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MasterOfDaDomain
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Accord is obviously taking on more BMW design cues (in addition to the shape/form), including the flame surfacing on the side (which are much better than the 8th gen cut line) and on the hood. The rear is quite generic, but I guess that's the case with most cars.
Overall it looks good, but a bit conservative. It is certainly far better looking than Altima, and better than Camry, but not as striking as Mazda6. I'd give it a B+ from the photos.
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starbai
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wheres the Optima and Sonata?
I understand many of the members of this board hate those with a passion, but you can't deny they are cross shopped and often chosen over these 4 options listed here.
Another up and comer that will be interesting to watch is the 2013 fusion...
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Steve
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And the Accord wins hands down.
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Lucien
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Do not forget new Fusion 2013. One of the few redesigns that are really different (arguably some will say it's evolution of the European Mondeo).
Also as it seems at this point that the Ford Fusion Hybrid fuel economy will exceed Honda Accord hybrid given that Honda claims only better mpg than Toyota Camry hybrid (and that's comparing PHEV to HEV). And Altima non-hybrid might still be best in class as well.
Reliability and quality might still be highest in the group but in other areas I don't find this redesign very progressive.
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starbai
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Steve wrote:
And the Accord wins hands down.
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really? in terms of JUST LOOKs i gotta give the win to the mazda 6--- it just looks freakin meannn in a good way.
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VTECRacer
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It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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Dren
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The Accord looks upscale. The Camry looks like a plastic trash can. The new Fusion is very nice, my favorite. I also am a big fan of the Sonata and the Optima. The Optima looks more like what I figure an Accord would look like...kind of sporty.
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starbai
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Dren wrote:
The Accord looks upscale. The Camry looks like a plastic trash can. The new Fusion is very nice, my favorite. I also am a big fan of the Sonata and the Optima. The Optima looks more like what I figure an Accord would look like...kind of sporty.
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I agree it has a lot more of a sporty look to it (the optima) in my head, in terms of looks, thats where i would have wanted to see the accord evolve to if anything....
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Dren
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I expect the next Accord to look something similar to this:
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JDMImport
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Steve wrote:
And the Accord wins hands down.
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buwahahahahahahahaha
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jdawg
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People who say this is conservative and boring and blah, blah, blah, obviously don't know or understand the Accord sedan styling history. This model has almost always been conservative in it's style and somewhat evolutionary in it's redesigns. I'd say the last four generations have varied significantly from each other until now. I believe that this design finally puts the Accord sedan back on track to what a traditional Accord looks like. It strikes the perfect blend between old and new Accords and melds the best out of all of them. I don't really see too much BMW cues except for the bottom of the C-pillar and the upper-beltline sculpting. Everything else except for the Genesis-esque taillights is 100% Honda Accord. The basic design traits of an Accord have always been balanced exterior proportions and good visibility and interior ergonomics. When you actually go through the nuts and bolts of hammering out a good, balanced design you don't come out with over-styled sides, with slit-like side glass area, and flash in the pan styling. The reason this car looks the way it does is because it's balanced more than any other car in its class. And that's where Honda's have excelled. Plus, generally Hondas styling ages exceptionally well when compared to the competition.
IMO, solely based upon styling, I would rank the competitors in the following order as follows:
1# Accord, Mazda 6 #tie - the most athletic and balanced of the lot#
2# Fusion #it's too rear heavy or fat, but everything else is great#
3# Optima #decent, but a little to disjointed in the c-pillar area#
4# Malibu #good overall styling, but a bit long and simple in areas#
5# Passat #clean and Euro-sophisticated, but too bland)
6) Altima #a bit too bulbous and curvy...needs tightening up)
7) Legacy #decent and somewhat balanced, but the styling of the front is a bit polarizing)
8) Chrysler Sebring #OK, front and good-looking rear, but overall it's dated and the sides and profile need changing)
9) Camry #the most horrible restyle ever - a throw-back to the worst of car design)
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BalIermd
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jdawg wrote:
I believe that this design finally puts the Accord sedan back on track to what a traditional Accord looks like. It strikes the perfect blend between old and new Accords and melds the best out of all of them. The basic design traits of an Accord have always been balanced exterior proportions and good visibility and interior ergonomics. When you actually go through the nuts and bolts of hammering out a good, balanced design you don't come out with over-styled sides, with slit-like side glass area, and flash in the pan styling. The reason this car looks the way it does is because it's balanced more than any other car in its class. And that's where Honda's have excelled. Plus, generally Hondas styling ages exceptionally well when compared to the competition.
