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Yes, it will. It is not flashy, with clean "classic" lines. Very inoffensive, for better or for worse. It is not easy to look worse than a new Camry, the worst, probably, Camry of all. Not that it is particularly ugly, but the lack of effort, passion and attention on the part of its designers is too much apparent. Everything screams: "Budget, rental, unloved, also-run". No midsize car deserves this. Difficult to disagree with Motor Trend on that. Fusion... first pictures were exciting, but now it looks too chubby to me. Still waiting what are they going to screw up with new Mazda. (Looks like they already did.)
I think the new Accord and Mazda 6 will both do very well in the market...better than either the Camry or Fusion once people drive 'em.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
2013 Honda Civic to Debut at Los Angeles Auto Show With More Youthful and Premium Styling
I think the changes are great, but it's the interior that has drawn the most criticisms...
When it comes to compact cars, who's considered to be the "winner", these days, anyway? The Civic has drawn a lot of flak, but I swear the Corolla doesn't seem to have advanced all the much in at least a decade. The Nissan Sentra seems to have fallen to "also-ran" status, but my friend's grandmother recently bought a used 2010 model. I sat in it the other day, and it seemed to be a nice car.
I guess cars have gotten so good in general these days that even if you end up picking the "loser", you still end up with a decent car.
I kind of liked the dash myself. The main reason I did not buy one back in 2006 (got an Accord instead) was because I hated the seats!
My daughter (just about to get her full license) likes them. One of her friends got a few year old couple recently, and it is nice.
most likely, if I had to replace my volvo (which is about to become "her" car most of the time) I would look hard for a 2006+ generation Civic for her.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
“People bought into the whole program: cool-looking cars that also offered great value, including high fuel economy,” Caldwell said. “Now it turns out that one part of that formula wasn’t true.”
Hyundai and Kia’s growth came as Honda struggled with poor reviews for models including its 2012 Civic and worked to restore assembly operations in 2011 following natural disasters in Asia that cut parts supplies.
“The timing is beautiful for Honda,” said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports, in a phone interview. “They’d been seen as falling behind in fuel efficiency, not keeping up with Hyundai and others.’”
Hyundai Fuel-Economy Flap Seen as Turned Tables for Honda (BusinessWeek)
Other automakers will benefit but none so much as Honda.
Also looks like the Civic was #3 for monthly sales of everything, only missing the Silverado by about 600 units!
Top 10 Best-Selling Vehicles in November 2012
Rated good:
-- Honda Accord, four-door
-- Suzuki Kizashi
Rated acceptable:
-- Ford Fusion
-- Honda Accord, two-door
-- Kia Optima
-- Nissan Altima, four-door
-- Nissan Maxima
-- Subaru Legacy
-- Subaru Outback
-- Dodge Avenger
-- Chrysler 200, four-door
-- Mazda 6
-- Volkswagen Passat
Rated marginal:
-- Hyundai Sonata
-- Chevrolet Malibu
-- Volkswagen Jetta sedan
Rated poor:
-- Toyota Camry
-- Toyota Prius v
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20121220/OEM11/121219849#ixzz2FacNoTlN
http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr122012.html
"The Accord sedan shows how safety belts and airbags work together to provide exemplary protection. The dummy stayed engaged with the Accord's front airbag, and the steering wheel remained relatively stable because there was only moderate intrusion into the occupant compartment. That meant that the driver airbag was in the right position to cushion the dummy's head and chest. The side curtain airbag extended far enough forward to prevent the dummy's head from hitting interior components."
"Toyota falls short
Shoppers looking for a midprice family car will recognize some perennial bestsellers on the TOP
SAFETY PICK+ winners' list, including the Accord, Altima and Fusion.
One nameplate they won't find is Toyota. The Camry, which is the top-selling midsize car in the United States, and the Prius v, a 4-door hybrid wagon, earn poor ratings for small overlap protection and are the worst performers of the midsize group. The Camry was redesigned for 2012, and the Prius v was an all-new model for 2012.
The Camry and Prius v illustrate what can go wrong in a small overlap crash...
In the Camry, the force of the impact shoved the front wheel back into the footwell, bending the windshield pillar and pushing the parking brake pedal and the left outer edge of the instrument panel rearward into the driver's survival space. Likewise, there was significant intrusion in the Prius v, along with high forces on the dummy's legs and feet. The Prius v is the only car in the midsize test group to earn a poor rating for hip and thigh protection.
