Review
/5
- Pros:
- Top quality interior
- Superb diesel engine
- Great reliability record
- Cons:
- Lacks boot space
- Expensive compared to rivals
- Suspension is firm
reviewed by Carbuyer
“The upmarket Honda Accord Tourer is an excellent motorway car and is well equipped, too. Only a relatively small boot lets it down.”
At a glance
- The greenest
- 2.2 i-DTEC ES GT 5dr
£26,640 - The cheapest
- 2.0 i-VTEC ES 5dr
£23,510 - The fastest
- 2.4 i-VTEC EX ADAS 5dr
£30,355 - Top of the range
- 2.2 i-DTEC Type-S ADAS 5dr
£33,305
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The Accord Tourer is just as good to drive as the saloon version, and equally quiet and comfortable on long journeys. Build quality is superb, as is reliability - which has always been a strong point of the Honda. The estate's failing is that it's not quite as spacious as many of its rivals, but that's only important if you plan on carrying bulky items like wardrobes and filing cabinets. Standard equipment is very generous and there are plenty of safety features, so the Accord represents quite a lot of car for the money.
Drive
Petrol engines are overshadowed by the excellent diesel
The Tourer has the same choice of engines as the Accord saloon: a pair of petrol options - a 2.0 and a 2.4-litre - and a 2.2-litre turbodiesel. The petrol engines are smooth and punchy, particularly the 2.4, but they're overshadowed by the excellent 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel, which has 148bhp and lots of mid-range power. The Accord Tourer has accurate steering and not much in the way of body roll, especially for an estate.
Comfort
Firm suspension means cabin ambience suffers on rough roads
There's virtually no wind noise whatsoever and very little racket from the outside. Ride comfort is good most of the time - especially on the motorway - but the firm suspension means cabin ambience suffers a little on rough roads. Seats are supportive, and the driving position is very adjustable.
Reliability
Reliability has always been a strong point for Honda
The Accord is very safe indeed. It has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, six airbags, electronic stability control and anti-whiplash front headrests. Reliability has always been a strong point for Honda, and the Accord is no exception - the previous version finished a respectable 16th out of 100 in the 2010 Driver Power survey. Honda ranked second in the 2010 JD Power Satisfaction survey, and the Accord finished fifth in the individual cars class, which is excellent.
Practicality
The load area is awkwardly shaped
Unusually, the Tourer actually has less boot space with the rear seats in place than the saloon, with a relatively low 395 litres. Fold the rear seats down and 672 litres becomes available, which is better, but still not good for an estate. The load area is also quite awkwardly shaped and not as easy to load luggage into as that of rivals. The rear seats split and fold 60/40, and there's a handy storage space in the armrest, along with large door pockets.
Value for money
Equipment levels are impressive
Pricing is competitive when compared to premium rivals like the BMW 3 Series Touring and the Audi A4 Avant, but the Accord Tourer looks a little expensive next to closer rivals like the Ford Mondeo Estate. Standard equipment is impressive though: all models get automatic climate control, cruise control, electric windows, electric heated mirrors, and a CD stereo with MP3 player connection and remote central locking. Resale values are quite strong, so the Accord is generally a safe place for your cash.
Running costs
Petrol engine fuel economy could be better
The petrol engines have acceptable running costs with 37.7mpg and 173g/km from the 2.0-litre and 31.4mpg from the 2.4 with 211g/km. The former costs £180 per year for Road Tax and the latter a steeper £245. The diesel is much better with 47.9mpg and 155g/km, so you're looking at £155 per year to tax it. Insurance is average and ranges from group 22 to 27.
*Our monthly finance prices are updated on a regular basis, but due to the dynamic nature of the market are not guaranteed accurate. You can always confirm the monthly finance price with FinanceAcar.
