Honda Accord Review Covering 2003

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Quick Summary of the Honda Accord

OVERALL

As long as ultimate carrying capacity isn’t the be all and end all, the Honda Accord Tourer is genuinely tough to fault. The styling may not win universal appeal, but beauty is subjective. What isn’t is the way this car is screwed together. A safe used buy.

TOURING, TOURING ARSENAL

The Honda Accord Tourer couldn’t have got its timing much better. For a long period of the late nineties, sales of estate models were terribly depressed as buyers migrated to exciting new products like compact 4x4s and mini-MPV style vehicles. The estate car was seen as something old and dull, a sector that was dying. Although Honda certainly can’t claim credit for reinvigorating it, they saw which way the market was going and the Accord Tourer, launched in 2002, capitalised on booming sales with a demographic often younger than those who bought saloons. The Accord Tourer was positioned at the practical end of the ‘lifestyle estate’ market although those looking to haul serious loads may be better served elsewhere. As a used buy, it’s great in terms of style and reliability, but don’t expect any screaming deals. These cars have built up quite some demand.
Used Honda Accord for sale

History of the Accord

The sixth generation Accord saw Honda massively up their game. Prior to its introduction in 2002, the Accord had long been regarded as a well engineered car that drove well but never boasted the interior fit and finish of the class best. The sixth generation car changed all that with sleek styling and a cabin that felt extremely solid. Suddenly that reedy, rather two-dimensional feel of previous Accord models had been consigned to history. Honda had built a heavyweight contender.Honda claimed the Accord was tilting at cars like Volvos and Saabs, but this impression was largely caused by a rather limited choice of pricier engines, which initially comprised just 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol powerplants. The MK6 Accord saloon was launched at the end of 2002 but the Tourer estate version took until the following Spring to arrive on British shores. The big revelation came with the introduction of the 2.2 CTD-i diesel powerplant which suddenly broadened the Accord’s appeal enormously. The Accord Tourer was replaced by an all-new model in the Autumn of 2008
Used Honda Accord for sale

Honda Accord Road Test

Both petrol engines are sprightly performers with competitive CO2 emissions and decent economy. The 2.0-litre SE averages 38.2mpg whilst even the 188bhp 2.4-litre Executive model can manage 31mpg. Certain Honda trademarks continue – the gear change is excellent but the electrically assisted steering takes a little getting used to. The real star of the show, however, is the diesel powerplant.The engine that powers the Accord 2.2 i-CTDi - to use the full nomenclature – delivers both more torque and better fuel economy than both the Audi A4 TDi130 and BMW’s 320td. Honda’s choice of these two cars as a yardstick is illuminating, showing the extent of their ambition. No longer do they regard the Accord as Vectra/Mondeo/Laguna fodder, instead pitching it as a superior quality proposition. The 2.2 diesel cranks out a hefty 138bhp at 4,0000rpm and is one of the more refined powerplants of its type. More soundproofing and thicker window glass help to isolate the diesel grumble and it’s genuinely tricky to aurally differentiate it from a petrol engine at normal cruising speeds.You’ll know it’s a diesel when you put your foot down. The 340Nm of torque mean that it’s the most torquey Honda engine currently available, putting even the NSX sportster in the shade. Mid range acceleration is very crisp and typical motorway speeds see the engine revolving at a very restrained gait. The sprint to 60mph will detain you for just 9.9 seconds if you’re hauling the additional bulk of the Tourer. Emissions are another area where the Honda excels, already complying with the tough Euro IV regulations that will slice another three per cent from company user’s tax demands. The figure of 153g/km for the Tourer is excellent given that the Accord is such a substantial feeling vehicle.
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Buying a Honda Accord

Looking for inherent faults with a Honda Accord Tourer is a thankless task. Just check the car you’re looking at to make sure the mileage seems genuine, that tyre wear is reasonable and that it hasn’t suffered parking knocks or wheel kerbing. The service book should be perfectly stamped up to date and haggle hard if there re any minor imperfections.
Used Honda Accord for sale

Honda Accord Typical Pricing

The Accord Tourer opens at £9,450 for an 03 plated 2.0-litre SE, with another £500 being loaded onto that figure if you want an automatic gearbox. Step up to the Executive trim level and you’ll need at least £10,200 with the desirable 17-inch alloy wheels tacking around £400 onto the asking price.The 2.4-litre petrol engine is the minority interest in this line up and prices kick off at £11,200 for the Executive, with an 04 plated automatic model with the big alloys costing around £13,000. Diesel models are in big demand but as yet the market is still volatile as owners are keeping hold of them. Your best bet to land one of these is to approach a franchised Honda dealer or scan the classifieds and hope you come up lucky. Insurance for the Accord is fairly reasonable with ratings ranging from Group 11 to Group 14.
Used Honda Accord for sale

Honda Accord Parts

(approx. based on a 2003 Accord 2.0 SE - ex VAT) You’ll need around £220 for a clutch assembly and an exhaust system about £450. Allow a budget of around £48 respectively for front brake pads and £40 for the rear. A front headlamp should be around £195. A radiator is about £180, and a starter motor around £260.
Used Honda Accord for sale

Honda Accord Rated

Performance Performance 3 out of 5

Comfort

Handling

Economy

Styling

Equipment

Build

Depreciation Depreciation 4 out of 5

Insurance

Value

Honda Accord Review2003 - 2008