The Camry's driver airbag and side curtain airbag deployed, but the steering wheel moved so far to the right that the dummy's head made only minimal contact with the front airbag. The side curtain airbag didn't extend far enough forward to help prevent the dummy's head from hitting the instrument panel. In the Prius v, the side curtain airbag deployed too late in the crash to offer protection.
"Toyota engineers have a lot of work to do to match the performance of their competitors," Lund says.
"....The new Accord is roomy, nice to drive, well equipped, and very fuel efficient.
Its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, when matched with the smooth continuously variable transmission, squeezes out an excellent 30 mpg overall and 40 on the highway. That’s as good as a tiny Honda Fit and better than most compact cars. The 3.5-liter V6 is super-smooth and quite powerful, snapping off a 6.3-second 0-to-60 mph time that is competitive with some sports cars. And its 26 mpg overall is among the best in its class.
Inside, you are treated to one of the best driving positions available, comfortable seats, and terrific visibility. All Accords have a standard backup camera, rare among family sedans. Uplevel models include advanced safety features seldom found in this category, including forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems, and Honda’s new Lane Watch blind-spot camera system....
In the final tally, the four-cylinder Accord jumped 10 points in our Ratings to take over the top spot among entry-level sedans...
Based on its history, we expect above-average reliability for the Accord.
The Accord is one of the more agile family sedans, with subdued body lean and decent steering feedback....
Honda has finally solved the Accord’s longtime problem with road noise; road and wind noise are nicely muted....
The CVT is smooth, quick, and unobtrusive, marking a new benchmark for that type of transmission. You’d be hard pressed to tell that it isn’t a conventional automatic, high praise indeed....
Drivers will find plenty of space in the cabin. The cloth front seats are wide and supportive, although the LX model lacks power seats and lumbar adjustment. The powered leather seats provide better support and more adjustments and have two-position seat memory, a unique feature in this class. The rear has a supportive bench that’s comfortable for two adults but tight for three.
Fit and finish is generally very good....
The Accord’s gauges are a model of clarity, and most controls are easy to use....
All Accords come with standard dual-zone automatic climate control, a nice touch....
The trunk is large and nicely trimmed...."
That is a solid base of core vehicles, though they could use some freshening with the niche ones (like the Fit).
I surprised myself by replacing a Honda with an Acura (Odyssey to RDX) recently. I thought as my fleet turned over, I would be done with the brand (I did replace my Accord with a Volvo for my daughter to use). I did buy an older Integra last week as a spare runabout car, but I don't think that revisiting 2000 counts as getting Mojo back.
actually though, it is a glimpse into what Honda/Acura used to be. Relatively simple, incredibly well made, light and nimble. And the quality of the interior materials blows away a new model.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Up 24%, for the year, an additional 275k units over last year. Even Acura managed to capture another 32 thousand units this year over last. With a new MDX coming, things look good for 2013.
We'll see how the RLX does...
RL/RLX...current one has virtually disappeared the past few years. New one looks quite boring styling-wise, maybe they aren't depending on it.
I used to think that RWD and a V8 option would be required to compete well in the luxury market, but Acura was wise not to invest in the latter. As for RWD, Audi seems to be doing just fine with FWD architecture.
TL really needs a styling redo. Even de-beaked, it is not a pretty car. Such a dramatic change from the prior model, which had very clean styling.
I wonder what percentage of Audi sales are Quattro. I bet in the US, it is huge.
Acura seems to have recognized that it needs to differentiate its most premium sedan more from the Accord, because the RLX has moved more upscale, size and engineering wise, than the RL. "All-Wheel Steer" independently controls the toe angle of the rear wheels, and the all-wheel drive option will feature hybrid electric assist power to the rear wheels. It remains to be seen how significant these enhancements are in competitive comparisons.
One of our cars is a '99 TL with 139,000 miles that's been satisfying and low maintenance. The latter characteristic has been a positive differentiator for a premium sedan, although our '07 A4, with 64,000, has been trouble free since the warranty expired. The engine was completely rebuilt under warranty, due to excessive oil consumption, but that problem was completely fixed. In addition, a leak in the back seat area (strange) was repaired, and the ignition switch was replaced under warranty. We've been very happy with our A4 since these things were taken care of, but we're keeping our fingers crossed.
Audi has been making steady progress on quality, but from what I read it still doesn't equal Acura and Lexus. I'm willing to accept that in exchange for other attributes.
The main reason we drive older cars is that we like the lower cost of ownership versus trading more frequently, and we don't worry as much about parking nicks and scratches. If they're more than minor, we get them repaired. Also, most of the new electronic features are of little value to us.
