Honda Accord V6 2003 review

Honda Australia wasn't happy when it heard the Simpsons-inspired nickname, but we weren't happy they'd turned one of our favourite cars from the '80s and early '90s into a mid-western turkey.

It was still plump and tasty, but the whole Accord program was taken over by the need to hit big sales targets in the US.

The needs of Australians, who had found the Accord a family driving favourite, took a back seat while the Homer plan shifted into top gear.

Explore the 2003 Honda Accord range

• Honda Accord 2003 review
• Honda Accord V6 2003 review

But no more. Honda is back on track with a double-edged effort on the Accord that's already given us one of our favourite newcomers for 2003, the Accord Euro.

Now it's time to look at the full-bodied Accord – same name, but almost everything else is different – that's just arrived to give us a full serve of mid-sized prestige action. Compared with the Euro, the Accord is bigger, roomier and comes with both four-cylinder and V6 engines.

Honda Australia is convinced there is a place for both types of Accord – the Accord Euro pitched at more youthful customers, the Accord likely to find homes with families and older people more worried about a big boot and cushy ride than a touch-change automatic gearbox or sports-tuned suspension.

Honda believes the Euro will be the better seller in Australia and has been struggling to keep up with demand since it arrived, but still sees a solid spot for the bigger car and is confident the V6 will do most of the business.

Both ends of the Accord action begin at the same price, $34,250, but similarities mostly end right there.

The Accord is even built in Thailand, while the Euro comes from Japan.

The new Accord is even bigger than the car which wore the badge from 1997 until this year – on its own – in both width and length. The bonus includes 127mm more room in the cabin and a boot with 30 litres of extra carrying capacity.

The design of the Accord is a little more conservative than the Euro, but it has much the same face – just a little larger – and the dash could also have been lifted from the earlier arrival. Its 2.3-litre, four-cylinder engine makes 118kW, but it's the bigger banger V6, with a 3.0-litre capacity and power and torque of 177kW and 287Nm, which sets the pace.

Honda says they are among the cleanest in the country, and its V6 also out-powers all but the Ford Falcon among the local sixes, clearing the forthcoming Euro IV emission standards many years early.

The big difference is the Accord only comes as an automatic, with a five-speed shift and no chance for any manual changes.

The Accord runs from the four-cylinder VTi at $34,250 to the V6 at $39,990 and V6 Luxury at $45,240.

On the road

At first glance, it's easy to mistake the Accord for the Euro. It looks much the same and the Honda family genes run right through to the key, steering wheel and switches.

But as soon as you reach the first corner you know, no doubt about it, which car you're driving. The instant steering response and crisp feel of the Euro is replaced by a softer, gentler approach to corners.

It's the same in driving, even with the V6 fitted to our test car. The Accord will get along well, but prefers to take its time and the T-bar auto shifter doesn't help you to do any pick-your-own gear work on twisty roads.

It is light on fuel and, importantly, doesn't need the costlier high-octane unleaded. The all-round feel of the Accord V6 is cushier, more relaxed, and – yes – older. Not older in design, but older by design.

It doesn't even feel as sharp as the locally made Toyota Camry or the recently tweaked Mitsubishi Magna, not that it will matter much to people who will always prefer an imported Honda badge.

They're more likely to be shopping the Accord against a basic BMW or Audi, or looking at how it lines up against the latest Mazda6 or Subaru Liberty. And it does have the advantage of that V6.

Our time with the Accord V6 was quiet, relaxed and enjoyable and we can see a lot of people will want exactly those strengths. It carries four adults easily, will swallow golf clubs and trolleys, and is easy to park with good visibility.

We think the seats aren't as supportive as some, including the Magna and Camry, but the dashboard looks classy and has everything you'd need. Airconditioning is typically chilly Honda, the sound system is fine for the job, and the LED dials are straightforward and bright.

The V6 engine has more than enough go for the Accord, and we rarely felt the need to push to the redline. That's a pity, because it does its best work up towards the redline and most owners will only go there if they're really pushed on an overtaking move.

It doesn't step away as briskly as you might expect with 177kW, but the softly-sprung suspension wouldn't like the job of coping with a full-power launch. As it is, the car rolls fairly noticeably around corners and there isn't much excess grip if you get keen in the curves. Better to relax and take it easy.

And that's just what a lot of people will like in the Accord. It's classy and comfortable.

So the Homer is definitely gone and we're happy about that. But we'd still take an Accord Euro if it was our money or lease payments on the line.