The combination of low price and superior quality became synonymous with the
Honda Accord and made it the greatest-selling car in America for several years. Currently the second-greatest seller, the Accord has its sights set on
Ford Taurus' No. 1 spot.
According to our test driver, every update and refinement Honda has made to the all newest edition of its bread-and-butter car is certain to keep most, if not all, Honda fans in the fold. And our tester should know - he drove a 1988 Honda for years and loved every mile of it. If you're not one of those loyal owners, however, the sticker price of the all new Accord might make you pause.
The 1994 Accord EX we tested carried an MSRP of $20,187. That price was for the top-of-the-line, fully equipped version of the basic Accord. It came with air conditioning, an AM/FM stereo, power windows and door locks, dual air bags and a whole lot more as standard. It also boasted a 2.2liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine, absolutely stunning styling updates, many creature comforts and Honda's trademark flawless fit-and-finish.
Unlike prior years, though, our 1994 Accord EX didn't necessarily stand head and shoulders above other cars in its size and price range in terms of engineering and manufacturing integrity. We're not implying that Honda has slipped; it's just that a number of other domestic and imported makes have improved.
The impeccable paint application and zero defect level of fit-and-finish on our Accord EX were the only exterior touches that reminded our test driver of his old
Honda. Our Accord EX was a genuinely new, contemporary car.
From a near needle-nose front-end configuration that angled back nearly 45 degrees from center, the hood swept upward at a sharp angle to meet an expansive, acutely raked windshield. The modern, slippery profile continued with a gently bubbled roofline and concluded with an upward curvature of the rear fenders and trunk lid. This created a raised rear deck that seemed to beg for a spoiler. Recessed door handles and door-to-door protective side moldings matched the body color perfectly,
A pointed grille with a single centered bar rested beneath the Honda logo on the hood of our Accord. Headlamp assemblies, covered in clear, impact-resistant plastic, angled back about 45 degrees to meet the fenders and wraparound cornering lights. A substantial front bumper assembly, vinyl-covered and paint-matched to the body, curved outward from the fenders to complete the slight needle-nosed look. Amber cornering lights imbedded in the low segment of the bumper, as was a black vinyl air scoop.
The only feature that seemed slightly out of place in this contemporary styling treatment was the huge taillight assembly. Though highly visible, they were a little too squarish and horsey for this subtle, yet striking, vehicle.
