Honda Accord Drive Sedan since 2011 sedan

Products of "heating"

There are no more common Honda Accord Special Edition and Renault Megane Extreme in these cars than in bottles with Armane and Pinocchio drink. But there is something that unites them: both are created in accordance with the theory of heating (the term, I admit, mine). And this theory says: for a year or two before a change of generations, when the demand for the model falls, the interest of customers should be heated. The most reliable and proven way to do this to launch a special or limited version to the market. Differing from the usual, as a rule, with a complete set, which includes popular options at a profitable consumer price. What do we have in the Accord Special Edition and Megane Extreme?


A special approach
In my opinion, it is the current generation of Honda Accord that is the most successful. This is confirmed by the results of sales, and with a stable interest in the car and from the consumers, and from the hijackers, by the way. Such success is due to a set of factors, including the design of the model. You can talk about him for a long time, but everyone, I think, will decide for himself in the form more: elegance or sports. It seems to me that both of them and the other. Although the Type S version performed by Special Edition is still more sports. Dynamism emphasizes the aerodynamic body kit, an expressive combination of blackness and shine in the design of the front line, moldings, door pens, as well as original 17-inch graphite discs. And a new color available only in this configuration? He simply fascinates, this White Premium Pearl (pearl-white).
 

But inside Accord there is more comfort than aggression. And this is for the better that you understand well in traffic jams, when obsessive sports can only irritate something cannot be bred. The driver's seat was pleased with the shape and width of the back, as well as the ability to change the degree of lumbar backup. Thanks to the complete set of mechanical adjustments, it is not difficult to adjust it for convenient location at the wheel. A small in diameter of the steering wheel is adjustable both in height and in departure. The central armrest is convenient, under which there is a niche. Well, the central tunnel between the driver and the passenger with two cup holders and the automatic transmission lever clearly testifies: the comfort of the machine was clearly not in the last place when developing the interior.
 
On the other hand, the Special Edition version flaunts the carbon decoration. And such a combination of classic and sports motives is always win -win. On the dashboard is dominated by a speedometer, to the left of which there is a slightly smaller tachometer, marked up to 8500 rpm. A small screen gives the necessary information about the average fuel consumption, the number of km to the next refueling, etc. And small indicators of the temperature of the power unit and the supply of fuel, despite the size, are perfectly visible.
 
It is worth paying attention to the central console, which practically copies the exterior style in its shape: a music center in the form of a shield, round switches like circles in the rear lights. It looks good, and, most importantly, the audio system and sounds not bad, because the standard SPECIAL Edition package includes a premium music center with eight speakers and a built-in 6-disk CD changer. All controls are located in the direct reach and are equipped with understandable iconograms. Before moving on to the running qualities, I note that in the rear seats Accord is quite spacious, although in this regard the model is still inferior to some competitors.


Skorokhod
What are Honda cars in the first place? For technological engines. Under the hood of Accord, a 4-cylinder 2.4-liter gasoline power unit is installed, which develops 190 hp. And cheerfully spins up to 7000 rpm. Of course, it would be better if the test car was equipped with a mechanical gearbox, but the machine, as it turned out, does not mix the potential of the engine.
 
A sharp press on the accelerator instantly leads to a slip of the front drive wheels, which is not immediately strangled by an electronic stabilization system, which includes, among other things, an anti -circus system. The car breaks down, as if only waiting for it, and demonstrates the opportunity to accelerate to the maximum limit. At first, I was afraid that such a high -speed engine would not be elastic, and in order to achieve maximum return from it, it would be necessary to constantly retain high speeds. This turned out to be true only in part. Indeed, in order to feel everything that the motor is capable of, it is better that the tachometer arrow does not fall below 4000 rpm. At high speeds, not only the pleasant corporate sound of the engine is heard, but also the maximum of its capabilities is achieved. On the other hand, thanks to the gas distribution phase change system, which was once developed by Honda, and on the bottom of the power unit is quite responsive. Hence a very confident start from a place and a pleasant, growing acceleration.
 

Of course, a 5-speed automatic transmission plays an important role. She turned out to be surprisingly quick enough to demand decisive acceleration a couple of times, how the box adapts to the character of the driver and holds the momentum when changing the gears. Moreover, it is not in a hurry to switch to a step higher for the discharge of gas, and for some time it remains in the same gear that the dynamic drivers will like it very much. You can switch and manually, for which the automatic transmission provides for a manual mode. In full accordance with the dynamics, there are brakes and suspensions.


So, the power of the calipers inspires confidence at any speed, and dose the effort on the pedals is not difficult. This, by the way, is especially pleasant because during the previous test test, several years ago, I was remembered, it seemed not quite understandable to the brake algorithm that the pedal seemed to be cotton, and often had to follow, increasing pressing, at the very end, already at the very end Slow down. There was an incomprehensible uncertainty that did not fit with the motor and dynamic potential of the machine. Now engineers have eliminated this annoying property, and no problems arise with inhibition. Moreover, ABS allows you to slightly block the wheels, which indicates sports settings.
 
The chassis also made a pleasant impression. In the bends of the rolls of the body are not large, and fluctuations on irregularities are effectively extinguished by springs and shock absorbers, not particularly boring passengers. Hence the very good smoothness, which not everyone can boast of, rather, even a few front -wheel drive cars. Transparent steering allows you to clearly control the body and quickly adjust the possible instability.


With active turns, the predicability of the car pleases. The verified front -wheel drive settings will allow you to confidently feel at the wheel of not only a professional, but also an amateur. It is only necessary to be careful with the discharge of gas gas gas can easily go into a skid. True, the skid develops quite smoothly, its beginning is easy to catch. In addition, the electronic stabilization system is on guard, the work of which does not raise questions.
 
And one moment. Given the dynamic potential of the model, I would recommend not saving on good tires. So, the test Accord was equipped with gislaved Nord Frost 5 studded tires, which behaved simply disgusting on the asphalt. At high speeds, the car began to scour, and with a quick passage of the turns, I had to literally grope the correct trajectory. It seems to me that there is no point in putting studded tires on such a car, at least if you live in a large city. They only increase fuel consumption, lengthen the braking distance on the asphalt (albeit cold), and are also in obvious disharmony with excellent suspension settings.
 

Not understood

The Accord Special Edition is offered both with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, aggregated with an automaton, and with a 2.4-liter engine, which is combined with both the IAC and with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The equipment is fixed, which causes some bewilderment. Why is the heating of the front seats available only for a 2.0-liter modification? And why would it, if we are talking about a special version, do not add parking sensors and a curtain on the rear window to the equipment list? Two words about prices. The 2.0-liter Accord Special Edition will cost 811 thousand rubles; A 2.4-liter Type S with a mechanics of 839,000, and the tested modification with the automatic transmission costs 864,000 rubles.
 

 

 
 

Source: Magazine Automobile Izvestia [November-December 2007]