IMO, solely based upon styling, I would rank the competitors in the following order as follows:
1# Accord, Mazda 6 #tie - the most athletic and balanced of the lot#
2# Fusion #it's too rear heavy or fat, but everything else is great#
3# Optima #decent, but a little to disjointed in the c-pillar area#
4# Malibu #good overall styling, but a bit long and simple in areas#
5# Passat #clean and Euro-sophisticated, but too bland)
6) Altima #a bit too bulbous and curvy...needs tightening up)
7) Legacy #decent and somewhat balanced, but the styling of the front is a bit polarizing)
8) Chrysler Sebring #OK, front and good-looking rear, but overall it's dated and the sides and profile need changing)
9) Camry #the most horrible restyle ever - a throw-back to the worst of car design)
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Your top paragraph nails it! And I'm so glad Honda is going back to a larger greenhouse. The fact that the already gigantic interior of the 8th generation get's larger in the 9th generation while the overall car gets smaller is very impressive - reminds me of the 5th generation in this regard.
As for the rankings in this class based off looks alone, honestly it should be this way:
1. Mazda6 (clearly the frontrunner, but it remains to be seen if consumers will warm up to Mazda even with this new design)
2. Fusion/Optima tie (Fusion looks good, even for a rehash of the Mondeo. The Optima is one nice looking car on the street also. Takes a lot of front end cues from the current Accord coupe, but with proper execution.)
3. Accord/Malibu tie (Based on the two pics of the sedan Honda released today, I say it's tied for 2nd, but that could change. It's a safe evolution, but I'm sooo happy to see that there are no weird styling elements and proportions are perfect - YES I LOVE THOSE REFLECTORS ON THE COUPE'S REAR END! Talk about evolution, the Malibu is the most evolutionary out of any of the new cars. The only way I can tell the new one from the old one is the tail lights, but it's still a nice looking car, though I'd never buy one.)
4. Passat (Very, very conservative styling, and the only one left that can't be had with projector beam headlights, CC doesn't count. Passat also takes its styling cues from the current Accord. It has grown on me but it's still mid-pack in the looks department.)
5. Camry (Another conservative, evolutionary effort. But like the Passat, the Camry's styling has grown on me. One can't help it, they're everywhere!!!)
5. Legacy (That front end with those huge headlights kills it for me. Everything else is sooo forgettable about the design. Now if it had retained the look of the concept, man... It would be higher on the list.)
6. Altima (Where to begin? First off, Nissan is still trying to capitalize on the massive success they had with the 3rd generation Altima back in 2002. Well they improved the car so much back then, with the Maxima sitting on top of it, there was no place to go but down with future models. Plus the styling has been evolving since 2002, and I don't have a problem with that, but like the Civic, I think this new model has taken a step backwards in styling. Saw one at the dealership this weekend and my views on its looks are worst than they were on pictures and tv.
7. Sonata (Over-styled and over-hyped. But hey, when the kid with the "F" in the class starts getting "C's" and "B's" they are gonna get a lot of praise.)
8. Sebring (Really, I forgot this monstrosity was even in this class)
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JeffX
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VTECRacer wrote:
It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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The Camry looked dated to me the day the first photos came out. I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be so impressed.
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A77
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I thought the Sebring was called the 200.
