2009 Honda Accord Sedan Performance Review

The 2009 Honda Accord offers a nice combination of sporty handling and a quiet, family-oriented ride.

According to ConsumerGuide, "several 4-cylinder models tested have suffered from a rough idle and pronounced vibrations felt through the body and steering wheel." However, Edmunds reports that this "wonderfully smooth and powerful 3.5-liter V6 is an excellent engine, producing strong acceleration and fuel economy," but notes that "the 190-hp four-cylinder provides more than enough motivation."

Kelley Blue Book says that "in pulling away from a stop, plodding along in traffic and passing on the highway, the throttle responds to your right foot as if reading your mind, seamlessly delivering exactly as much or as little power as you want." Automobile says that the 2009 Honda Accord Sedan's "powertrain hierarchy starts with a 177-hp four-cylinder and works up to a 190-hp engine...but the new 268-hp V-6 is the power champ by a wide margin."

Four-cylinder engines of the 2009 Honda Accord "can team with either a five-speed manual or a five-speed automatic transmission," says Cars.com, but the "V-6 sedan is only available with a five-speed automatic." ConsumerGuide notes that "all manual-transmission Accords are faster than their automatic counterparts, with smooth clutch engagement and a precise feeling shifter."

According to Car and Driver, the 2009 Honda V-6 model "will offer Honda's next generation of cylinder-deactivation technology to reduce emissions below the level of today's already squeaky-clean Accord while keeping Honda's CAFE rating at its near-30-mpg level." Edmunds reports that the 2009 Honda Accord's "economy is very impressive. Both four-cylinder engines with automatic transmissions achieve 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway, while the six-cylinder with the automatic gets 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway."

In terms of handling, Cars.com suggests that the Accord may offer the best of both worlds: "ride quality is an improvement over the outgoing model because it offers softer tuning that should appeal to more family-sedan buyers while still delivering the sporty driving feel the car is known for." Edmunds refers to this as well, saying the Accord’s suspension has a "balanced approach to handling and ride comfort...[maintaining a] traditional mix of both sporty handling and comfort." When it comes to stopping power, "braking feel, response and feedback are also top-notch," according to Kelley Blue Book.

Steering the 2009 Honda Accord Sedan may take some getting used to, according to Automobile Magazine: "variable-ratio steering rack that offers nuanced responses just off-center but quickens the ratio near the ends of steering lock, to help you swing into parking spaces a bit quicker." This source also notes that "thanks to a standard strut-tower brace and reasonably stiff suspension, this car doesn't mind corners."