The new Honda Accord has been one of the most important automotive events of the 2003 model year. And while most of the attention gets directed at the
highly popular sedan model, the new coupe also warrants notice by those who
seek a stylish thoroughly up-to-date automobile at an attractive price.

Honda is having a heck of a year in the sales department, despite the
country¹s current economic condition. For the first six months of the
calendar year, the company is having its best year ever with sales up a
whopping 13 percent over 2002. Accord sales are contributing to the upsurge
with a 7.5 increase over the previous year. The Accord is a perennial
blockbuster in the US market and still accounts for better than one-third of
all Honda sales, car and truck combined, despite a lot of new models of
late. 

Based on my test of the new Accord sedan, the new version has already
received my vote as one of the best new products for 2003‹the coupe only
sweetens the equation. And while the coupe is not exactly an afterthought in
the Accord line, it only accounts for a small fraction of total model sales.
The Accord coupe has carved out a viable niche as a smart alternative for
business and career women who want a stylish, dependable vehicle that
delivers a lot of luxury content at a bargain price. The new 2003 model
raises the bar even further.

The Accord coupe delivers lots of improvements over the previous model.
Unlike the sedan, which competes with a host of vehicles, the coupe¹s only
direct competitor is the Toyota Solara, which has been completely revised
for the 2004 model year. The Accord coupe offers two levels of standard
content that culminate in the EX model. It presents two engine choices, a
240-horsepower V-6 and a 160-horsepower inline four.

Female car shoppers seem to me to be much more savvy than many male buyers. Usually, they are not seduced by extravagant claims and the current
horsepower derby and go for value. One aspect that I like about the Honda
sales strategy is a relative lack of options, as opposed to the current
practice by European manufacturers, which jack up prices with a raft of
options. Honda tries to package the good stuff together in basic model
designations and that makes comparison-shopping much easier. Our Accord
coupe was the EX model with V-6 engine and automatic transmission. The only option I would even consider is the 17-inch alloy wheel package with
low-profile tires that could give a car thus equipped a slight handling
edge.

With a sticker price just in excess of $26,000 our test car delivered a
leather interior, all of the usual power features, a power moon roof, heated
seats, a five-speed automatic transmission, a six-disc in-dash CD changer,
and dual-zone automatic climate control. Safety features include four-wheel
disc brakes with electronic force distribution, side-impact air bars,
side-curtain air bags and Honda¹s Traction Control System, which can prevent
the car from skidding on a slipper road.

Styling is important in this segment, particularly in a car that has a
strong female market in mind. The coupe has the sleek wedge shape that is au
courant these days. I particularly like the way that the rear end is
rounded, which helps mitigate the severe form of the linear wedge.

The Accord coupe offers very competent handling. While it¹s not quite in the
BMW class, it is a lot of fun to drive on a twisty road. The ride quality is
first rate. The suspension offers good compliance, but also provides
excellent feedback on twisting country roads.

Our test model was equipped with the optional 240-horsepower V-6 engine.
Although in an earlier test of the four-cylinder Accord, I expressed my
satisfaction with the smaller engine¹s performance, the V-6 model is a
dazzler. Just slam the accelerator to the floor at cruising speed and the
six-cylinder model leaps forward. You¹ll be hard pressed to get much better
performance in a luxury coupe while paying many thousands more. Of course,
the Honda is aided by its relatively light weight and sleek aerodynamics.

 
Vehicle: Honda Accord Coupe

Price as tested: $26,360

Engine:

         Type: 3.0-liter V-6

         Horsepower: 240 @ 6,250 rpm

         Torque: 212-ft. lbs. @ 5,000 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

         City - 21 mpg

         Highway - 30 mpg

Curb Weight: lbs. 3,295