Author : James Raia
The Honda Accord is arguably the most reliable, well-respected vehicle
on the road today. It's not the most luxurious or the fastest car. It doesn't
have luxury car status or solicit overt double-takes from passersby.But what it does is have is plenty of high marks in nearly every ranked
category – comfort to acceleration, instrument control efficiency to ride
quality. And what it's sure to earn via the public is its overwhelming best-
buy status in many consumer guides.The 240-horsepower, automatic V6 EX sedan was my weekly test
vehicle. The 350 miles I drove the car included a 200-mile trip to San
Francisco. The outbound ride was smooth, particularly considering
Honda's surprisingly easy-to-use navigation system.The return trip, unfortunately, began at the peak of rush-hour traffic. It
took nearly an hour to drive only a few miles out of the middle of the
financial district and onto the freeway.Gridlock is never a good thing, with perhaps only one exception - fodder
for a car review. During my hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic, a few
drivers lost their temper. A few bicyclists maneuvered through the slow-
moving maze a little too close to my car. A few pedestrians' patience
levels were tested in hustle-bustle of a big city at 4:30 p.m. And a guy
even got out of his car, walked across two lanes of standstill traffic,
tapped on my window and asked if I could move back slightly so he
could enter a parking lot.As a testament to the new Accord's comfort, with the windows rolled up,
the stereo on and no place to go, all was fine. Even a stranger knocking
on the window – a potential road rage scenario – wasn't a problem. The
guy asked nicely and I cordially obliged.Since the Accord was introduced in 1976, Honda has refined the model
nearly every year, with this year's offering no different.The 2005 Honda has all of the same qualities of the top-rated 2004
model, plus more. The V6 models now have the added standard safety
features of traction control as well as front torso and side curtain air
bags. Dual-zone automatic climate controls, leather upholstery, leather-
wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, satellite race, outside-
temperature indicator, 6-disc CD changer, power sunroof and
navigation system with voice control are also standard features that
place the Accord close to a luxury classification, yet still under the
$30,000 price point.The aforementioned navigation system is one of the easiest and most
efficient systems I've tried. The directions are simple, including
destination address data entry. The system has straightforward, nicely
illuminated maps and a pleasant, clear direction-giver's voice.Through its nearly 30 years, the Accord's appeal has been its overall
presentation, not just the strength of some of its individual features. The
2005 Accord takes the vehicle's well-respected total package to a new
standard.Acceleration, quietness, ride quality, steering and handling and
instrumentation – the Accord gets high marks in all categories. All
gauges are keenly styled and legible and positioned well on the dash
and console. The car maneuvers moves well in and out of traffic. While
not a sports car, its testing rating of 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds is hardly
pedestrian for the midsize car category.The only less-than-sterling marks for the new Accord are its fuel
economy and rear seat room. The EX model has a rating of 21 and 30
mph averages in city and highway driving, respectively. Those numbers
could be higher, particularly in the age of higher fuel costs.The Accord has plenty of headroom in the front and back seats. But the
rear seat is snug for three adults, despite its five-passenger designation.Regardless, reasons are aplenty why the Accord is so popular. And if all
is still well even when you're stuck in rush-hour traffic on a late weekday
afternoon, is there any higher praise?2005 Honda AccordSafety features -- Driver and front passenger and side curtain
airbags, anti-lock brakes., Traction control system.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 21 mpg (city), 30 mpg (highway).Warranty -- Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Power
train, 3 years/36,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.Base price -- $28,700James Raia is a journalist based in Sacramento, California. To read
more of his car reviews, visit: The Weekly Driver
Keyword : Honda Accord, Honda Accord 2005, Accord, 2005 Accord
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