Honda Accord (2008 – 2015) Review

Honda Accord (2008 – 2015) At A Glance

3/5

+Refined and rides smoothly. Well thought out interior. Ideal with 2.2 i-DTEC engine. Robust build quality.

-2.0-litre and 2.4-litre i-VTEC engines with automatic gearboxes less impressive. No hatchback version.

Insurance Groups are between 23–28
On average it achieves 93% of the official MPG figure

The Honda Accord saloon straddles an ever-widening divide between mainstream family cars such as the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat and executive machines like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Almost caught in limbo, the Accord is pricier than the former and misses the classy buyer appeal of the latter.

This is not to say the Accord lacks quality, after all it is a Honda. The detail of the build and excellence of the materials is beyond reproach, yet the Accord doesn’t carry off the appeal of Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz and the dash layout is showing its age all too clearly.

There is plenty of space inside the Accord, however, so you’ll have no trouble carrying the family or friends in the front and back seats. The restrictions of a saloon body hamper its luggage carrying aspirations though, plus the boot is not as spacious as some rival saloons.

There’s no faulting Honda’s generosity with equipment in the Accord. Covering ES, ES GT, EX and the sporty Type S, all have plenty of life’s luxuries and the two upper trim levels come with leather upholstery as standard.

Depending on the trim you choose, there’s a choice of three engines and manual or automatic gearboxes. The 2.0 and 2.4-litre i-VTEC petrol engines are smooth and potent, while the 2.2-litre i-DTEC diesel is offered in 150PS and 180PS outputs and both are willing.

Matching the engines’ keen efforts is handling that shows Honda knows all about cornering grip. However, the steering is low on feel and the suspension is too unsettled on most roads for the Accord to be considered among the finest in any class.

Honda Accord 2008 Road Test

Real MPG average for a Honda Accord (2008 – 2015)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

93%

Real MPG

24–58 mpg

MPGs submitted

224

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

Should I buy a used Honda Accord for £1,800?

"What do you think of buying a used Honda Accord, 57 reg, with about 100,000 miles on the clock for around £1,800? "
Any car of this age could be hiding issues and the price is probably inflated due to the current market conditions. That said, a used Honda Accord is likely to be one of the more reliable cars you could buy for sub-£2,000. We'd want to see evidence of regular servicing, and make sure it's not been used as a taxi (unlikely with that mileage). A few issues to look out for here: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/accord-2003/good
Answered by Andrew Brady

Which models are most targeted for catalytic converter theft?

"I've had my catalytic converter nicked twice now, unfortunately. Once on a Honda Accord and just before that on a Civic. I want to know what makes and models are less likely or impossible to target?"
Unfortunately, we don't have that information. There doesn't always seem to be much of a rhyme or reason to these types of theft — which makes them hard to combat. Cat. converter theft can happen to anyone really. The precious metal in the exhaust systems of hybrids make them especially vulnerable but thieves are also generally opportunistic — meaning we've had theft reports from all sorts of car owners (classic cars, older convertibles, new hybrids etc). Some newer hybrids also have less precious metals in the exhaust systems to make them less of a target. Other carmakers have taken a different approach, for example, versions of Honda Jazz models from 2008-onwards, are designed to house the catalytic converter where it can’t be reached by thieves - with later versions having the catalytic converter bolted directly to the engine inside the engine bay. The likelihood of theft really depends on the model, the area you live, where your car is parked overnight etc. The thing we're seeing more of now is older cars being targeted because they're less likely to have security measures fitted, too. More info on how to avoid catalytic converter theft here: https://heycar.co.uk/guides/best-ways-to-prevent-catalytic-converter-theft
Answered by Georgia Petrie

How long does it take to replace a clutch?

"What labour time is required to change the clutch in a Honda Accord?"
According to CheckATrade: The average time taken to replace a clutch is usually between three to five hours, but in some cases, it can take as long as 10 hours.
Answered by Georgia Petrie

Are used BMW 3 Series really expensive to own?

"I read about the BMW 3 Series being reliable, but servicing, repairs and - I imagine - insurance is a lot more expensive than for non-premium cars. I see lots of these high-mileage, diesel cars looking nice with good MoT history and an affordable price tag. Which cars would be a good alternative? Thanks a lot."
On the one hand, the BMW 3 Series is popular with police forces because of its indestructibility and high-mile capability. On the other hand, an older 3 Series (diesel models in particular) will require a fair bit of regular maintenance and yes, this will be costlier than in a mainstream choice. Parts will be a bit pricier than something like a Volkswagen Passat and servicing (especially at a main dealer) could be more expensive. Insurance will depend on factors like your age and driving experience. If you want a practical estate car that'll be cheap to run, look at something like a Toyota Avensis or Honda Accord.
Answered by Andrew Brady
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