2008 Honda Accord Review

What the reviewers like:
Reviewer feedback for the Honda Accord is almost exclusively positive; most sources say it's easy to understand why the Accord is the leader in its class. Experts say its reliability and quality ratings are consistently outstanding, its safety ratings are excellent, and the Accord is an excellent value for the money.

What the reviewers don't like:
Several sources are less than enamored with the significant increase in the Accord's dimensions for 2008, saying the added size makes the model less fun to drive – and hinders fuel economy to boot. Some testers say the Accord's VCM doesn't always shift modes smoothly.

2008 Honda Accord review highlights

The Honda Accord sedan makes the list of the 2008 IIHS Top Safety Picks, thanks to its top-notch scores in crash testing as well as its inclusion of electronic stability control as a standard feature on all trims. Other sources say the Accord is roomy, comfortable and sporty enough to make the ride enjoyable for passengers and drivers alike. The redesigned-for-2008 Accord is now nearly five inches longer than the Toyota Camry, and displeased reviewers complain that the Accord's bulkier new body diminishes its fun-to-drive factor considerably. The larger, thirstier engines available on 2008 Accords have also negatively impacted expected fuel economy, although it's still above average in this class. Several testers note that the cylinder-deactivation feature of the VCM-equipped Accords creates a detectable shudder when it transitions between modes. Other popular sedans, such as the Toyota Camry (*est. $18,720 to $28,270) and Nissan Altima (*est. $18,330 to $28,380), are viewed as worthy competitors, but don't garner quite as much praise for all-around excellence as the Accord receives.

There's no shortage of review coverage for the class-leading Honda Accord. We found good coverage at Car and Driver, Motor Trend and Edmunds.com. A number of these reviews are comparative, meaning the Accord was evaluated against its closest rivals on measures such as performance and comfort. The Accord makes the 2008 list of the 10 Best Cars at Car and Driver, a highly competitive distinction, and reviewers at Motor Trend and Edmunds.com pit this model in road tests with its three strongest challengers. Independent product testers at Consumer Reports and Consumer Guide provide extensive results from road-testing as well. A few useful single-car reviews from USA Today and web-based magazines The Car Connection and The Family Car offer a wealth of practical details about the Honda Accord.

Also see full report: Family Sedans

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. Car and Driver
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2008 10 Best Cars
Csaba Csere and Tony Swan
Jan. 2008

The staff of Car and Driver conducts this comparison test annually, and publishes the results as a listing of their favorite vehicles for the current model year. This review of the Honda Accord is relatively brief, but offers a helpful synopsis of the Accord's high points, along with some of its specifications. We appreciate the thorough testing and extensive analysis that precedes Car and Driver's "10 Best" selection.

2. Consumer Reports
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2008 Honda Accord Review
Editors of Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports tests just about the full spectrum of family sedans, including the 2008 Honda Accord. One of the unique elements of this review is Consumer Reports' predicted reliability ratings, based on past-model-year reader-survey data. Consumer Reports testing mainly scrutinizes reliability, ride quality, handling and safety.

3. Motor Trend
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Comparison: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu vs. 2008 Honda Accord vs. 2008 Nissan Altima vs. 2007 Toyota Camry
Ron Kiino

This head-to-head comparison pits three 2008-model sedans against last year's Motor Trend Car of the Year award winner, the 2007 Toyota Camry. The Accord places third, behind the Camry and the newly redesigned 2008 Chevy Malibu, but three out of four judges indicate that Honda's stellar resale and reliability record would motivate them to purchase the Accord over the runner-up Malibu.

4. Edmunds.com
Comparison Test: 2007-2008 V6 Family Sedans
Jason Kavanaugh
Dec. 9, 2007

Edmunds.com's competitive review evaluates the Chevy Malibu, Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord, though the Camry and Altima included were both last year's models. Here the Accord comes out on top, followed by the Altima, Malibu and Camry, in that order. Editors cite the Accord's "chart-topping evaluation scores and strong feature content at the second-lowest price in our test" as the rationale for its first-place finish.

5. The Car Family
The Compleat Guide to Family Sedans
The Haskvitz Family
Mar. 21, 2008

In this lengthy overview of most 2008 family cars, the 2008 Honda Accord shares the top rating for best midsize sedan with the Ford Fusion and the Saturn Aura. The reviews here are refreshing; The Car Family is a four-person reviewing team that focuses on aspects that matter most to buyers: value, drive feel, ergonomics and fuel economy. The Accord is just a good all-around value; a practical car with solid performance and good visibility.

6. Consumer Guide.com
2008 Honda Accord Review
Editors at ConsumerGuide.com
Mar. 12, 2008

Consumer Guide road-tests virtually every car and truck on the market, ranking each one against a class average. Consumer Guide's results and recommendations are a valuable resource, but the numerical reporting format can be tricky to read. Here the Accord's test results reveal an above-average score for its class, earning it a "Best Buy" designation.

7. USA Today Magazine
Test Drive: Sweet new Accord does Honda proud
James R. Healey
Aug. 23, 2007

This single-car evaluation by automotive reviewer James R. Healey is a thorough one, providing helpful details about the 2008 Honda Accord's performance and design that aren't addressed by most sources. Healey also lists relevant specifications regarding available powertrains, safety and fuel efficiency. Ultimately, he pronounces the 2008 Accord a model of "extraordinarily pleasing practicality."

8. TheCarConnection.Com
2008 Honda Accord Road Test
Paul A. Eisenstein

Another detailed single-car review, this article devotes a great deal of space to elements such as fuel economy, safety features and comfort. While author Paul Eisenstein notes that sales of the Accord have lost some momentum thanks to the Accord's image shift – which he believes renders it too staid for young buyers, but still too edgy for fans of the conservatively styled Toyota Camry – he indicates that the newest Accord may achieve the balance needed to lure these more fickle shoppers back to its corner.

Also see full report: Family Sedans

2008 Honda Accord Review