Car and Driver Magazine Comparison Test; North America's Favourite Sedans

The Buzzard-and-Baloney Brigade - Comparison Test
We compare seven of America’s most popular family sedans, searching for value and verve, and whether there’s really any meat in the middle.

BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON KILEY March 2008
1st Place: 2008 Honda Accord EX Sedan
In its 32-year existence, the Accord has landed on C/D’s 10Best Cars list 22 times. We must have cost Honda a pile of cash in trophy cases alone. In this group, our Accord carried the highest base price, but it was because we wanted to sample the 190 horsepower that comes with the EX, rather than the base LX’s 177. It paid off. Our test car was the second quickest to 60 mph.
The Accord’s essential goodness, however, doesn’t derive from power alone. Even with the standard stability control chipping away, our EX was also the fastest through our lane-change test.

Honda has simply nailed the econosedan formula, and it isn’t just a matter of building the highest-revving engine, the most competent suspension, and the most ergonomic interior. The trick is getting every component talking openly and honestly to every other component. It’s that sonorous mechanical interplay that lends the Accord its agility and charm. Throttle tip-in reminds us of a BMW 3’s, and there’s steady power delivery right up to 7100 rpm. Steering heft and linearity are spot-on, although some of us noted that this new rack doesn’t transmit road textures as clearly as did its forebear. The taut-yet-frictionless chassis makes up for it, however, posting regular updates on available grip. The brakes are easy to modulate. The thin A-pillars let you see around turns. In short, no car in our cast was as eager to establish a friendly rhythm when the roads got tricky.

Although the Accord was tied with the Avenger for loudest idle, it was merely a matter of our microphones registering quantity of sound versus quality.

Like the Sonata, the Accord is now officially a large sedan, with the extra room paying dividends abaft. For two or three adults, the rear seat proved the most spacious in this group. But try it yourself—the seatback is steeply reclined. We loved the three-tier dash, whose bulges and contours place all secondary controls at your fingertips. Which is lucky, because the center stack—ahem—contains 34 buttons.

We wish the Accord came with a manumatic, but you can shift manually by pulling straight back from D, to D3, to 2, to 1. Left to its own devices, the five-speed is prescient about holding lower gears on downhill grades and during spirited driving.

Like its predecessors, this latest Accord contains real meat in the middle. And that ain’t no baloney

Highs: Telepathic interplay among chassis, engine, and transmission.
Lows: Needlessly complex center stack, could use more steering feel.
The Verdict: Another Accord? We’ve pretty much run out of nice things to say.

2nd Place: 2008 Nissan Altima 2.5S Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-7.html
Highs: Drag-strip king, a real corner carver, a Mosler vault of a platform.
Lows: CVT not to everyone’s liking, no stability control, dour cockpit.
The Verdict: True dual personality—fun in the hills, serene on the interstates.

3rd Place: 2008 Chevrolet Malibu LT Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-6.html
Highs: Elegant cockpit, superb engine isolation, a handsome lad.
Lows: A little heavy, needs more than four gears, fat A- and C-pillars.
The Verdict: The best four-cylinder mainstream car GM has ever built.

4th Place: 2009 Hyundai Sonata Limited Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-5.html
Highs: Soothing interstate cruiser, pillowy ride, delectable manumatic.
Lows: Too much body roll, could do with a stiffer platform.
The Verdict: One foot deeper into Honda Accord territory.

5th Place: 2009 Toyota Camry LE Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-4.html
Highs: Eerily quiet, Lexus-like switchgear, limousine ride.
Lows: Early understeer, too much body roll, plastic hubcaps.
The Verdict: Practical and tranquil but not much of a dancer.

6th Place: 2008 Ford Fusion SEL Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-3.html
Highs: Sharp styling, leather interior, thoughtful ride-and-handling trade-off.
Lows: Too little power and a transmission that spoils the party.
The Verdict: Right face, wrong drivetrain.

7th Place: Dodge Avenger SXT Sedan
Write up; http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/the_buzzard_and_baloney_brigade_comparison_test+page-2.html
Highs: Good fuel economy, easy-to-read gauges, inexpensive.
Lows: A festival of NVH, hard interior surfaces, feels insubstantial.
The Verdict: A mid-size sedan relying almost entirely on its sticker price.