Still waiting for a proper picture or three of the Mazda 6. In some photos it is simply beautiful. The Optima looks better in showrooms than on the street. camry is ugly. Altima ugly (in photos - havent seen one) Passat is boring (the old CC was classic), Malibu...who cares. Fusion - lets wait and see - the one I saw at the Car show was pretty impressive, but not helped by a bland colour. Accord is inoffensive and classy - bordering bland but lets wait till we see proper examples. But nothing looks weird thankfully - unlike the front and rear lights of the 8 gen.
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Lucien
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Jeff wrote:
VTECRacer wrote:
It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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The Camry looked dated to me the day the first photos came out. I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be so impressed.
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And amazingly it sells extremely well which does seem strange... Guess majority of buyers don't care about exterior design much. It's probably most buyers buy because of past reliability and quality.
I don't think the major issue with the Accord redesign is that it's boring since most sedans look boring (except maybe optima/fusion) but rather that it changed so little like the Camry.
But maybe we'll get better pictures from the side to see if anything changed there.
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TheGandalf
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If I had to choose a Camry I must say that the previous gen looked way better than this one. To me Toyota dropped the ball. It's a good thing they can rely on fleet sales (same as the Altima now a days) to prop up the numbers.
I can hardly wait to schedule a test drive (even though I am still about a year away from swaping my car) and confirm if the powertrain and features are as good as expected (I am optimistic based on Jeff's previous posts about the ED qualities).
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auto_enthu
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Very clean design IMO.
Honda definitely learnt something from civic.
The front is a bit conservative. A CRV kind of grill may have made it a bit more aggressive and better looking.
The side and rear profiles are a good balance of conservative and sporty look.
Overall, a very clean design, unlike the current generation (whose rear is messed-up).
Accord's assembly lines will be super busy for the next 4 years. Also, this might impact TSX and TL sales to some extent.
Compared to Altima and Camry, although Accord may not be a clear winner (neither do Altima and Camry), it definitely stands-out better given its clean design.
More importantly, this accord will age very well.
I'm curious to see how it drives.
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Gfn8r
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As usual, this stuff is my opinion, and I may be (and probably am) wrong in some respects, so no flame wars, please!
The "6" is almost more evolutionary than the Accord, based on those pics; the new grille, as with the CX-5, looks nice, better than the design language of the "3!" The sides are a little cleaner than the new Accord--the Accord's flame surfacing is OK (and will look good in person), but a couple less creases would have been a little better, and would help for collision repairs--in particular, if the bumper area on the side is hit just right, try repairing that character-line halfway up the panel properly! (I'm biased on this one--my biggest driving flub in years occurred when I bumped my 2006 Accord Sedan's trunk right on the character-line, and it wasn't exactly straightened right by the body shop, even after two attempts--I should have replaced the decklid with one from a front-end-totaled car.) IIRC, there have been some interior shots of this car floating around, and it doesn't look like some of the class leaders--it almost looks like an early-2000s Altima.
As for the new Altima, the more I look at it, the more it looks like a cross between an enlarged Sonata and last-gen Accord. The side is too slab-sided--it needs some lines to break up the look a bit. The Accord also nips it in the tech deparment. (I don't know how their CVT does when paired with the V6; never have driven a CVT-equipped car, so I've never experienced the "rubber-band" effect, and even though I'll be purchasing a V6 Accord Sedan (EX-L NAVI or Touring), I'll take an EX ED 4-banger out for a drive to see how it feels.)
The Fusion looks good, but Ford's interiors might be getting a little "out there" for the average Joe-and-Jane Sixpack. And there is "no replacement for displacement"--I'm still not sold on turbochargers and long-term reliability. So that also leaves out the Sonata and Optima: the Optima is just plain weird in the back, between the C-pillar and that extended chrome rain-gutter-thingy, though the interior is interesting. The Sonata has got too much going on in the "lines" department, the interior is as "out there" as the Fusion in some respects, and the greenhouse is nearly as "gun-slit" to me as the 1st-Gen Chrysler 300 or the Dodge Challenger.
