Honda Accord: Taking the new version for a spin around town

Primastuti Handayani and Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post Jakarta

The opportunity to take a brand new car for a rip is always enticing. So when we got the offer to try the New Honda Accord, there was little chance we would say no.

We were excited about cruising around in this car, which we believed was reserved for those who want elegance and class above all else -- like the bunch of executives we saw eyeing it.

At first, we were shocked by how small it looked, but we soon found out that it it is actually bigger than previous Accords.

Compared to the classic and elegant appearance of its predecessors, the New Accord is very sporty. This is especially true from the front where flashy triangular multireflector headlights center a modern appearance.

With the rear end higher than its previous version and 16 inch alloy rims, the new model has an even sportier look.

We had hoped to be able to test out the speed of this car on Jakarta's inner city toll road but were unable to due to congestion. We only got the car up to 100 kilometers per hour, far from its top speed of 240 km/h, but already 20 km/h over the speed limit of the toll road.

Since we could not go as fast as we hoped, we tried to enjoy the pleasure of driving at a slower speed.

But the car did perform well at high speed, allowing us to maneuver past and around trucks on the toll road. The four-wheel double wishbone with five-link rear suspension provided good handling as we sped along the road.

To our surprise, the New Accord was less responsive at lower speeds. When we were driving the standard transmission model, the car stalled and sputtered when changing gears on several occasions.

Like other new luxury cars, the New Accord also has cruise control which enables the driver to set and maintain a constant speed.

The central control module instruments are placed with convenience in mind, and make it easy for the driver to adjust everything from the air conditioner to the stereo system.

The New Accord has eight different adjustments for the driver's seat, and the steering column is equipped with a tilt feature and telescopic adjustment with a 40 millimeter range of that allows for optimum comfort.

A sudden stop at the Automall in Sudirman Central Business District turned the heads of bystanders. Even some fellow journalists could not hide their amazement at the sleek appearance of the car.

But the most worrisome stares came from the police officers patrolling the Semanggi clove leaf bridge. We were concerned we would get fined because the car, which had a test drive license plate, should have not been carrying a passenger. Luckily we weren't speeding.

The car's 4-cylinder, 2,400 cc I-VTEC engine puts out 160 horsepower (hp) at 5,500 revolutions per minute (rpm) and its maximum torque is 217 Newton meters at 4,500 rpm.

I had hoped to make up for my failure to get the car up to speed on the toll road when I returned the car to the office of Honda Prospect Motor in Sunter, North Jakarta.

Unfortunately, I was disappointed again. This time traffic was even worse and I didn't get above 40 kilometers per hour.

The heavy traffic meant that we did not have the chance to test the New Accord's anti-lock braking system (ABS) and electronic brake distribution (EBD).

Passive safety features include dual SRS airbags and Honda's G-Con round design which is built to minimize injuries if the car hits a pedestrian.

The car comes in two model types, the VTI and the VTI-L an. Each variation is available with five-speed automatic and standard transmissions.

Those on a "tight" budget can choose the standard VTI model which costs Rp 299 million (US35,000) while the automatic model sells for Rp 318 million.

The VTI-L comes with more features, such as stereo adjustments and cruise control on the steering wheel, dual zone automatic climate control, side airbags and lumbar support in the driver's seat.

Of course, such comforts come with a price, the standard VTI-L model costs about Rp 335 million while the automatic model sells for Rp 345 million.

Even it was short we enjoyed our time with the New Accord. This was one case in which the "The Luxury Sport Sedan Redefined" lived up to its PR hype.

We recommend the New Accord for executives sporting dark suits and leather shoes that need a sharp ride and a waiting driver to whisk them from one meeting to the next.