nsw/act Honda Accord V6 Luxury 2004 Gold (Sun Roof) $5K+

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Honda Accord V6 Luxury 2004 Gold (Sun Roof) $5K+

Honda Accord V6 Luxury 2004 Gold (Sun Roof) $5K+ 

VIN: MRHCM66803P051835

Reg: BQ43JJ (until april 2018)

Insurance: Cole insurance

Contact: 0424615797 (Nirmala Ryan) 

Location: Hunters Hill, New South Wales

Price: AUD 5900 (Negotiable) 

The 2004 Australia's Best Car winner in the Luxury Cars under $57,000 category (in 2004), Honda's new Accord V6 sedan is an exceptionally refined, well built, luxurious car at a very sharp price. It also boasts a revised 3.0 litre V6/five-speed automatic-drive train for effortless performance.

Standard equipment

The base model V6 has ABS brakes, front and side airbags, automatic air, an in-dash six-stack CD, cruise control, 16 inch alloy wheels, power height adjustment for the driver's seat and wheel mounted audio controls; the $45,240 V6 Luxury also features full driver's seat power adjustment, leather upholstery and a sunroof.

Retained value

The previous model retains 61 per cent of its new price after three years, which is above average. 

Design and function

Ergonomics

The driver's seat has plenty of travel, and the wheel is also height and reach adjustable. Vision is clear around the car. 

Permanently illuminated instruments are bright and clear, while all controls, of which there are relatively few, fall easily to hand and work with a soft touch. 

A screen displays audio and airconditioning system status; the switches for both are easy to operate. For some strange reason no trip computer is provided.

Innovation

There are no real technical breakthroughs on the Accord V6, but Honda's technical expertise, especially its ability to produce powerful, economical engines, is well in evidence.

Safety

The new Accord V6 has not yet been tested to NCAP standards, however it is well equipped with safety features and should score well. Front and side airbags are standard, the latter with sensors which detect the size and position of the front seat passenger to determine if it is safe to deploy the airbag.

Comfort

The V6 Luxury's leather wrapped driver's seat is comfortable and supportive, with effective lumbar adjustment. Big blokes might find the cushion bolsters a bit squeezy on the thighs.

Space and practicality

Up front, generous oddment storage includes three covered bins in the centre console, a sunglasses holder and large door bins. 

The Accord's cabin is longer than the four-cylinder Accord Euro's, and much of the extra length is devoted to rear seat space. While the Euro can be tight for tall adults, the Accord has generous leg room and a plush, comfortable seat, shaped for two, albeit with a rather vertical backrest. 

No rear seat airconditioning vents are provided and only two head restraints. 

The boot's wide opening and low lip make it easy to load, however the floor is uneven, with a shallow front section that compromises capacity. 

A small porthole is fitted in the rear seatback for long objects. The backrest also folds down as a single piece to extend capacity, operated by a key/lock behind the seat. A full sized spare on an alloy wheel is under the floor.

Build and finish quality

Excellent in all respects.

On the road

Fuel efficiency

The 3.0 litre V6 returns good figures for an engine of this size and power. A tall fifth gear allows the engine to turn over at only 1900 rpm at 100 km/h, so on the highway a rate of 8.6 litres/100 km is quite frugal. Around town, 13.8-15 litres/100 km is also below average.

Performance

The 3.0 litre V6 now produces an impressive 177 kW of power (at 6250 rpm) and an average 287 Nm of torque, which occurs quite high in the rev range at 5000 rpm. 

It is based on the previous model's 147 kW engine, with the extra power coming from new high compression cylinder heads, a three rocker VTEC intake valve actuation system, larger intake valves and higher flow induction and exhaust tracts. 

It features an electronic accelerator and traction control; stability control, standard on the sporty four-cylinder Euro, is not provided, presumably because the more mature, sensible Accord V6 driver is unlikely to require its assistance. 

A similar rationale probably applies to the absence of sequential shift on the five-speed automatic. It's fitted to the Euro's transmission, but in big brother you just select Drive and push the accelerator. 

The V6 pulls with ease across a wide rev range, running to 6500 rpm - though in typical Honda fashion top end power is more emphatic than outright torque. 

The Accord is fairly quick, but zero-100 km/h acceleration is comparable with the lighter, lower geared Euro. 

The higher ratios in the five-speed automatic are quite widely spaced, but the V6 is sufficiently tractable to stay on the power during upshifts. Shift quality and timing are fine. 

The Grade Logic adaptive programming is not calibrated for enthusiastic driving. It will intervene when appropriate to hold a lower gear on hills (up or down) but that's about it. Still, when you need maximum performance for overtaking, it kicks down immediately.

Ride

The Accord V6 uses a similar suspension layout to the Euro - independent, double wishbone at both ends - but in the large car it is tuned for the American market, with ride comfort as the absolute priority. 

On relatively smooth bitumen (rare here, universal in the States) the Accord delivers a cocooned limousine ride, and very low noise levels in the cabin. 

However on rough local roads the suspension both ends can crash into large potholes, while the car can also become floaty on undulations.

Handling and steering

The Accord is fine on smooth, open country roads, and around town, but its softly sprung, underdamped suspension, and substantial front end weight bias produce less precise, taut handling and a lack of poise, compared with the Euro. 

This is particularly evident in tighter corners and on rough local roads. 

The Accord can bounce and float (especially with a passenger or two aboard) over undulations, the rear can occasionally lurch sideways in response to a big bump, while in tight corners the heavy front end results in some understeer. 

The steering, tuned for American tastes, lacks road feel and is extremely light and indirect.

Braking

The brakes, with ABS and electronic force distribution, are powerful and progressive, with good fade resistance.

Smoothness and quietness

The 3.0 litre V6 leads the class in smoothness and quietness, and overall the Accord is as refined as many luxury cars which cost $100,000 or more. Very little road or wind noise intrudes into the cabin, which cocoons its occupants in luxurious calm.

Summary

The Accord V6 appeals to buyers who regard luxury - in the true sense of the word - space, comfort, refinement, effortless performance and quality as the main priorities in their car. At the price, the Accord boxes well above its weight in these areas, where it is comparable with much more expensive sedans.