Once locked into place, the Accord Coupe driver faces a set of luminescent gauges grouped together behind the steering wheel. Included is a large analogue speedo located directly ahead of the driver, flanked on the left by an analogue tachometer and on the right by fuel and engine temperature gauges. I was highly impressed with the clarity of this set-up. Even when wearing dark sunglasses, I could instantly read the gauges.
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| The interior fit and finish of the Accord Coupe will match or beat any of the European imports in its price range. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The center stack rises up from the console and houses a series of very precise feeling buttons and dials controlling heat, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as the six disc in-dash premium 180-watt stereo unit. My tester also featured dual-zone climate control, which functioned flawlessly. Placed above the various buttons and dials is an LCD screen that displays the settings related to the HVAC and audio controls. At a glance either driver or front passenger are immediately updated. I found the entire dash layout very straightforward and intuitive to use, which is a nice departure from automakers that ascribe to the more-buttons-the-better principle. Interior fit and finish in the Accord Coupe will match or beat any of the European imports in this price range, and many above.
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| The engine in the Accord Coupe EX V6 is capable of 240-hp and is coupled with a six-speed manual transmission. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press) |
The hand-in-glove fit of the Accord Coupe imparts a sense of control that is often missing in less driver-oriented vehicles. My analogy in this sense relates to downhill mogul skiing: Throwing my EX V6 through the twisties was similar to working my way through moguls, wearing supportive snug fitting ski boots firmly attached to flexible skis capable of carving the exact line envisioned. So it is with the Accord coupe. Mild understeer and plenty of feedback allow the firmly attached driver to precisely place the coupe where wanted and carve out turn after turn.
Of course the Accord coupe does not rely on gravity and ice crystals for its propulsion. Instead it comes equipped with either a 160 horsepower four-cylinder or a six-cylinder capable of 240 horsepower. My EX was fitted with the V6 that spooled out its power through a close ratio six-speed manual transmission.