2009 Honda FIT to debut at New York International Auto Show

Looks like the new Honda FIT will be making an appearance at this years New York International Auto Show, alongside that of the 2009 Honda Pilot Prototype and the Honda FCX Clarity.

Dick Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda: ”The all-new Honda Fit will reconfirm that small can in fact be big.”

Movie Fake becomes Reality; sQuba

Not Honda related, but too cool to pass up. With the “sQuba,” the world’s first real submersible car, the movie fake now becomes reality for visitors of the Geneva Motor Show (March 6th - 16th, 2008).

It is a sure bet that the “sQuba” will steal the show from any ‘Baywatch’ beauty on the beach. And easily, too: You drive the car into the water and the car floats. That is, until you crack the door to let the water in. Immediately the “sQuba” starts on his way to the underwater world.

Anyway, here's the link to the full write up, BTW, I want one;
http://www.autospies.com/news/2008-GENEVA-MOTOR-SHOW-Can-Your-BMW-or-Lexus-Drive-UNDERWATER-26588/

Honda is Investigating ways of Recapturing Heat Energy Lost for more Efficient Hybrids

Honda is investigating ways of recapturing heat energy lost through a car’s exhaust to help generate electricity and power an electric Motor for a new generation of ultra-efficient hybrid cars. Conventional internal combustion engines waste a lot of energy in creating heat, but by applying a ‘Rankine cycle,’ a process where hot exhaust gases are used to heat up a water reservoir and create steam to spin a turbine, electricity can be generated. This electricity can then be used to charge up an array of batteries and help power a Hybrid Electric powertrain.

Engineers have been using a Honda Stream as their test vehicle, a compact crossover sold in Japan and parts of Europe powered by 2.0L direct-injection petrol four-cylinder. The car was fitted with a new cylinder head with insulated exhaust ports, an evaporator built into the catalytic converter, a high-pressure water reservoir plus a generator and condenser. Maximum power available from the volumetric expander was as much as 32kW and maximum thermal efficiency of the unit is rated at 13% at 23kW.

Initial tests show that a car travelling at a constant speed of 100km/h and can improve thermal efficiency of the engine by 3.8%. In the U.S. highway cycle, the Rankine cycle system regenerated three times as much energy as current regenerative braking units. At a recent hybrid vehicle press event in San Diego, Honda officials said the design would need to see higher efficiencies achieved if were ever to enter production.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/cars/honda/honda-investigating-rankine-cycle-to-power-hybrids/

Acura Meets with Dealers talks about moving 'up a Tier'

Apparently Acura is having aspirations of moving one step closer to the BMW, Volvo, Mercedes, and Lexus level. I would imagine that alot of Acura's identity crisis has become as a result of recent 'brand studies' and where they are percieved next to their peers.
http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2008/01/honda-and-toyota-top-consumer-reports.html

Let's face it, most of Acura's lineup is close to what is offered by Honda themselves (I still giggle when I see a CSX drive by).

In a 45 minute meeting with dealers Acura said that the brand will be adding one new vehicle a year (including changes to existing models).

“In the next year there will be a huge shift toward tier 1, and the dealer body is excited about that shift,” said Valerie Voyles, CEO of the Ed Voyles Automotive Group in metro Atlanta.

“We’re not up there with Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, but a big shift is coming,” Voyles said. “You’ll see more separation of the brands (Acura and Honda), with more Acura-only product.”

Here is the original link;
http://www.egmcartech.com/2008/02/18/acura-to-make-huge-shift-to-tier-1-luxury-will-offer-acura-only-vehicles/

Honda's New Hybrid to be Shown this September at the 2008 Paris Motor Show

It's been no secret that Honda has plans of building a new Hybrid vehicle from scratch, so this won't be based on anything that is out there right now (although I could see it using the FIT's platform). This vehicle will be smaller than both the Civic and the Prius and will use a updated version of the IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) that kicks in and out to help acceleration.

Honda is targeting a lower price point for this model, to come in well below the current Prius and the Civic Hybrid.

