The new look Honda Accord

A lower, wider and more luxurious Honda Accord looks set to take the fight to the Ford Mondeo

The latest Honda Accord has sleek lines, a new interior and a completely redesigned diesel engine.

The Honda Accord will be available as a saloon and a ‘Tourer’ estate, competing directly with the Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo and the Volkswagen Passat.

Inside, Honda claim it has taken things upmarket. The dashboard features bright and colourful instruments and there is a display to provide the driver with clear information from the trip computer.

Its three-spoke steering wheel is fitted with controls for the audio system, cruise control and mobile telephone and is fully adjustable, in and out and up and down.

The newly developed i-DTEC diesel engine has more power and lower emissions than the outgoing model’s i-CDTI, with 148bhp and 258lb/ft of pulling power – up from 138bhp and 251lb/ft.

Both the 2-litre and 2.4-litre i-VTEC petrol engines have been redesigned and now produce 148bhp and 197bhp respectively.

All engines are fitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, while the petrol engines are available with a five-speed automatic.

Safety has also been improved - vehicle stability assist (VSA) is standard on all new Honda Accords. By applying braking to individual wheels, and reducing engine pulling power it acts to prevent skids.

The VSA can also adjust the Honda Accord’s power steering, and Honda claim it can provide the driver with intuitive assistance and help to steer in the correct way during a slide.

The Honda Accord is being unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March, and the saloon will go on sale in June, followed by the Tourer in September.

Its price is expected to closely echo the current model, which ranges from £16,000 to £22,000.

View more pictures of the Honda Accord