| The trunk was open when one friend walked by | | | | Sierra Nevada foothills. That was |
| and the hood was | | | | unfortunate.Even in its preview mode, the satellite |
| popped open when two other friends meandered | | | | feature is a complement to the |
| by."If I took off my front wheel, OK maybe both | | | | also standard AM/FM stereo (six speakers) and |
| wheels, I could get my bike | | | | six-CD changer. |
| in the trunk, no problem," one friend said. "That's | | | | Channel offerings in the satellite preview selection |
| a spacious trunk for a | | | | included a movie |
| mid-sized car."My two other friends were more | | | | soundtrack station, an option not found via usual |
| impressed with the powerful and | | | | audio choices.In recent years, Honda has |
| efficiently designed engine."Look where | | | | meticulously honed its models' interior and |
| everything is; it's easy access, for sure," he said. | | | | exterior design and features. Individually heated |
| "Even if | | | | front seats, steering |
| you know nothing about cars, you can find | | | | wheel audio controls, a driver's side eight-way |
| everything. It would be hard | | | | power seat with |
| to put the oil where the transmission fluid goes. | | | | adjustable lumbar control with easily accessible |
| And it's like what we | | | | power levers, cruise |
| used to call a 'Muscle Car' engine when we were | | | | control, a power moonroof with slide shade and |
| growing up."And so it goes with the 2004 Honda | | | | leather-trimmed seats |
| Accord, particularly the 240 horse | | | | are all included.An efficiently designed and |
| power V6 sedan EX model test driven for this | | | | well-placed radio, interior and exterior light |
| review.From small, yet important features like | | | | and windshield wiper controls are other pluses as |
| trunk space and engine | | | | is the front-seat leg |
| dynamics, to passenger comfort, functionality of | | | | room and spaciousness. The rear seats aren't |
| instrument controls and | | | | quite as roomy and the |
| interior and exterior styling, there's not much not | | | | total rear area is better suited for two adults |
| to like on the 2004 | | | | than three.A wonderfully designed engine, plenty |
| Accord.In short, in its ongoing competition with | | | | of cargo area, a quiet ride, ease |
| the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry | | | | of use and versatility, and a more than adequate |
| and Volkswagen Passat, the tested Accord is a | | | | cargo carrying care |
| high-performance | | | | with a sports car's performance: What can be |
| vehicle thinly disguised a mid-sized sedan.Two | | | | more appealing?In short, the 2004 Honda Accord |
| test drives during my week with the vehicle were | | | | is a superior family car with plenty of |
| extended | | | | wondrous accouterments to use just in case a |
| journeys, including a 200-mile round-trip day's | | | | sports car opportunity |
| trek of primarily freeway | | | | arises.2004 Honda AccordSafety features -- |
| miles.With its 240 HP engine, entering freeway | | | | Driver and front passenger front and side airbags. |
| on-ramps, changing lanes and | | | | |
| accelerating when necessary in heavy traffic, is | | | | Three-point front seatbelts. Side curtain airbags. |
| surprisingly quick.According to Consumer Guide, | | | | Three-point front and |
| the Accord V6 two-door coupe with | | | | rear seat belts.Fuel Mileage -- 21 mpg (city), 30 |
| automatic transmission was tested at 0-60 mph | | | | mpg (highway).Warranty -- 3 years/36,000 miles |
| in 7.0 seconds. The four- | | | | (bumper to bumper); 5 years/unlimited |
| door sedan, in this instance appointed with a | | | | miles (corrosion); no scheduled tune-ups for |
| Redondo Red Pearl | | | | 105,000 milesBase price range -- $15,900 - |
| exterior and gray interior, seemingly was in the | | | | $28,400.James Raia is a syndicated journalist in |
| same speedy category.The vehicle's comfort and | | | | Sacramento, Calif., who writes |
| its standard equipment are equally | | | | about sports, fitness and business topics as well |
| impressive. One example, the XM satellite radio | | | | as the free electronic |
| system, hadn't been | | | | newsletters Endurance Sports News and Tour de |
| discovered on my 200-mile journey or a subject | | | | France Times and The |
| round-trip trek into the | | | | Weekly Driver, a car review column. |