TEMPLE, Texas-Even on a Sunday afternoon, traffic on I-35 through Temple was a, can I use the term "cluster?"
No, no, not the way our drill sergeant frequently described the platoon, but more like-wink, wink, nod, nod-how all those trucks and minivans and rock trucks and construction workers were all "clustered" in a slow moving glob, a giant venous clot working its way through a capillary.
So it was early Sunday afternoon and even the Lord himself did not know when I might escape the Temple tantrum and make it to an appointment in the Hill Country. The Cowboys had the late game (my dog, Cooper, has announced that he is changing his name to Dak. Can you feel me, Jerry Jones?), so I started fumbling about with the Accord's satellite system to find an interesting early game.
Perhaps my lone criticism of the 2017 Honda Accord is it eschews radio knobs, forcing one to use touchscreen buttons and software gimmicks to scroll through the jillion-or-so satellite sports channels. If one could just give the dial a good twirl, the whole process would be so much easier.
I was engrossed in this exercise when I suddenly found myself lurching toward the windshield. About 45 minutes later, I would discover that a pickup had slammed into the rear of semi, creating a pile of parts and wreckage that closed the remaining southbound lane. The chain reaction of that misfortune quickly reached three or four miles back. That is what I suddenly encountered as I came over a slight rise in the road.
For the next 45 minutes or so, I let the cruise control keep us a safe distance behind the traffic crawling ahead of us as I enjoyed listening to the Eagles let a victory slip from their hands, and fall to the Lions, 24-23. Yessss.
So, I don't like the lack of radio knobs, but I do like the ready availability of Honda's Safety Sense, a suite of safety technologies that includes Lane-Keep Assist and Road Departure Mitigation. Honda makes the package of driver-assist technologies available for right at $1,000, or the deductible for one good, nose-tail smash-up.
There is so much more to like about this car, which hangs near the head of the class of the midsize class, the niche with the highest sales level in north American and the most cutthroat competition.
Camry, Sonata, Malibu, Kia Optima, Mazda6, Altima-you know their names and probably see them in driveways up and down your street. They are fine automobiles all. Prices range from the lower-20s to the mid-30s.
Coming off a fresh redesign a year ago, the Accord holds its own, thanks to a number of superlative characteristics, not the least of which is a chassis that rides and handles as well as a luxury sports sedan costing $10,000 to $20,000 more.
Pushed hard down a twisting road, the Accord just feels planted, with not even a hint of a shudder or chop. As compliant, comfy people haulers go, the Accord offers a surprising degree of flat handling. Steering is light and progressive, just what one would want in a competent family sedan. Braking is strong.
Get out on some decent highway, i.e., I-35 south of Temple, and the Accord is as smooth as a vanilla shake and so quiet that, in comparison, fish seem talkative.
Accords come with three powertrain choices. I'm a big fan of both available gas engines, and Honda seems to have engineered another winner with a two-motor, 50 mpg, hybrid version. One reason Accords are champs at resale value is because its drive trains last longer than George Washington's patriotism.
The base engine puts out 185 hp and 181 ft-lbs of torque. That is more than enough power for this car and we've attained an average of 30 mpg with one. The V-6 is a screamer, with 278 hp and 251 ft-lbs of torque. It can leave 'em standing at a stop light and has a lovely, throaty growl as it reaches red line.
On more than 1,000 miles of combined driving the V-6, we averaged better than 24 mpg.
The V-6 does well on the highway, averaging more than 30 mpg, because of cylinder deactivation, which shuts down three cylinders under light load. It operates so seamlessly that I wasn't aware the car had the feature until I read the manual.
The current Accord is the ninth iteration of a car that has been a retail leader since hitting American streets 40 years ago. Some things are Accord hallmarks: Superb fit and finish, roomy, well-appointed interiors with comfortable seating, a large trunk. The current model continues that tradition.
The option list for Accords is short. To keep things simple, Honda adds features by trim levels and there are four: LX, Sport, EX and Touring
A well-equipped base LX starts at $22,105 and that gets you dual-zone automatic climate control, a four-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a USB port, an 8-inch display, and a rearview camera. Move up to EX, at $25,480, and you get automatic transmission, a power moonroof, remote engine start and a 7-inch touchscreen paired with XM and HD radio. Our fully decked out Touring version listed at $34,125. Hybrid versions start ar5ound $29,000.
Bottom line: It was true in 1977, and still is today. The Honda Accord is a safe bet..