Designed by the same bloke who gave the world the superb V-tec petrol engine (Kenichi Nagahiro), the new engine is a 2.2 litre four-cylinder unit called "i-CTDi", which stands for (take a deep breath here!): Intelligent, Common-rail, Turbo-charged, Direct, Injection. Now there's one for the pub quiz.
Honda has dipped its toe into the diesel market in the past. Joint ventures with Rover and Isuzu came and went without great success but the time is right now. Pressure from Europe has forced Honda in to building a superior diesel for Europeans.
In the 'D' sector (Accord etc.) diesel can account for up to 80% of sales in some European countries. Here 32% of Accord-sized cars are diesel while overall diesel powered cars in Ireland account for about 18% of the new car market.
This figure will rise and the new Accord will have a lot to do with that because it is an absolute cracker. The grunt is huge without sacrificing refinement levels. The 16-valve engine pushes out a healthy 140bhp, reaches sixty in just over 9 seconds and consumes fuel at an average of 52.3 mpg - that's incredible.
Power is delivered through a six-speed manual gearbox and the Accord gobbles up the road. The new engine is so efficient that Honda had to revise the heating system to provide warm air to the cabin. This would normally come from say a petrol engine after a few miles but the i-CTDi unit takes an age to produce excess heat.
Thankfully 'Executive' specification is standard - so you get leather seats, climate control and the kitchen sink and these days that includes our dear friend 'Cruise Control'. This device will help keep your licence clean as the Accord diesel sits at the motorway limit at what feels like idle.
Car anoraks will be able to spot the diesel Accord by the new rear diffuser (under bumper spoiler), 'i-CTDi' rear badge and revised front fog light area that allows air to be channelled to the turbo's intercooler.
Falling in between the cheaper Audi A4 alternative and the more expensive BMW 320d, the Accord i-CTDi is a stunner and priced well at €39,835. Buy it.
- Michael Sheridan
RTÉ Guide