Camry: At the last auto show I attended, the 8th-Gen Accord was sitting across an aisle from the new Camry. The Accord, in terms of "touchy-feely" stuff, wiped the floor with that car! And I've never figured out WTF was up with that tailight styling--how much more would it have cost per car to extend that thing on the trunk lid down to the bottom of the tailight (or how much could they have saved by leaving it off, ala the pre-MMC 8th-Gen Accords)? At least they cleaned up the interior somewhat, quality-wise, though they did let the accountants have a field day: auto-down windows only on the driver's window versus both fronts or all four, as an example. (And that dash top may not last until the payment book is empty in warmer, sunny climes.) As for driving prowess, maybe with the exception of the SE, we all know that the Accord has been the more fun of the two, even with the porcine proportions of the 8th-Gen!
Malibu? I think we've seen that Chevy mucked that one up a bit! The new Impala competes better with the higher-level Accords, although the LTZ with all the fixings will top $40K, right up there in Taurus territory. Again, Malibu, no V6.
I agree about the headlights on the Legacy and Altima, too--a little extreme. (My 7th-Gen is probably my "limit" in regard to that kind of headlight style.) On headlights, notice that the "bug-eye" bulge on the new Accord is almost nonexistent--the Altima and Camry look to have a little more of this, though nothing was as off-putting as the 8th-Gen Accord! Of course, we also get HIDs (or even LEDs) in the Touring and Hybrid.
Passat: good effort, not sure about reliability (choice of the weird-sounding 2.5L five-cylinder or turbos again, and the 2.0T is known to be weak in that department--need to step up to the CC with gun-slit visibility to get the VR6), the interior is certainly not as nice as previous VWs, plus the tech. content on the new Accord blows this car away! (Backup camera, for example, only on the top-line SEL.) That five-cylinder might also be going away completely. At least a Diesel is available.
200: While Chrysler has made huge strides in interior quality, this needs to be replaced! Rental-lot fodder, at best!
At the risk of sounding like too much of a "fanboi," this Accord has got what it takes to compete!!
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jdawg
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I made several mistakes and omissions. I thought I was leaving something out and I was right but posted too quickly.
- Honestly, I like the Malibu better than either the Optima or the Sonata. I saw an Optima just a while a go and I gotta say, I don't understand all the praise it's getting. The only thing that car really has going for it, interior layout aside, is the agressive wheel stance. Everything else is IMO just for wow factor and doesn't exude as much class as the new Accord. Has anyone gone to a used car lot lately? You tell me which cars still look good after six years. My bet is on a Mercedes or BMW above the like of any Hyundai, Kia, or Lexus for that matter.
- I left out the Sonata. It's a tie with the Optima. Both offer fair propotions and somewhat intense styling, but I feel as if they're trying too hard to look appealing. While ahead of the curve in inventiveness, I believe the designs are not as cohesive as those of Honda, Mazda, and Ford.
- I made the mistake of calling the Chrysler 200, the Sebring, which is what it used to be called.
If I was in the market for a midsize sedan this fall, I would be torn between the Accord or Mazda 6. The Fusions are just too expensive with a decent engine not to mention tail heavy. I'd be very surprised and disappointed if the new Accord didn't beat the Fusion in a handling/performance test.
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FiSH-Chan
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Jeff wrote:
VTECRacer wrote:
It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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The Camry looked dated to me the day the first photos came out. I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be so impressed.
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Couldn't tell from the vids and pics when it was first released, but then they launched it here and now in person, to me the design is slightly better than the last one (the Asian version) but it also looks way too unimpressive.
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owequitit
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Lucien wrote:
Jeff wrote:
VTECRacer wrote:
It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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The Camry looked dated to me the day the first photos came out. I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be so impressed.
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And amazingly it sells extremely well which does seem strange... Guess majority of buyers don't care about exterior design much. It's probably most buyers buy because of past reliability and quality.
I don't think the major issue with the Accord redesign is that it's boring since most sedans look boring (except maybe optima/fusion) but rather that it changed so little like the Camry.