My neighbor has a TL, maybe 2007 model, the loaded Type S version with bodykit etc. Seems like a really nice car. The 2005+ RL seems like a used car bargain, too.
Even as someone who likes German cars, aging Audis scare me, as historically they are much more troublesome than aging MB/BMW, and parts availability can be marginal for older models. I suspect the newest of the breed will fare better.
I drive slightly older cars because I can't afford the cars I like when new (I have expensive tastes), and I don't like huge depreciation. I am also not completely addicted to the latest tech - although I would like a new car to have nav and modern lighting, I still enjoy simply having power windows and AC, and the xenons/nav on my E55 seem downright modern to me. I daily drove the fintail for several years, it conditioned me to lack of gadgets.
Funny, this is on topic in a way, with the rash of Honda transmission failures starting about a decade ago. Friend of mine lost the unit in his 03 Accord V6, at 70K - luckily he had an extended factory warranty.
Ford F - Series PU 68,787
Chevrolet Silverado PU 50,699
Honda Civic 33,118
Toyota Camry 31,407
Dodge Ram PU 30,211
Honda Accord 29,428
Honda CR-V 25,733
We dodged the bullet because our TL, which we bought new, has the older 4-speed. That transmission has generally been reliable. Mine has been trouble free. The 5-speed was introduced in the second year of the '99-'03 TL platform run.
The '00s-'03s were the problematic ones. There was a high incidence of failure, but the majority didn't fail prematurely. Honda never disclosed the percentage of transmission failures. By the '04 model year the problem was pretty much solved.
Of course, I also have a 2000 3.2TL with the original tranny that has 167K on it, so what do I know!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Did you change the fluid in your TL's transmission, and, if so, at what intervals?
I changed the fluid in the TL a year or so ago to be safe. not sure when or if it was changed prior to that. Most likely at around 105K, since my sister always did what the dealer said was due. So if it was on the maintenance schedule, probably when it was done!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
My take and experience with Honda/Acura, of which our family has owned several, is that they're not the most exciting choices, but they're solid, reliable and relatively low maintenance. I'd consider another TL if they sort out the styling, but I don't have any particular brand loyalty.
But I am getting a bit itchy for a new car actually. Seems silly really but that itch won't seem to go away. I'm trying to be strong here...but for how long I'm not sure!
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
http://wardsauto.com/site-files/wardsauto.com/files/imagecache/large_img/uploads- /2012/12/web-honda-35l-v6-10-be-specs.jpg
"For delivering exemplary fuel economy and simultaneously pulling like a freight train at hard throttle, Honda’s improved 3.5L V-6 earns its fourth Ward’s 10 Best Engines trophy since 2005.
We’ve always cherished this 60-degree titan as an unsung hero whose power easily surpasses the numbers on the spec sheet."
The 2013 Accord Coupe is the only vehicle in its class to earn a NHTSA 5-star Overall Vehicle Score and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating with GOOD ratings in all test modes.
Not surprising, Accord has been a top safety pick for generations. :shades:
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
BTW, those RDX's are becoming quite popular here in New England. I see them quite frequently and have spotted the full color pallette. Basque Red is my fave so far.
Honda Odyssey: The minivan with its own vacuum (adn.com)
Can't really see this driving many sales though.
Kudos to Honda for doing a spectacular job with this new Accord as I didn't like the last generation too much even though it was popular. This new model just has "it" and I know it will sell briskly!
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I think it will bump sales a few points myself.
Personally, I think I'd rather just have a power port back there (probably has a couple already). A 120v one would be nice. That said, I've often used a whisk broom on camping trips to keep the detritus in the rear on my van down under an inch deep so a built in Shop Vac could work. :-)
Just can't see it being a deal breaker for someone comparing it to a Sienna.
My snarky side wonders if it could vacuum up the kink on the side of the van. :shades:
2014 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Cleans Up 2013 New York Auto Show
Incidentally, Consumers Reports rated the 2013 A-6 best-in-class; better than the E-Class or 5-Series.
Are you listening , Lincoln?
It should be mentioned that the RLX will be available with AWD later this year. The AWD version will also have more power. I hope the WSJ tests that model too, to see whether that will make the RLX more competitive with its German rivals. And, let's not forget Cadillac, which just introduced an all-new, larger CTS to take on the Germans.
Very nice improvements over our 2008 EXL navi in most areas. I still love the 08 because it's a manual, which is what i prefer.
One of the biggest changes is that the Accord is now a quiet car on the road. Road noise has always been a weak spot for the Accord, and that's now gone.
I'd say Honda's mojo is definitely back.
link title
Gives me hope for the new RLX.