Honda Accord 2.2 i-DTEC 180 CV Type S, road test (Part I)

A few days ago we reviewed our journey with the Honda Accord Type S through French lands, where we thoroughly tested this unit and at the same time enjoyed driving along these typical French roads. Now it is time to focus on the Accord, to see how our unit performed and analyse it as usual in our tests.

The Accord Type S sits under the bonnet a two-litre diesel engine delivering 180 CV, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, a high-performance engine to enjoy behind the wheel of this saloon. Despite the sporty touch of the model, especially on the outside, it is a very good engine for enjoying the drive, since we must not forget that we are behind the wheel of a saloon, with the limitations that entails in the sporting sense.

Even so, we liked the balance between sportiness and comfort, since interior comfort does not suffer from the car’s sporty touch, while having it, and a vehicle with the power and performance for a more spirited drive than a mid-size saloon with a 150 CV diesel engine.

Engine and performance

The first thing you notice behind the wheel of the Accord is its gear lever, small and with a short throw, ideal for quick shifts in spirited driving, and it is complemented by a precise feel. This diesel engine is powerful and responds strongly from 1,800 rpm, pulling progressively and without fading all the way past 4,000 rpm. Thanks to this and its power, we get quick recoveries and an effective response on the road when we press the accelerator. As proof, the torque reaches 380 Nm.

When overtaking on the motorway, pressing the accelerator the car responds emphatically, while on country roads it is a very usable engine and we do not have to constantly work the gear lever to make it respond.

Coupled to the engine is a six-speed manual gearbox, with a well-spaced sixth gear to reduce consumption on the motorway. The gearbox stands out for its precise feel and sporty character, which makes it very practical when we decide to drive more spiritedly in our Accord Type S.

Handling

The first thing that stands out in the handling is the combination of sportiness and comfort, since as soon as we got behind the wheel of the Accord we started our journey on the motorway, proving very comfortable and relaxed, with a firm but not uncomfortable suspension. In fact, for travelling it is a highly recommendable car, beyond the sportiness of the engine, since we have a versatile and comfortable vehicle that allows us some liberties in sporty driving whenever we want or need to.

On country roads, thanks to the firm suspension, it is very stable and holds its line through corners without problems, with good grip and none of the typical body roll of a saloon, while being quite agile. Steering with a rather firm, direct feel gives confidence when driving faster than usual. The brakes are up to the engine and its performance, since they act effectively and control the Accord Type S properly.

What must be kept in mind whenever we drive the Accord a little more briskly are its dimensions, since it is a saloon and perhaps the only thing that takes away some agility compared with a smaller vehicle of similar power. But I have tried other saloons of similar size and power (both diesel and petrol) and the Accord is one of those I have liked most in dynamic terms without sacrificing comfort.

Consumption

In this section the 180 CV take their toll, but it still has fairly modest consumption. We also have a gear-shift indicator that tells us when to upshift or downshift to reduce consumption. During our test on the motorway it settled at 6.5 litres per 100 km, with normal driving, so with more careful driving we could probably bring that figure down.

On country roads it depends on the route and on how gently we use the pedal. The Accord is a car that pulls strongly when overtaking or on winding roads, but if we drive it more calmly we can get below 6 litres without problem. Finally, if we drive more sportily on country roads, our average over 60 km was around 7.5 litres per 100 km.

In the second part of the test we will focus on the exterior design of the Honda Accord Type S, with sportiness as its most important feature, and we will also look at the interior where we especially liked the seats, which hold the body very well, and the quality of the materials.

Photos | Test team