But maybe we'll get better pictures from the side to see if anything changed there.
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We know from spy shots that the front overhang is much improved...and IMO, that alone is a huge improvement.
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Mechanic
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owequitit wrote: . . . We know from spy shots that the front overhang is much improved...and IMO, that alone is a huge improvement.
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You think so? It's not obvious from the pic, and if you're correct, the bulge of the "pedestrian-friendly" hood sort of moots the overhang improvement, no.
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tennis32828
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I agree with most that the Mazda 6 is ahead of others in the looks category. It looks premium, radical but yet timeless. Reminds me of a rounded volvo. The problems that Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have, that Mazda doesnt, is that the big 3 have upscale models (ie. TL, ES, g37) to consider during redesigning. Mazda doesnt have an upscale brand so they have more flexibility with their designs.
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Gfn8r
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tennis32828 wrote:
I agree with most that the Mazda 6 is ahead of others in the looks category. It looks premium, radical but yet timeless. Reminds me of a rounded volvo. The problems that Honda, Toyota, and Nissan have, that Mazda doesnt, is that the big 3 have upscale models (ie. TL, ES, g37) to consider during redesigning. Mazda doesnt have an upscale brand so they have more flexibility with their designs.
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Both the new and last-generation Mazda 6s will age very well, as will this new Accord, both styles. (8th-Gen Sedan, not so much, IMHO.)
Both 8th-and-9th-Gen coupes look like grown-up 2nd/3rd-Gen Preludes, with the new coupe a little more taut. Let's wait to pass judgement on the honeycomb elements until we see the cars in actual conditions--my 3 1/2 y/o niece could probably take a better picture than Honda's PR peeps! (Even the brochures always look better than these teasers, thank goodness!)
If the Touring Sedan pictured is in Modern Steel Metallic, that color goes to the top of my list! Classy, yet subtle enough to not attract "unwanted attention," kinda like Carbon Bronze Pearl (or Polished Metal Metallic)! ;-) (And to bring this back on-topic, it'll age gracefully, too!)
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rev2damoon
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Jeff wrote:
VTECRacer wrote:
It's amazing how outdated the Camry already looks. Has it even been a year yet?
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The Camry looked dated to me the day the first photos came out. I couldn't figure out why so many people seemed to be so impressed.
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The new Camry is an improvement over the last, styling-wise, but that's not saying much. It's all relative.
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notyper
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The Camry isn't selling on styling. It's selling on an improved powertrain (the 2.5 is very solid in this class - better than the Koreans, torquier down low than the K24 with similar top end an of course a 6AT), much improved handling with the SE package (which is doing what, 40% of sales? Amazing) and of course Toyota's reputation, marketing dollars and sheer size.
SC
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NSXman
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I wouldn't accuse the Camry of having the most aggressive styling every to grace the family sedan market, but I also can't understand why people trash it like it is the worst car to ever hit the market. Over time the Accord has had a more sporty feel and presence (the steering of the Accord to me is top notch), but there are places where the Camry is at very least an equal if it does not occasionally best the Accord (acceleration, no cylinder deactivation, IMO a better stereo with JBL option, IMO a better transmission, IMO better seats with the SE model, and maybe a few more). I understand that the bias tilts towards the Accord here, but any post that just degrades into Camry hate just annoys me when I know it isn't intellectually honest to say or imply its the worst family sedan on the market.
