota Camry and the Nissan Altima were available for test drives as well. Both are mid-size sedans with standard I4 engine, but the versions of these two cars that were available for test driving came with the V6 engine. Why Honda decided not to have the V6 Accord available for test driving just does not make sense. If you are a car company and the only one model available for test drives, you should have it be the top of the line version. You want to get people excited and want them to enjoy their time behind the wheel of your car, bring out the most powerful version of that car. Honda only had the Accord available for test drives because all of the Honda's technology is available in the Accord. Still, it would have been nice to have the Civic, Insight, CR-V, CR-Z, and Fit available for test drives in addition to the Accord. If you want a reliable car that can get you from point A to point B, then give the Accord a test drive. If you want an everyday car that is fun to drive, then pass on the Accord. This was a boring car to drive.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a digital camera.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713

First Drive: 2013 Honda Fit

In 2001, Honda released a five-door subcompact hatchback. In the European, Oceanic, Middle East, Austrailian, and most of the Asian markets, the hatchback is known as the Honda Jazz. For the Chinese, Japanese, and the American markets, the hatchback is known as the Honda Fit. The Honda Fit comes with a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout. The first generation Honda Fit was in production from 2011 to 2008. At the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda debuted the second generation Honda Fit. The second generation Fit is longer and wider than the previous generation Fit. The American version of the Fit is slightly longer due to the longer front fascia. Production of the second generation started in 2007 and is currently still in production. The Honda Fit is a very common site on the Houston Roads and Highways. During one Saturday in March 2013, I made a visit to the local Honda dealership and took one out for a test drive. I drove the Honda Fit with the sport trim level. I drove one with a five-speed automatic transmission with manual paddle shifters, a $850 option. The Fit comes with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. The Japanese can get a Honda Fit with a CVT automatic transmission.

On the exterior, it is just a standard hatchback design. There is nothing special about its design. As part of the sport trim package, the Honda Fit comes with a rear spoiler, a body kit, and chrome exhaust tips.1. The interior is nothing special. It comes with cruise control, power windows, power locks, a perforated leather-wrapped steering wheel. The interior for the Honda Fit with the sport trim comes only in black with cloth seats. The base trim level comes with a grey interior. But there is one feature that saves the Honda Fit from having a bland interior. The rear seats not only fold down, but the seat bottoms fold up, allowing for better access and more storage space for items behind the front passenger and driver seats. Behind the wheel, I had good headroom and legroom. The driver seat was comfortable to be in. But the interior is just so bland and boring.

The Honda Fit is powered by a 1.5L I4 engine that produces 117 hp and 106 lb-ft of torque. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 9.9 seconds and reaches a top speed of 113 mph. The Honda Fit is a slow car. Also, the performance of the engine is underwhelming. For a car with a sport trim level, it did not feel sporty. But without the power and performance, the Honda Fit was smooth and and quiet. But there is not much excitement behind the wheel of the Honda Fit. Prices for the Honda Fit start at $16,215, including a $790 destination fee. The automatic Honda Fit Sport starts at $18,800, including a $790 destination fee. That is reasonable for what you get with the Honda Fit.

Overall, the Honda Fit is a boring, yet practical car. It lacks in the power and performance departments. It has a few redeeming qualities. The bottom of the rear seats fold up to allow for more storage space behind the driver and front passenger seats. The Fit has a smooth ride. It is comfortable behind the wheel. The one issue I really have is that the Fit does not give a fun driving experience. The problem with the Honda Fit is that there is not a lot of options with the Honda Fit. There are two trim levels, basic and sport. Honda has a few engine options with the Civic. For those who want a high performance version of the Civic, there is the Honda Civic Si. What Honda should have done is make a high performance of the Honda Fit. This could give consumers a chance to buy a Honda Fit with some performance, maybe a Honda Fit Si. The exterior is nothing special. Other than the rear seats that fold up, there is nothing special about the interior. But there is a market for the Honda Fit. If you want excitement, look elsewhere. But if you want a small, practical hatchback for under$20,000 and do not care for excitement, then give the Honda Fit a test drive.

CarJunkie
Photo was taken by a camera phone.

To see more car related articles, check out http://carjunkie713.blogspot.com/.

Like me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CarJunkies-Car-Review/120292601386720.

Follow me on Twitter @CarJunkie713.