At the end of 2008 we gave you our thoughts on the heroes and zeroes of 2008 and voted the Honda Accord our best all-rounder based on practicality, prestige and price.
We felt it had driver appeal and refinement, yet was a good-looker as well.
We also took the futuristic cabin into account, highlighted that materials used were competitive to anything German, and, value-for-money-wise, found that items usually deemed optional extras came standard in the Accord.
Honda's after-sales reputation and high ranking in surveys such as JD Power's did it no harm; neither did the fact that it's a finalist in the 2009 SA Car of the Year contest.
And so it was that we took delivery of an Accord Tourer for the silly season (Honda's first local wagon) and wondered if it would live up to the sedan's precedent. And before I forget to mention it, Honda actually calls these units Tourers, like BMW has Touring, Mercedes-Benz has Estate and Audi has Avant.
Let's start with the size differences: the Tourer is 25mm longer, 30mm higher and 62kg heavier than the sedan but they're the same width.
However, with the back seats erect, the sedan has about 60 litres more boot volume. That changes substantially with the seats folded: the Tourer can swallow a substantial 660 litres - or, Honda says, swallow a mountain bike with its wheels on.
The rear seats are easy to drop - the releases are within easy reach and there's no need to remove the head restraints. The Tourer has tie-down hooks, storage under the side panels, an easy-to-use cover to hide your shopping from the ungodly and an elasticated cargo net.
The highlight, though, is the electric tail door: the Joneses will be green! Press a button on the key fob (or the one on the driver's door) and access will be granted with an elegant "swoosh", a warning beep and flashing indicators. Closing is just as easy - a button inside the door does the deed and a resistance sensor will protect the children and dogs.
The Tourer's other major plus is its looks. I think it puts Audi's Avant, Beemer's Touring and Merc's Estate in the shade. Honda calls it a sharp-edged design; I agree. It really talks the talk; it's sexy, athletic and elegant all at the same time.
I also liked the big wheels and wide wheel arches.
R14 000 OPTIONAL AUTO
Pity, then, that the Tourer is available with only one engine, the range-topping 2.4-litre, i-VTEC petrol that's good for 148kW. You can, however, choose a six-speed manual or five-speed auto gearbox. The sedan we tested last year was manual, it was smooth through the gears and the power delivery - even up here on the Reef - was ample.
The Tourer arrived with the optional R14 000 auto and, well, it's a bit of a dog. It's lazy; in normal Drive it won't drop to the most responsive gear unless you use the kick-down. It's better in Sport because it holds a higher gear but fuel consumption suffers.
Basically, it seems the ratios are out. It becomes frustrating to drive in short commutes. It's much better on the open road. There are shift paddles on the steering-wheel but they're pointless. It's like the auto box is a generation behind the rest of the car.
VERDICT
The verdict is simple: the car is good, the auto box isn't, and the cheaper manual is a much better option. Consumption-wise we achieved 11.6 litres/100km on the manual sedan and 12.1 on the Tourer and I suspect the gearbox played a big part in that difference.
Otherwise, the Tourer's a great package.
SPECIFICATIONS
Test vehicle from: Honda SA.
ENGINE
Cylinders:
4 .
Capacity:
2354cc.
Fuel system:
Petrol, fuel-injection.
Power:
148kW at 7000rpm.
Torque:
234Nm @ 4300rpm.
TRANSMISSION
Type:
Five-speed automatic, front wheel drive.
SUSPENSION
Front:
Double wishbones, coil springs, variable gas-pressurised shocks, anti-roll bar.
Rear:
Multi-link, coil springs, variable gas-pressurised shocks, anti-roll bar.
STEERING
Type:
Rack-and-pinion.
Steering-column adjustment:
Height and reach, electric assistance..
BRAKES
Front:
Ventilated discs.
Rear:
Drum in disc.
Driver aids:
ABS, electronic pressure distribution, emergency pressure assistance.).
WHEELS/TYRES
Rims:
18-inch alloy.
Tyres:
235/45 R18.
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Length:
4750mm.
Width:
1840mm.
Height:
1470mm.
Mass:
1606kg.
FUEL TANK/CONSUMPTION
65 litres, 12.1 litres/100km.
222km/h (claimed).
ACCELERATION
0-100km/h:
9.6sec.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Leather upholstery; heatable and power-adjustable front seats; multi-information display; front-loading six-disc CD system with MP3 player inputs; refrigerated glove box and centre console box; dual-zone auto aircon; power glass sunroof; power windows and mirrors; cruise control; multifunction steering wheel; headlight washers; remote-controlled central locking; alarm/immobiliser; power tail door.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Front, side and curtain crash bags; seat-belt pre-tensioners; traction control; anti-lock brakes.
MANUFACTURER SUPPORT
Three-year or 100 000km warranty, five-year or 100 000km service plan.
SERVICE INTERVALS
15 000km.
PRICE
R335 900.
RIVALS
Audi A4 Avant 1.8T FSI Ambition Multitronic (118kW /250Nm) - R331 000
BMW 320i Touring Steptronic (115kW/200Nm) - R322 000
Mercedes-Benz C180K Estate Classic Touchshift (115kW/230Nm) - R336 700
Volvo V50 2.4i Geartronic (125kW/230Nm) - R287 000