I wanted a reliable, fun car that can seat four people. While not bad, it is no Civic SI. But I needed more room, so I got the Accord. After 1.5 years of ownership, I am very pleased with the car overall.
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Introduction
Reviewed: 2011 Honda Accord
4dr Sedan 190-horsepower 2.4L I4 5-speed manual FWDWhy the 2011 Honda Accord?
The 4 cylinder and 5 speed manual are a match made in heaven. Plenty of power and excellent fuel economy. I'm glad I got the more powerful EX. While 13hp increase does not sound like much, the k24z3 seems to have a much nicer torque curve than the lower end models. Neither four cylinder seems to match well with the automatic though. Power seem down and the ratio gaps make the engine feel peaky and pressed. If you must have an auto, get the v6, you will be glad you spent the extra $ the first time you pass on a two lane road with people in the car.
Excellent fuel economy, 24 around town and up to 36 on the interstate and as high as 38 on two lane roads. I have gotten over 700 miles to a tank on long trips.
Another reason I'm glad I got the EX model. The power lumbar on the drivers seat is my backs best friend. Even after 16 hour days and 1100 miles, my back is fine. Excellent seats!
For a front drive family sedan, this car is not too bad in the handling department. Quick accurate steering, decent path accuracy, and communicative chassis make this a fun car for bonsai runs on the back roads. The only down side is the stock shocks. Too much vertical ride motions for my taste. Better rebound control would help this car alot.
Why Not the 2011 Honda Accord?
My really only gripe is the stock shocks. There is too much vertical ride motions over bumps, especially with a full load of passengers. This is easily remedied with a set of aftermarket shocks though. Just wish Honda put better dampers on the car from the beginning.
The stock tires suck. Period. Noisy, bad in snow, so so in the rain and ridiculously expensive to replace. I was expecting much more out of Michelin's. They do seem to be wearing ok though, should get 50K+ out of them.
Paint chips/scratches very easily, though I hear this is a common complaint with the new EPA mandated water based automotive paints.
Conclusion
While not quite up to the standards of my driving, it is much better than the boring, floaty Camry. The manual is a must, and makes this a fun car that begs you to take on ramps faster and push the limits farther. Car and Driver is not wrong, this is a deceptively fun car.
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