As for looks...seriously? After the million button mess that is the Accord dash and the drab Accord sedan looks (about as sophisticated as Kip Dynamite) with those nasty chrome handles (I don't even think the overly gaudy XLE has those) and the mile long wheelbase people want to be critical of the Camry? Personifying the Accord, the Accord is the guy with the perfectly parted hair with overly thick glasses (who doesn't worry about getting something more pleasing because after all the glasses work fine) who has the perfectly spotless house and spends his day making sure his nose hair is trimmed perfectly. At the same time this man does not modernize anything in his life, and is sharply critical of those that do. Personifying the Camry, the Camry is the guy who is practical, but actually enjoys himself. He isn't an athlete, but at least knows how to throw a football and knows you don't hit a touchdown in baseball. He doesn't take himself so seriously as to not be able to laugh at his imperfections, but rather makes up for them by shining in other areas. He's the everyday Joe. The Accord is Clark Kent (that C&D will do anything to make Superman, and it is becoming harder and harder for the Accord to find a phone booth)...the Camry is Jimmy Olsen the photographer--a bit klutzy but ultimately is good at his profession and comes through when needed the most.
I'll be honest and say overall, the Accord would probably win me over on steering feel that the Camry doesn't have, but in the looks department give me a Camry SE over the current or the up and coming Accord any day. Actually, give me neither and let me have the Fusion on looks.
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Rgist85
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For me, the best looking car so far is the Fusion...that may change once I see some better pics of the new Mazda6, but right now based on looks alone, Fusion is still Number one for me.
1) Ford Fusion SE/Titanium: I Love the styling, looks more upscale than other cars in the class IMO, knock off Aston Martin styling does it for me. Interior design is a bit conservative compared to the Escape/Focus models, but it will probably age well. Unlike lots of folks I LOVE myford touch. Having spent significant time in Focus models and looking at new Escape models, I expect best in class technology and high quality materials. It will surely be fun to drive as well. On top of that Fusion SE models can be equipped with EVERY option, the 1.6t AND a 6spd manual transmission. Icing on the cake for me. I am surprised that HIDs are not even offered on the Fusion, nor can you get push button start on SE models.
2) Kia Optima SX: If the Fusion didn't exist it would be the nicest car in my view. EX models are handsome, SX models, especially SX models with the "Touring" wheels look downright sexy. Nobody in the class can touch the feature content of the Optima. Pano-roof, heated/cooled front seats, heated rear seats and much more. Interior design takes some getting used to but materials are high quality for the class. Give me the SX in Titanium with Black interior.
3) Nissan Altima 3.5SL: At first I thought the Altima was a bit too evolutionary, but after driving three models (two 2.5s and one 3.5) I've got to say that Nissan has a HIT on their hands with this car. Styling could be more radical, no doubt, but in V6 trim with the 18 inch wheels the Altima looks sophisticated and stylish. Interior design is also a bit conservative but it has some of the best damn seats I've ever sat in and soft touch interior materials everywhere. The gauge cluster, many tech features and pricing is hard to beat. I like the Altima a lot. The CVT is much improved and in V6 form its a HOOT to drive.
4) Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0t: I still love the styling of the Sonata, even going into the car's third model year. In some ways I feel it has more presence than Optima does but it can't touch the Optima's interior design or materials and it lags behind on content. Can't beat the price though. It looks nicer than it actually is IMO.
5) 2013 Honda Accord: I'm sorry fellas, but the styling updates just don't do it for me...I suppose I'll like it more when we get some actual pictures or when I see them on lots with the usual accessories (splash guards and moonroof visors) but right now it looks more like the facelift that Honda should have given us back in 2010. Accord seems to offer a lot of content for the class, especially in top trim levels, but the jury is still out on rather it will offer keyless access (a feature every other major player in the class is now offering) the styling is a bit drab, interior looks like it will be very nice but I want something with a bit more pizzazz this go round. I'm sure the CVT will be superb, and it will handle well, perhaps my ranking will change once I drive one.
6) Volkswagen Passat SEL: I've driven two, can't see what all the fuss is about when it comes to the Passat. Perhaps I can understand the fuss behind the TDI models, but the two gassers don't impress me much. Conservative is about the best way I can describe it. Exterior styling seems dated, especially with the lack of projector beams, HIDs and even the LEDs that just about every car in the class offers. Interior design is bland and materials aren't nearly as good as those of the highly praised B5 Passat. It drives nice for the class but it is nothing special. Pricing is competitive but the car lacks the feature content of much of the competition. I also don't trust its reliability.
