Smooth operator with a throaty roar

HONDA’S TWIN EXHAUSTS BACKDROP A BONUS

There is something peculiarly satisfying about the roar the Honda Accord V6 NT delivers when planting the accelerator.

The 3.5 litre V6 engine soars through the rev range and smoothly delivers the swift armchair ride Accord owners have come to expect from Honda’s large sedan. It is no V8 supercar crack and pop, but offers instead a pleasing backdrop when accelerating hard.

The throaty roar delivered by the twin exhausts comes as a surprising bonus from a package targeting families and older sedan buyers.

This is the ninth generation Accord, a model available here since 1976. The V6 models aimed at the American market have been here since 1998, with the current upgrades introduced two months ago.

Honda has tweaked the exterior detail of the car, and while retaining its pleasing overall design, the most significant TONY VERDON changes involve the introduction of the latest technical wizardry available.

The result is a safer and more advanced large sedan, delivering an exceptionally smooth and relaxing drive, with enough grunt to satisfy most driving situations.

The car is equipped with Honda’s 3.5 litre V6 motor, with “Earthdreams” technology — this involves technical advances to the drivetrain which Honda says delivers a smoother and more efficient drive.

Whether you are pushing the Accord V6 hard or driving in a more relaxed fashion, the car provides speed quickly and smoothly.

The six- speed automatic gearbox delivers the power so evenly through the six gears there is little point in using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. As HONDAACCORDV6NT Comfort, space and power Touchscreen on the dashboard, no buttons. in many mainstream models, they are superfluous in most driving circumstances.

The Accord comes equipped with a variable cylinder management system, which means it employs only as many of the six cylinders as it thinks fit while shutting those not required off. During a week driving the Accord in all sorts of situations, I could never detect the system kicking in or tuning out power. I achieved an average fuel consumption figure of 11.8 litres per 100km, which is not exactly frugal but is good for the size of the vehicle.

There is a sports mode on the car, but even in drive mode there is always enough grunt to quickly The Honda Accord V6 NT delivers a smooth, relaxed ride.