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2007 Honda Accord Sedan EX-L V-6 6MT and Accord Coupe EX Road Test

The grand finale has come for the 8th generation Honda Accord. Sad, I know, butall good things must come to an end, sort of. While the 9th generation of the Accord will be coming out later on this year, it would be uncharacteristic of Honda to let the 2007 Accord go quietly. In fact, to make that lasting “loud” statement, the Japanese auto manufacturer introduced a 6-speed manual transmission mated to a 244 horsepower V6 on the sedan model, for extra kicks. You might recognize this engine from the Accord sedan's two-door coupe sibling. Yes, it's the same coupe-inspired 3.0L, SOHC, i-VTEC, but for the first time integrated within the sedan. Who says you can't teach an 'old' Accord new tricks?

Unfortunately, very few 'new tricks' have been made to the Accord since 2006. Fortunately, there will be a completely new show just around the corner. Currently, both sedan

If I had to pick, the Coupe EX would be the one I'd take home. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

and coupe continue to radiate with LED tail- and stop-lights, and still shine with new wheels. The modifications, of course, are not major, but significant enough to keep consumers interested. And believe me, the V6 sedan and EX coupe are things to be interested in.

I'll start by highlighting my experience with the EX-L V-6 sedan and shift over to the EX coupe.

The Sedan

One stigma I associate with mid-sized sedans is boredom. I mean, let's behonest here, not all mid-size sedans generate feelings

Four-cylinder has enough punch, especially if you're the one who's shifting gears. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

of excitement or overwhelming joy. And now that I'm being honest, the Accord V6 isn't the most vivacious four-door out there, although it definitely has a good personality and fantastic credentials to back it up. Not only does it have a 6-speed manual transmission that I just fall in love with. It has an independent double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link double wishbone rear setup to keep the ride nimble enough for that sporty edge, but compliant enough not to roughhouse its occupants during everyday driving. Combine that with ABS- and EBD-enhanced four-wheel disc brakes, plus 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped in P215/50R17 all-season tires, and

The Coupe's interior is a bit brighter than the sedan, with red and white instruments plus alloy-look trim. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

we're cookin'.

The interior is well organized, but that's not a first for Honda. I have yet to enter any model in the lineup and feel a sense of clutter or disarray. I particularly liked the all-leather seating surfaceswith aluminum trim dispersed throughout. The leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel definitely add to the ambiance and driving pleasure. Furthermore, the instrument cluster looks great when illuminated at night. The little details really make a big difference in the grand scheme of things.

Driving the EX-L V-6 6-speed is quite entertaining. I almost forgot how unexciting mid-size sedans could be. All 244 horses and 211 lb-ft of torque gave the Accord that jolt of energy needed to keep it in tune with its

The Coupe is far more interesting to look at than the sedan. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

driver, yet everything is always ultra-smooth.

And while I'm on the topic of tunes, a six-speaker, 180-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer adds even more energy to the mix. Whether I was rockin' out to Metallica or mellowing to Mozart, the sound system proved to be quite good.

The Coupe

Going from the top-of-the-line trim level of sedan to the bottom-of-the-trimlevel of coupe was not a hard transition at all. With some manufacturers the difference is extremely noticeable, but with Honda it's all good. I was actually surprised at how much I liked this vehicle.

Working from the outside in, I found the Accord coupe to be appealing to the eyes. While I'm not sold on it as the edgiest or boldest looking two-door out there, it's still a pretty sharp looking vehicle. Not to mention, the taillights are very

Faux carbon fiber and leather spice up the EX-L V-6. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

trendy, sitting above that booty-licious bumper.

The cabin is quite roomy with 88.0 cubic feet of passenger space and trunk reasonably sized with 13.1 cubic feet of volume. I find that most of the coupes I drive are a little stingier on interior space, but not so with the Accord. I also sometimes find it hard to access the rear seats, mainlybecause their configuration is so compact that getting to the back is tedious or taxing. The forgiving design of the coupe made access to the back easy, especially when I had a passenger with me and had to put my handbag, or as my boyfriend would like to call it, hand luggage, behind me. Plus moving the seats forward was quick and easy. All I know is that when I've got a handful of stuff, the last thing I want to fuss with is a stiff and immovable front seat. No fussing here!

Furthermore, the passengers in my car commented on how easy it was to get in and out of the coupe. One night, a few co-workers and I carpooled to a local hockey

Ordinary on the outside, but this sedan's got a secret: it's good fun to drive. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

game. Sydney and Jamie (Jamie being over 6' tall) sat in the back and said they were totally comfortable, and Anna, who is expecting a little bundle of joy had ample room even with Jamie behind her.

Call me crazy, but I thought the cloth upholstery in this EX model wascomfy. It's soft and cushioned my body with enough firmness to keep me happy while driving. Plus, on those cold mornings, the cloth seating surfaces were a lot more forgiving than those of the EX-L sedan. Now, I'm not one to ever turn down the option of heated leather seats, but there is always an exception to this rule.

Power-wise, the EX sports a 2.4L, 16-valve, DOHC, i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine producing 166 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 160 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Instead of a 6-speed manual transmission which is, of course, available on the EX-L V-6 trim, it comes standard with the 5-speed manual transmission that I also really liked. The clutch is easy to depress and gear changes are smooth, an ideal combination when it comes to city driving.

Also, the EX doesn't come with as swanky a set

Well, it's the end of the life cycle for Honda's Accord. Time to give them one last look-over. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

of tires as the EX-L V-6, nevertheless it still has good rubber all-round thanks to P205/60R16 all-seasons riding on 16-inch alloy rims.

The Consensus:

I liked driving both two- and four-door Accords, no matter whether in base or fully dressed attire (the car... not me). The interior trim, ride quality and overall appeal remain consistent between the two models, but if I were to choose one that would be parked in my driveway, I'd pick the Accord Coupe EX. Why? I liked the way it drove just that much more. Even though it's more docile in the engine department, the powertrain combination it enjoyed was smooth and eager. I didn't find it all that annoying to access the rear seats, nor were the blind spots bad. All in all, I'd have to say that the coupe just fit me and my lifestyle better. And fuel economy-wise, the four-cylinder engine, whether fitted into the base coupe or sedan, wins hands down with an estimated 26 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. For comparative purposes, the EX-L V-6 with its three-liter V6 and 6-speed manual returns an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. However I look at these two cars, they're both winning picks.

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