We drive the white hot Honda Accord Sport GT

Model tested: Honda Accord Sport GT
On the road price: £20,767
Range Price: £18,600 - £23,417
Insurance group: 12
Insurance group range: 11 - 14
Tested: August 2007
Road tester: Adrian Hearn

UK car buyers aren’t short of choice when it comes to family saloons - so car makers have to offer something different.

With the Honda Accord Sport GT you get aggressive looks, punchy performance and Japanese reliability.

We took one for a spin to see how it stacks up against the competition. 

In pearl white, the Honda Accord Sport GT, with its body-coloured bumpers, angular grille, rear boot spoiler and sexy five spoke 17-inch alloy wheels is one of the sexiest saloons on the road.

The flagship Sport GT is only available with one engine – a 2.2-litre diesel pushing out 138bhp and 251lb/ft of pulling power. But it’s one of the best diesel engines on the market and is refined, smooth and impressively quiet.

While the power numbers don’t scream “quick” the oil-burning lump shifts the Accord from 0-62mph (100kph) in a competent 9.3 seconds and on to a top speed of 132mph. This is quicker than the equivalently-specced Ford Mondeo 2-litre TDCi which hits 60mph in ten seconds and has a top speed of 130mph - but it’s a £1,000 premium over the Ford.

With the smooth six-speed manual gearbox working in tandem with the diesel engine, the Accord is economical as well as nippy, boasting a combined 51.8mpg and 62.8mpg over extra urban journeys.

And with carbon emissions of just 145g/km, the cheap-to-run Accord’s annual tax bill is a respectable £135. 

The ride is firm and responsive thanks to the stiffer suspension which allows harder cornering. And while the stiffer springs make winding roads more fun, over long periods of motorway use the Accord provides a comfortable drive.

Equipment-wise, the GT Sport is very well-specced. Standard features include satellite navigation, Bluetooth, cruise control, climate control and a sound system player with six-CD autochanger.   

The Accord is packed with safety features. Standard aids include anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, driver and passenger airbags and an alarm and immobiliser.  

In the EuroNCAP crash test programme, the Accord was awarded four stars.

If you’re looking for a company car offering performance, aggressive looks, frugality and bullet-proof reliability then the Accord GT Sport in pearl white should be at the top of the list.

And if you’re looking for a family saloon, which is different to the norm then the Accord – for a slight premium over the ubiquitous Ford Mondeo or a considerable chunk less than the BMW 3-Series – should be seriously considered.

Rivals:

You might want to consider:

Ford Mondeo
BMW 3-Series
Toyota Avensis
Volkswagen Passat
Dodge Avenger

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