2008 Honda Accord Coupe Review | Buyer Guide
The Sporty Accord
When you say “Honda Accord” most people think of a four-door sedan, but Honda also builds a coupe model too. While it’s no way near as popular as the sedan, it’s a car that shouldn’t be overlooked, if you are in the market for a sporty two-door.
Some coupes are just sedans with two less doors. Not so with the Accord. Honda made this model different in several ways. The coupe is three inches shorter than the four-door version, and rides on a more compact (107.9-inch) wheelbase. It also features more aggressive styling, highlighted by the gracefully sloping roofline that gives it a sleek look.
On the inside, the Coupe gets its own sporty three-spoke steering wheel. However, the busy two-tier dash, which carries over from the sedan, does not add a lot esthetically.
As with most coupes, the rear seat accommodations are rather cramped. Furthermore, getting in and out is best suited to the small and agile.
In the engine department, buyers get a choice of the sportier 190-hp version of the 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine from the Accord sedan, or the 268 hp, 3.5-liter V-6. The four-banger comes with 5-speed manual and automatic transmissions—the V-6 also gets a 5-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual. If you order the 6-speed manual, you get the more responsive V-6 without the cylinder-deactivation feature.
My test car, a V-6 with the manual gearbox, was plenty quick. It was capable of reaching 60 in less than six seconds. The V-6 pulled smoothly from 2000 rpm up to the 6800-rpm redline, and emitted a sporty growl in the upper rev range. The six-speed shifter snick-snicked through the gears with ease.
The Accord coupe is fun to drive on challenging roads. Large 18-inch wheels and tires, standard on the V-6 model, and a small amount of torque-steer helped pull my test car around corners. Only when pressed hard did the Accord want to give up some grip and run wide. And even though the coupe has a sporty character, it still delivered a comfortable ride.
Accord coupes start at $22,495 for a 4-cylinder LX with manual transmission, and range up to $31,145 for an EX V-6 (manual or automatic) with a navigation system.
Snapshot Review
Sporty Styling
Excellent Power (V-6)
Fun To Drive
