Overall rating:

The mildly revised Honda Accord has a number of new features for top-end models. Saloons with the 2.2-litre diesel engine now sit below the significant 160g/km barrier, which ups the incentive for business users.

Key Facts

Pricing: £21,695-£30,755
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Body style: four-door saloon
Rivals: Mazda6, Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia
CO₂ emissions: 138g/km
Combined economy: 53.3mpg
Top speed: 131mph
0-62mph: 9.4 seconds
Power: 148bhp at 4,000rpm
Torque: 258lb.ft at 2,000-2,500rpm

In the Metal:

Blink and you'll miss the styling updates, but we promise that the Honda Accord's exterior has been mildly reworked. The headlamps are now clearer with matching indicators rather than amber items. There's also a new set of 17-inch alloy wheels available with ES and ES-GT models and the taillights get similar treatment to the headlamps with a consistent red finish. Finally, there's some chrome above the rear number plate and a choice of three new colours: Alabaster Silver, Graphite Lustre metallic and Celestial Blue Pearl.

Inside, the changes are restricted to a darker dashboard and silver door handles and handbrake. ES models now come with new seat materials and door linings, but that's it. Build quality is generally good, though some of the lower cabin plastics are a little lacklustre. Space is plentiful throughout as ever.

Driving it:

Where rival Vauxhall Insignias and Volkswagen Passats major on comfort, the Honda Accord is more of a driver's choice. The six-speed gearbox has a short, mechanical throw and is reminiscent of the Honda S2000's sweet transmission. The steering is responsive but would benefit from a smidgen more feedback, while grip is abundant. The 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine takes a little winding up but, for the most part, it's brimming with mid-range torque.

The trade-off here is the ride, which is harsh and less comfortable than that of rivals. Equally, the diesel engine's clatter isn't as well suppressed as it could be, so the Accord comes across as a little raw for a D-segment saloon.

What you get for your Money:

The most significant change as far as Honda is concerned is that the 2.2-litre i-DTEC saloon now emits less than 160g/km in both manual and automatic guises. That allows businesses to write off more of the cost of the vehicle, creating more incentive for the Accord's target fleet audience. The CO₂ reductions on the diesel and petrol engines are modest and range from 9-11g/km, but it's significant enough to drop a tax band here and there.

The Honda Accord's £21,000 or so starting price renders it more expensive than many entry-level rivals like the Ford Mondeo and the Mazda6. For that, you get larger, more refined engines and a car with upmarket aspirations.

Worth Noting

Top spec Honda Accords now come with active cornering 'Bi-HID' headlights. In an effort to keep up with premium rivals, Honda is also offering a high beam detection system that automatically dips the full beams for oncoming traffic.

Summary

Honda's updated Accord is a worthy rival for established D-segment cars, but it's not quite a class leader. Keen drivers will relish its engaging handling and both Honda and the Accord's reliability records are not to be sniffed at. The engine clean up is also a step in the right direction, but fleet types who spend their lives on motorways are likely to gravitate towards more refined and comfortable competitors.