7) Chevy Malibu LTZ: I was a big fan of the 08 Malibu when it debuted, thought it was finally the American car that could truly take on the Japanese. This new one is a better car than the 08-12 but it does not change the game. Styling is a step back, it now has that "high booty" look that every other Epsilon car suffered from except for the 08-12 Malibu, rear seat is cramped, LTZ models offer lots of feature content but they can get expensive ($32K for a loaded LTZ I4) gas mileage isn't any better than the older competition and can't touch the Altima's MPG and its fat and heavy. It will no doubt be a competitive car, it just doesn't appeal to me.
8) Toyota Camry SE, XLE: I've driven several new Camrys and none of them impress me. I know exactly why it sales...its reliable, its roomy, it has a good reputation and the pricing is good, but the car just does not appeal to me. The previous generation, especially the older SE models, looked better, the interior design to me is actually worse (though materials are nicer) and even with the nicer materials, the car is still merely midpack for the class, feature content is hit and miss, and it is BORING to drive. It is my least favorite of the major competitors IMO.
I don't pay the 200/Avenger any attention, ditto the Galant and Legacy.
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NSXforever
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NSXman wrote:
I wouldn't accuse the Camry of having the most aggressive styling every to grace the family sedan market, but I also can't understand why people trash it like it is the worst car to ever hit the market. Over time the Accord has had a more sporty feel and presence (the steering of the Accord to me is top notch), but there are places where the Camry is at very least an equal if it does not occasionally best the Accord (acceleration, no cylinder deactivation, IMO a better stereo with JBL option, IMO a better transmission, IMO better seats with the SE model, and maybe a few more). I understand that the bias tilts towards the Accord here, but any post that just degrades into Camry hate just annoys me when I know it isn't intellectually honest to say or imply its the worst family sedan on the market.
As for looks...seriously? After the million button mess that is the Accord dash and the drab Accord sedan looks (about as sophisticated as Kip Dynamite) with those nasty chrome handles (I don't even think the overly gaudy XLE has those) and the mile long wheelbase people want to be critical of the Camry? Personifying the Accord, the Accord is the guy with the perfectly parted hair with overly thick glasses (who doesn't worry about getting something more pleasing because after all the glasses work fine) who has the perfectly spotless house and spends his day making sure his nose hair is trimmed perfectly. At the same time this man does not modernize anything in his life, and is sharply critical of those that do. Personifying the Camry, the Camry is the guy who is practical, but actually enjoys himself. He isn't an athlete, but at least knows how to throw a football and knows you don't hit a touchdown in baseball. He doesn't take himself so seriously as to not be able to laugh at his imperfections, but rather makes up for them by shining in other areas. He's the everyday Joe. The Accord is Clark Kent (that C&D will do anything to make Superman, and it is becoming harder and harder for the Accord to find a phone booth)...the Camry is Jimmy Olsen the photographer--a bit klutzy but ultimately is good at his profession and comes through when needed the most.
I'll be honest and say overall, the Accord would probably win me over on steering feel that the Camry doesn't have, but in the looks department give me a Camry SE over the current or the up and coming Accord any day. Actually, give me neither and let me have the Fusion on looks.
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Great post! Both Camry/Accord seem nearly like refreshes the styling is so close to the prior model. Then the Accord is gaining a sportier SE, hybrid, CVT like the Camry. The Accord does seem more upscale and surely it will be very well received.
The entire class is pretty amazing compared to 15 years ago, there is nothing to really complain about!
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owequitit
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Mechanic wrote:
owequitit wrote: . . . We know from spy shots that the front overhang is much improved...and IMO, that alone is a huge improvement.
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You think so? It's not obvious from the pic, and if you're correct, the bulge of the "pedestrian-friendly" hood sort of moots the overhang improvement, no.
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The several rounds of spy pics made it pretty obvious that they improved it.
However, I really don't think the pedestrian part will be much worse than current.
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