2004 Honda Accord EX-L Road Test

Once inside, the vehicle's inner quality becomes apparent. Fit and finish is congruent with some higher priced, European

Interior fit and finish is congruent with some higher priced European models, but if you start poking around you'll turn up a few low-rent hard plastic surfaces. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

models. Unfortunately though, I still turned up a few low-rent surfaces, putting a fly in the otherwise delectable Accord soup. Although not in-your-face so to speak, inferior hard plastic is used to trim the inner surface of the "A" pillars and the lower portion of the door panels. But as mentioned, I had to go searching to find these examples. What doesn't require searching to appreciate is the Accord EX-L's butter-soft black leather upholstery, the smell of which is very Jaguar'ish upon entry.

The black interior of my test unit was highlighted by the liberal use of satin-finished metal trim, which flowed horizontally across the dash and onto the center console. The same finish was also tastefully applied to the door pulls and around two of the

The Accord EX-L's butter-soft black leather upholstery is fantastic. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press

four dash level vents. This trim on the otherwise black surface delivered a theme that spoke more of sport than luxury.

Another aspect of the Accord's interior that's sporty, but also highly functional, is the four-part gauge cluster residing under a canopy dead ahead of the driver. This luminescent display features a center-mounted speedometer large enough to be read by drivers several cars back. To its left is a medium sized tachometer and on the right is a smaller fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge. Day or night, all four readouts are bright and easy to decipher with only a quick glance away from the road. In addition to a highly effective gauge cluster, Honda has mounted various switches and controls in the Accord that operate impeccably and are well laid-out.