Bring Back the Honda Prelude

Ever since Honda did away with the Prelude, fans have clamoured for a comeback. I think that with all of the reintroductions of the 'muscle cars', a la Camaro, Challenger, Charger, and even Toyota entertaining the idea of bringing back the Celica, that the time could be right for this to fly. Nissan has created a stir with finally bringing Skyline to North America, but not too many people will be willing for fork over the $100k+/- for the car. A $30-40k, pure sports car from a company that knows how to make a sports car would be nice.

Here are a couple of petitions to bring back the Prelude;
http://www.youchoose.net/campaign/bring_back_the_honda_prelude
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/bring-back-the-honda-prelude.html

2009 Acura TSX / Euro Accord

The 2009 Acura TSX will be introduced during the New York International Auto Show media days which occur on March 19th and 20th.

The Euro Accord will be offered with three high-tech engines, all of which are compliant with stricter Euro 5 emissions regulations. The first is the second-gen i-Dtec engine producing around 148 horsepower and 258 pound feet of torque at just 2,000 rpm. This will be the same motor that Honda introduces as its first diesel for the U.S. market in the Acura TSX, and we can't wait. Europeans also get their choice of a 2.0L i-VTEC producing 154 horsepower and a 2.4L four-cylinder producing nearly 200 hp and 172 foot pounds of torque. All three engines can be mated to a 6-speed manual, while the gas engines get optional 5-speed automatics, as well.

2009 Acura RL Debuts at the Chicago Auto Show

The 2009 RL furthers cutting edge technology with the addition of new high-tech items including AcuraLink® weather, AcuraLink® Traffic Rerouting™, a new Note function for XM® Radio, Active Sound Control, and Bluetooth® Audio to an already robust list of features found on the previous RL. To enhance handling, new chassis technology abounds in the drivetrain in the form of improved Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™, a revised steering system, upgraded coil springs, better performing shock absorbers, larger rear stabilizer bar, and more aggressive wheels and tires. Performance improves with the RL thanks to a new, larger 3.7-liter V-6 that incorporates the first ever SOHC use of VTEC® valvetrain actuation for both the intake and exhaust valves.

"RL represents the very best we have to offer in terms of engineering, technology, performance, luxury and safety", said Dick Colliver, executive vice president, sales. "It's designed for a new generation of performance-luxury buyers looking to travel more quickly, more efficiently and more connected to the world around them."

For 2009, the RL will be offered in three different trim levels including RL, RL with Technology Package and RL with Technology Package Plus CMBS™. All RL's receive a potent new 3.7-liter V-6 engine, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive™, a Bose® Surround Sound audio system, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® connectivity and a GPS-based solar-sensing climate control system. The Technology Package includes the satellite-linked Acura Navigation System with Voice Activation™ with rearview camera, AcuraLink® Real-time traffic, AcuraLink® weather, Traffic Rerouting™, a rear view back-up camera, Active Front Lighting System (AFS), ventilated front seats, and a wood/leather steering wheel and shift knob. The top RL package is the Technology Package with CMBS™ which also includes Acura's acclaimed Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and genuine wood instrument panel trim.

Here's a link to the press release;
http://www.hondanews.com/categories/1074/releases/4406

2009 Honda FIT Interior Shots

Here are some nice shots of the FIT that we should be recieving here in North America. This is the European one, I sure hope we get the 'sky roof'.

Here is a link to a previous article of mine on the coming FIT;

http://thehondaportal.blogspot.com/2007/12/2nd-generation-honda-fit-2009-for-us.html

Honda S2000CR Makes Hagerty’s List of Future Top 10 Collector Cars

Hagerty Insurance, an insurance company that specializes in protecting collector cars, has created a list of 10 new cars for sale in 2008 that it believes have the greatest potential to be collector items in 15-20 years.

Top 10 Collector Cars of Tomorrow:
Audi S5
Cadillac XLR-V Roadster
Chevrolet Corvette Z06
Dodge Charger Super Bee
Ford Mustang Shelby GT500KR
Honda S2000 CR
Lotus Exige S
Pontiac Solstice/Saturn Sky
Smart ForTwo
Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Link: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=124575