honda accord vti

Having set hearts aflutter in the so-called mid-size luxury segment with its City, Honda Siel Cars India Ltd now moves a cog higher to enter the rarified territory of the D-segment cars with its Accord, a name tag which personifies luxury and class but without sacrificing on performance.

Adil Jal Darukhanawala gets behind the wheel of the automatic transmission-ed Accord Vti to assess if it cuts the mustard in this intermediate luxury class.

Almost a decade and a half since it was first mooted for production in India, the classy Honda Accord is finally out and available in dealer showrooms. The difference this time round is that it isn't a Telco-Honda JV bringing out the car as was planned in the late 1980s - early 1990s but Honda Siel Cars India Ltd, in which the Japanese giant has the majority stake holding.

The second of the D-segment cars to be ushered into the country (after the C-class range from Mercedes-Benz), the Accord for India is the larger version of the car which Honda makes in three sizes for the US market, Japan and Europe and Asia. The Asian market version is similar in size and proportion to its US counterpart but with fewer equipment and trim options and different - read that as less powerful - engine versions.

The Accord nameplate, along with the Civic range, is one of the strongest and most respected brand names in Honda's car line-up, having distinguished itself all over the world since the very first Accord appeared on the automotive firmament in May 1976. What we have here in India is the sixth generation Accord which made its debut in late 1997 and continues to be the car in production in the US and also in certain south east Asian countries like Thailand. Of course it received a few updates late last year and it is this updated car which Honda Siel has ushered into India.