My dad and I took an 2008 Accord EX-L V6 Sedan out for a spin today, and I came away being fairly impressed with the vehicle overall. The driving position was excellent (just like the Altima), as my knees did not come close to touching the steering wheel, which is an issue with the Camry and the new 2008 Malibu. The interior was also a substantial upgrade over the Camry, especially with regards to the materials and fit and finish. The center stack, which some criticize for its busy look, had a very modern and futuristic appearance to me. The use of a single button to control all functions was very efficient under my use.
On the road, the Accord was comparable to the Camry. The engines were equally strong, despite the lack of a 6th gear in the Accord. The differences in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times between the Accord and Camry are not noticeable under normal driving. Acceleration was strong even with a loaded car and the A/C running. Unfortunately the Accord's V6 is still equipped with a timing belt, which will require replacement (timing belt, tensioner, water pump and drive belts) about every 100k miles at the cost of around $800. Belt driven engines must be quieter, as this engine was noticeably quieter than the Camry's, which is chain driven.
There were significant differences in the handling department between the Camry and the Accord. The Accord handled very well for a sedan of its size. It was similar to the 3.5SE Altima. The chassis felt very "tight" and the ride was VERY firm. Definitely too firm for a lot of people. The LE V6 Camry I was in several months ago was very soft in comparison, and exhibited lackluster handling.
The Accord does have several negatives. First, wind noise is still a huge issue with the Accord; it was absolutely awful at 70 mph. Very, very noticeable. I also wished bluetooth was available without the navigation option. In addition, I'm not too pleased about the replacement cost for the timing belt.
Still, if I had to pick between the Accord, Camry, Altima, and the 2008 Malibu, the Accord would be my choice. It offers a great driving position and interior, as well as good performance and respectable handling. The Camry's interior doesn't impress me, its driving position is poor, and the 6-speed automatic's transmission has questionable reliability. The Altima offers equal or better handling than the Accord, but the CVT transmission has had a spotty reliability record in the Murano, and the premium fuel requirement in addition to the poor fuel economy of the V6 makes operating costs too high.
P.S. I did drop by the local Chevy dealer on the way home to see the 2008 Malibu. The interior door panels lacked any cloth or leather inserts (all plastic), and my head was touching the roof when I sat in the rear seat. (I'm only 5'11") Also, my knees were nearly rubbing against the steering wheel. I didn't go on a test drive, so I can't comment any further.
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