Honda Canada likes to play with words. A press release in June 2010 announced the arrival of a “new version” of the Accord sedan. Dubbed SE (for Special Edition), it would be replacing the 2010 Accord LX as the entry-level model for 2011.
The reality isn’t quite so dramatic, and consists essentially of swapping a few letters around. Whether designated LX or SE, the base Accord remains the simplest expression of this great car.
A sea of rivals
A change of pace is always a good thing, though. Especially when you don’t have any “actual” new features to offer consumers.
The Honda Accord has to fight it out with a flood of contenders in the mid-size sedan segment, one of the hottest for Canadian dealers.
The Ford Fusion has been dominating the class since 2009, and the Honda Accord supplanted the Toyota Camry in 2010 as the second best-selling model. Competition is decidedly fierce, and for consumers, the automotive buffet is as diverse as it is tempting. In 2010, for instance, the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata came in neck and neck for the third spot. And yet, Hyundai needed only launch a redesigned (and beautifully elegant) 2011 Sonata to eclipse those rivals and land itself in second place since the beginning of 2011 – knocking the Accord back down to fourth. Talk about a roller-coaster ride.
Attractive base model
So that’s the backdrop for the arrival of the 2011 Accord SE. These market conditions don’t prevent the big sedan from staying at the forefront of the class, however.
Honda probably decided to upgrade the base version, among others, to maintain the car’s popularity. So the SE now benefits from the standard equipment that was missing from the Accord LX. That includes an 8-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, compared to the 2010 LX’s 6-way manual one. The new perch even offers lumbar support – and power lumbar support to boot!
The reality isn’t quite so dramatic, and consists essentially of swapping a few letters around. Whether designated LX or SE, the base Accord remains the simplest expression of this great car.
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| The Honda Accord SE replaces the 2010 Accord LX in the 2011 lineup. (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |
A sea of rivals
A change of pace is always a good thing, though. Especially when you don’t have any “actual” new features to offer consumers.
The Honda Accord has to fight it out with a flood of contenders in the mid-size sedan segment, one of the hottest for Canadian dealers.
The Ford Fusion has been dominating the class since 2009, and the Honda Accord supplanted the Toyota Camry in 2010 as the second best-selling model. Competition is decidedly fierce, and for consumers, the automotive buffet is as diverse as it is tempting. In 2010, for instance, the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata came in neck and neck for the third spot. And yet, Hyundai needed only launch a redesigned (and beautifully elegant) 2011 Sonata to eclipse those rivals and land itself in second place since the beginning of 2011 – knocking the Accord back down to fourth. Talk about a roller-coaster ride.
Attractive base model
So that’s the backdrop for the arrival of the 2011 Accord SE. These market conditions don’t prevent the big sedan from staying at the forefront of the class, however.
Honda probably decided to upgrade the base version, among others, to maintain the car’s popularity. So the SE now benefits from the standard equipment that was missing from the Accord LX. That includes an 8-way adjustable electric driver’s seat, compared to the 2010 LX’s 6-way manual one. The new perch even offers lumbar support – and power lumbar support to boot!
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| The new perch even offers lumbar support – and power lumbar support to boot! (Photo: Luc Gagné/Auto123.com) |