 This eighth-generation Accord V6 has got 500cc and 50bhp more than the old car. It’s also got some new fuel saving technology. Unfortunately it’s priced steeply at Rs. 29.12 lakh. Does the Inspire command such a price? AutoCar (May ’09) takes a road test to find out…
The all-aluminum 3.5-litre, i-VTEC V6 is the largest and most powerful engine that Honda has ever offered in a passenger car. With 271bhp and 34.5kgm on tap, there are a few cars in India that can keep up with it in a straight line. The V6 is not for the typical Accord owner. Show it some stick and the performance is blistering. The V6’s mid-range is bull-dog strong and there’s no shortage of that lusty top-end performance that Honda engines are renowned for. It’ll breach the 100kph mark in a believable 8.6 seconds and blow past the 200kph mark like it has a rocket pack strapped on.
 The power delivery is linear, the tug is strong and the engine is smooth; there’s everything one would want from a powerful engine. Performance, especially at medium speeds, shoves one into the seat and one really has to be gentle with the throttle to drive it smoothly.
This Honda motor is a generation ahead of the chassis it is mounted on says AutoCar (May ’09). There’s just too much performance on tap for this chassis to handle. The massive accelerating, cornering and braking forces easily overwhelm the chassis and suspension and as a result the car seldom feels secure and totally at ease with the pace. It may have the performance to beat the Germans, but it certainly doesn’t have their unflustered composure and grip. The problem lies in the soft suspension, which sems to be set up for the American market where the Accord is hugely popular.
It does come to a stop in a respectable 26 meters but AutoCar (May ’09)found that after repeated hard use of the brakes, the brake pedal starts juddering. Honda says it is because of the sudden rise in temperatures that makes the discs heat up unevenly. The juddering disappears when the brakes cool down, so it’s only a temporary irritant.
 On the outside – the 17-inch wheels, the twin-exhaust pipes and the V6 badge are the difference. The interiors are similar too, the biggest change being the extra wood trim on the steering wheel and the dashboard. Equipment levels are similar so in effect – one is paying extra just for the engine.
With prices starting at Rs. 28.54 lakh for the base V6, this is a car that is an expensive buy. Surprisingly it’s not all that expensive to run thanks to the VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) technology.
So here is a car which is semi-sensible and semi-lunatic. On one hand, it’s got Japanese full-size luxury – space, refinement, soft ride and quality interiors. On the other hand it’s got insane power and it’s more expensive than the 2.4 by a huge margin too. The true appeal of the V6 lies in its brilliant engine but it does not have the composure and grip that a compact German saloon has. Still if you enjoy a spot of hooliganism on Sundays and need to be chauffeured on Mondays, this is worth more than a look…
| At A Glance |
Price: Rs. 29.12 lakh(on -road, Mumbai), Power: 271bhp @ 6200rpm, Torque: 34.5kgm@5000rpm,
Acceleration: 0-60kph – 4.14s, 0-100kph – 8.64s, Top Speed – 214kph,
Fuel Efficiency: City – 6.7kpl, Highway – 12.2kpl, Overall – 9.45kpl
For: Performance, Luxury,Against: Price, High speed noise |
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