52 DECEMBER 2019 ~ CAR AND DRIVER
1st Place: The Honda
Honda’s 3 209 -pound sedan drives nothing like a 3 2 00-
]\b[QZVQR[TV[R0NfZN[.[QfRaaUR.PP_QP\ZR\ß as Porsche-like in its excellence. Similar to the Porsche, the Honda is the product of an all-encompassing vision. The major controls work in symphonic harmony, and the charac- ter of the machine is palpable in your every interaction with it. For a family sedan, the Accord is far more gratifying than it needs to be. It brakes with a progressive pedal, steers with verve, and motors away from a stoplight with authority. Pitch and roll are tightly controlled by a taut suspension, but the QNZ]R_ QRSaYf \b[Q \ß aUR `UN] UVa ²AUR PUN``V N[Q
steering are absurdly good for a car in this category,” noted
aNßRQVa\_.[[VRDUVaR Honda’s CVT is smoother than George Clooney; the faux shifts never feel clumsy. Notch the shifter into Sport mode and the transmission response follows your right foot obediently. The Accord’s 1 92 -hp turbocharged 1. 5 -liter walked away from the other sedans when it hit 6 0 mph in a legitimately quick 6. 6 seconds. Yet the Honda’s appeal has little to do with the numbers. It netted 30 mpg in our drive, landed mid-pack in the skidpad and slalom, and posted a last- place 17 6 -foot stop from 70 mph without shading our opinion of its aptitude—well, that braking number could be better. All this with the CVT. (Remember, there’s an even more engag- ing manual-transmission model.) 6aμNR[VOYRaUV[Ta\AUR.PP_Q\ßR`P\ZS_ a[]N
with the Camry and outward visibility to rival the Legacy.
Honda Accord Plus Finely tuned control calibrations
and responses, unnecessarily quick, a rational
purchase. Minus Sloppy active lane-keeping assist,
there are quieter competitors. Equals A wholesome
family sedan that knows how to cut loose.