Honda Accord 2004 The Weekly Driver Review

The trunk was open when one friend walked by and the hood was
popped open when two other friends meandered by.

“If I took off my front wheel, OK maybe both wheels, I could get my bike
in the trunk, no problem,” one friend said. “That’s a spacious trunk for a
mid-sized car.”

My two other friends were more impressed with the powerful and
efficiently designed engine.

“Look where everything is; it’s easy access, for sure,” he said. “Even if
you know nothing about cars, you can find everything. It would be hard
to put the oil where the transmission fluid goes. And it’s like what we
used to call a ‘Muscle Car’ engine when we were growing up.”

And so it goes with the 2004 Honda Accord, particularly the 240 horse
power V6 sedan EX model test driven for this review.

From small, yet important features like trunk space and engine
dynamics, to passenger comfort, functionality of instrument controls and
interior and exterior styling, there’s not much not to like on the 2004
Accord.

In short, in its ongoing competition with the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry
and Volkswagen Passat, the tested Accord is a high-performance
vehicle thinly disguised a mid-sized sedan.

Two test drives during my week with the vehicle were extended
journeys, including a 200-mile round-trip day’s trek of primarily freeway
miles.

With its 240 HP engine, entering freeway on-ramps, changing lanes and
accelerating when necessary in heavy traffic, is surprisingly quick.

According to Consumer Guide, the Accord V6 two-door coupe with
automatic transmission was tested at 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds. The four-
door sedan, in this instance appointed with a Redondo Red Pearl
exterior and gray interior, seemingly was in the same speedy category.

The vehicle’s comfort and its standard equipment are equally
impressive. One example, the XM satellite radio system, hadn’t been
discovered on my 200-mile journey or a subject round-trip trek into the
Sierra Nevada foothills. That was unfortunate.

Even in its preview mode, the satellite feature is a complement to the
also standard AM/FM stereo (six speakers) and six-CD changer.
Channel offerings in the satellite preview selection included a movie
soundtrack station, an option not found via usual audio choices.

In recent years, Honda has meticulously honed its models’ interior and
exterior design and features. Individually heated front seats, steering
wheel audio controls, a driver’s side eight-way power seat with
adjustable lumbar control with easily accessible power levers, cruise
control, a power moonroof with slide shade and leather-trimmed seats
are all included.

An efficiently designed and well-placed radio, interior and exterior light
and windshield wiper controls are other pluses as is the front-seat leg
room and spaciousness. The rear seats aren’t quite as roomy and the
total rear area is better suited for two adults than three.

A wonderfully designed engine, plenty of cargo area, a quiet ride, ease
of use and versatility, and a more than adequate cargo carrying care
with a sports car’s performance: What can be more appealing?

In short, the 2004 Honda Accord is a superior family car with plenty of
wondrous accouterments to use just in case a sports car opportunity
arises.

2004 Honda Accord

Safety features — Driver and front passenger front and side airbags.
Three-point front seatbelts. Side curtain airbags. Three-point front and
rear seat belts.

Fuel Mileage — 21 mpg (city), 30 mpg (highway).

Warranty — 3 years/36,000 miles (bumper to bumper); 5 years/unlimited
miles (corrosion); no scheduled tune-ups for 105,000 miles

Base price range — $15,900 - $28,400.

James Raia is a syndicated journalist in Sacramento, Calif., who writes
about sports, fitness and business topics as well as the free electronic
newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times and The
Weekly Driver, a car review column.

Samples of Raia’s writing can be viewed on his web site: ByJamesRaia.com.

His car reviews and newsletters can be viewed at The
Weekly Driver and
Endurance Sports News and Tour
de France Times

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