All-New Honda Accord Launched – Affordable Luxury
Setia Alam, 4 September 2013 – The all-new 9th Generation Honda Accord was launched today at the Setia Alam Convention Centre by Honda Malaysia, and the surprise of the day is the price, which appears to me more of a coup of sorts that will rocket the Accord to the top of the charts.
Three variants based on two engines are available; the base model 2.0 VTi starts off at RM139,800, followed by the 2.0 VTi-L, a higher specked model at RM149,800, while the top-of-the-range 2.4VTi-L is sold for RM172,800. These are prices on the road with insurance, and put the new Honda Accord on a very solid footing indeed against its competitors. The 2.0 VTi model, on account of it being a Honda appears to be aimed primarily at its Korean competitors, although it is expected that other brands will also be affected.
Honda Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Yoichiro Ueno said, “In Malaysia, the Accord has its share of loyal fans across the generations. As of 31 August 2013, there have been more than 51,000 units of Honda Accords sold in Malaysia. The All-New Honda Accord that will be revealed to you today will set a new benchmark as a segment-leading product. The 9th Generation Accord has been built and designed with our customer in mind, aiming to create a balance of luxury and performance – from innovative safety to advanced technologies to ultimate comfort and luxury.
Whilst the 2.0 litre variants feature the engine carried over from the current Accord, it has been re-vamped for better fuel efficiency. The 2.4 litre variant carries the Honda Earth Dreams Technology which promotes fuel efficiency while providing a high level of driving performance. All three variants carry a 5-speed automatic transmission. Similarly, all three models now feature an ‘ECON’ Mode which when activated combines and performs a series of ECO Assist functions.
Smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the new Accord certainly does look better, especially in the side and rear profiles, making it a welcome and refreshing change. Although the wheelbase is 25mm shorter, and the overall length has been shortened by 75mm, while the overall height is 10mm lower, the Honda engineers have actually managed to increase rear leg room and overall cabin space whilst retaining the original boot space. Looking at the car, you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in size, purely because it is still a large car.
New features include a very quiet cabin thanks to best-in-class insulation and a innovative Active Noise Control system similar to what we know as ‘noise cancelling’, using the audio system. Vibration and Harshness is improved by the use of liquid-filled suspension bushes and a re-vamped front suspension system that uses McPherson Struts in place of the wishbone set-up in the current model. The McPherson struts also contribute substantially to weight saving in the new Accord.
Also new is a very precise and well set-up electric power Steering (EPS) – during a pre-launch drive in Thailand last week, I found the new Accord steering great to use, and if I had not checked under the bonnet, I would never have thought that it was anything else other than a regular hydraulic steering system.
The new suspension set-up seems to work very well, and if you are a good driver, you can really ‘flow’ the new Accord through any of the bends you can find on our Malaysian roads. A comfortable ride and good cornering characteristics always appear to be at both ends of the spectrum, but in the case of the Honda Accord, it seems that the designers have managed to find the happiest combination. In short, the new Honda Accord rides well, and handles well as well.
