08 Honda Accord EX-L   By ALAN GELL www.CarColumns.Net A few months ago, I had a great new vehicle to test drive.  It was a 2008 Honda Accord.  The test model was a four-door EX-L model with a V6 engine.  Not only did I drive it around Ellis County and back & forth into DFW downtowns, I took it for a short road trip to the Longview and Tyler areas.

The Honda Accord is a proven and reliable vehicle and there are so many of them on the road, it makes you wonder what could Honda do to make it much better.  The EX-L model is a more luxury oriented styled vehicle that has a lot of nice extras added on to it.  You get leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 270-watt AM/FM/6-disc in-dash premium audio system, XM® Satellite Radio, multi-reflector halogen headlights with auto-on/off, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a satellite-linked navigation system.  It’s slightly more upscale, but still a good family car that is reliable and has practical power.  I’ve heard it described as being for those who are financially responsible vehicle enthusiasts. 

The V-6 engine delivers 268 horsepower, which gives the Honda Accord quite a bit of get-up-and-go.  During my driving, I never experienced the idea that I didn’t have enough power.  Whether I was on the highway or just taking the county’s back roads, I never lacked for power when I needed or wanted it.  The automatic transmission was smooth and easy shifting.

Inside the cabin, the new 08 is nice, but not too sporty.  It really is more family oriented.  The dashboard has somewhat of a sweep inward.  The buttons, dials, and other controls have been enlarged so they are easier to operate.  Maybe Honda copied all the big pickup trucks in doing that.  Have you noticed how everyone is making the dials and switches larger so that we can operate them with gloves on?  The back seat area is large enough for two adults, but I wouldn’t recommend this for a long trip.  It’s great for church or Sunday morning or picking up someone for dinner.  The trunk is huge.  If you have children or grandchildren that like to carry a lot of stuff with them, you certainly have room in the Accord’s oversized trunk area. 

The new Honda Accord EX-L does not set you alive with passion about your vehicle, nor does it have a distinctive styling that causes others to jerk their heads and provoke envy.  It is a plain, ordinary, comfortable ride.  Driving dynamics are normal, even though it has a fairly powerful V6 engine.  It has some of the attributes of luxury to make it nice, but it is still an affordable, reliable, not-too-exciting, family-style vehicle. Check out the new Honda Accord EX-L at your Honda dealership.