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Honda adds plenty of new standard features to 2011 AccordStory and photos by Rob BeintemaHonda Accord SESedanMetroland NewspapersAt A Glance:Carguide MagazineBODY SFoTur-YdooLr, fEive-:passen-Sliding into the Accord SE sedan was a littleger midsize sedan.like coming home the comfortable clothDRIVE MfEronTt eHngiOne, Dfron:tseats, the unpretentious interior reflectingwheel drive.simplicity of design and purpose.ENGI2N.4-liEtre:, 16-valve, DOHC, i-Hey, far be it for me to deny myself theVTEC four-cylinder engine with five-speedleather and luxuries of the top end modelsmanual or five-speed automatic.manufacturers normally try to impress usFUEL ECOANs OtesMtedY:with. 8.8/5.8L/100Km (city/hwy) But its always refreshing to test a car that IPRIC$I2N4,7G90 t:o $35,390; As testedcould actually afford to buy.Accord SE 5AT $25,990.The Honda Accord lineup covers a wideWEBSwwIwT.hoEnda:.caswath of midsize aspirations, offering coupesand sedans, four-banger and V6 engines, withall models available in every imaginable trimBlizzaks, handy as they were when the snowlevel, from base level to luxuriously loaded.began to fall.Actually, the base level got a little less baseThe 2011 Honda Accord SE,a new special edition trim level is the base level model Accord this yearThe Accord SE comes with a standard five-this year, thanks to a new special edition SEbut,along with a long list of standard equipment,it adds an eight-way power driver seat with powermodel that replaces last yearspeed manual transmission for $24,790. Mys low end LX.lumbar support,alloy wheels,premium audio with a subwoofer and XM satellite radio,Bluetoothtester came with the 5-speed automaticThe SE adds new standard features thatHandsFreeLink,automatic headlights,a security system and more.transmission (AT) with Grade Logic Control,include an eight-way power driver seat withuniversal sameness endemic with design fortistics out of the window. In real world test-which bumped the price up by $1,200 topower lumbar support, alloy wheels, premi-mass appeal. ing, over the course of 520 kilometres driven$25,990.um audio with a subwoofer and XM satelliteThis latest 2011 version boasts new stylingwith passengers and without, in the city, onAny customer craving more power can moveradio, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, automaticfor the front grille, front bumper and rearthe highway, I used 50 litres of gas for a per-up in the Accord lineup to a tweaked 190 hpheadlights, a security system and more. deck lid, along with a new wheel design. sonal average of 9.6L/100km.version of the 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine,The added equipment and the raised stan-The exterior changes have smoothed theMaybe I was enjoying the Accord too much.standard in the Accord EX and EX-L sedans. dards of the new SE starting point mark howAccords aerodynamics that, along withWhich may sound surprising since the SEAn available 271 hp 3.5-litre, 24-valve SOHCthis mid-life makeover has been designed toreduced engine friction and transmissionharnesses the least powerful engine in thei-VTEC V6 is the top-of-the-line engine. Andevolve the eighth-generation Accord.tweaks to the gear ratios, have combined tolineup, a 2.4-litre, 16-valve, DOHC, i-VTECeven with the big bump up in power, this V6Of course, if you walk around the Accord SEfuel economy improvements.four-cylinder engine that makes a mere 177optimizes fuel economy with Variablesedan's exterior, youd probably be hardThe official fuel-economy ratings for my as-hp @ 6500 rpm with 161 lb/ft of torque peak-Cylinder Management (VCM) technologypressed to make out the modifications fortested Accord SE four-cylinder sedan withing at 4300 rpm.that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders2011 that, according to Hondas promotionalautomatic transmission have improved toBut the Accord felt well balanced, light andunder light load cruising. The V6 bumps thebumpf are designed to express a more8.8/5.8L/100Km (city/hwy) which works outlively, with the nimble maneuvering feel of aprice by about $3,600 in most trim levels butupscale and powerful presence. to seven per cent better city and 11 percentsmaller compact car. it is a bit of a bargain in EX trim, adding onlyYou cant blame them for trying to sell a lit-better highway than the comparable 2010Its a pleasure to drive. I did make note of a$2,700 to the price.tle sedan sexiness. That happens with eachmodel. slight, vague uncertainty to the front-wheelnew generation of Accord. But its easier saidAs usual you can throw those lab-derived sta-drive steering but Ill blame that on theContinued on page 15than done. Midsize sedans tend to share awww.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERWednesday, January 26, 2011 14