HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, Ark. Over morning coffee, Blonde Bride and I decided that a lovely Saturday morning was perfect for a quick run up to Garvan Woodland Gardens.
Located on the mountainous shoreline of Lake Hamilton, about six miles from downtown Hot Springs, the 210-acre botanical garden is a perfect spot to invigorate the body, refresh the soul and gain gardening insights.
Owned by the University of Arkansas, Garvan Gardens is continuously maintained, meaning there are fresh plantings throughout the year and each season brings unique visions of beauty. A few years ago, Blonde Beauty and I discovered a spectacular fall afternoon and lingered long enough to be amazed by millions of lights that illuminate the Gardens' spectacular Christmas display.
We had not, however, seen the Gardens in late spring and, having lost a half-dozen mature shrubs to Snowmageddon, we needed landscaping ideas. Where better to look than in a place continuously developed by professional botanists and landscape architects? What grows there grows here.
So off we went.
We took photos, noting the soil and lighting conditions of various plants. What we had not noticed before was how Japanese maples thrive under the pine canopy.
Great road car
We were there before we knew it. One reason is that it is only a 90-minute shot up I-30. The other is that we were in a car that just eats up the miles, a 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring. For roughly four decades, the Accord has been a benchmark in family sedans and the latest iteration is the best.
Our $37,195 (delivered) test model had enough goodies to give it a luxury feel, but the factors that make it a great road car are common to a base hybrid ($27,565) or a base, non-hybrid LX ($25,765).
Thanks in part to technologies like noise-cancellation, acoustic spray, and improved aerodynamics, the latest generation Accord is as quiet as the hush of a summer evening on all but the coarsest of road surfaces. By that, we mean the lousy chip seal that Texas loves to pour on highways to give the impression of maintaining them.
The 2021 Accord is a substantial refresh of the 10th-generation Accord that hit showrooms as a 2018 model. Like most manufacturers who have redesigned their chassis using modern, lightweight, high-strength steel not you, Dodge Honda was able to craft a foundation that is safer and more sophisticated.
Since the first American-built Accord rolled out of Honda's Maryville, Ohio, factory in 1982, Accords have been known for sophisticated driving dynamics. The latest iteration takes that to a new level. The car is nimble, well-planted, and has generous handling limits.
My blue-eyed child bride squirms, hits imaginary brake pedals, and flails her arms about in search of wheels to turn and handles to grab when I drive quickly through curves, but dang! I had to try it just a few times. With a dual-pinion, variable-ratio electronic power steering, multi-link rear suspension with floating subframe, lightweight front suspension, all bolted to an ultra-rigid aluminum and steel subframe none of which impressed child bride the new Accord goes where it is pointed.
The ride is quite comfortable, though not as relaxed as the Toyota Camry or Subaru Legacy.
Classy cabin
Honda designers did a slick job with plastic wood-like trim, chrome control knobs, stitched accenting in seats, and soft-touch materials. As one would expect in a Honda, fit and finish are good to excellent. (See, American autoworkers can build great cars when you give them the right materials and a commitment to quality from the top down).
The Accord sits lower and wider than competitors and one must step down to enter, but that was nothing that these old, oft-mended bones and joints could not handle. We found the seats comfortable, even on the drive home after a day spent walking wooded trails and trekking bargain stores (a fella has to make some compromises).
The car has a low beltline (the line along the bottom of all the windows, side, front, and rear), and narrow roof pillars, so visibility is quite good. Once you move above base and Sport models, blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert are standard.
Accord seats have always been comfortable enough, but not outstanding, and that has not changed with this generation. Upscale models come with lumbar support, and this old back appreciated the boost at the end of the day.
Plenty of power
The latest Accord is the first to not offer a standard transmission. Most of the folks who know how to drive one of those have either moved on to the great autocross track in the sky or have had their licenses taken away. They haven't taken mine because I hid it and can't remember where.
Standard is a 192-hp, 1.5-liter direct-injected VTEC Turbo four-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. Consumer Reports and other reviewers say this drivetrain is more than adequate for the 3,150-lb. Accord. It delivers an impressive EPA-estimated 30 mpg city, 38 highway, and a combined average of 33 mpg.
Available is a slick and powerful 292-hp, 2.0-L four-cylinder that is integrated with a 10-speed automatic. Those versions' fuel-economy line (city/highway/combined) is 22/32/26. A few years ago, that would have been good.
Our tester came with the third generation of Honda's innovative two-motor hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle inline-4 engine with 40-percent thermal efficiency to an electric propulsion motor that churns out 232 lb.-ft. of torque for a class-leading total system output of 212 horsepower. The system does not need a transmission.
The power unit (which carries a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty) is mounted under the rear floor, so trunk volume is not compromised. That also means the weight is between the wheels, which lowers the center of gravity and markedly improves handling.
The driver can choose to display a power gauge that shows when and how much the electric system is engaging. It is the only way to tell when that is happening. The gauge also demonstrates the beauty of the system. When the car needs power, the electric system lends a hand, which reduces wear on the gas engine.
For most trims, the hybrid boosts economy to 48 mpg, city and highway. That drops to a combined 43 mpg on the Touring model. On our journey, we spent most of the day in the fast lane, and average 39 mpg.
So, if you're running the numbers, the upcharge for a hybrid is $1,800. Fuel economy is about 45 % better. At 12,000 miles a year and $2.75 a gallon, the hybrid pays for itself in a little over four years.
Safety first
Standard on all Accords is Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assist technologies that include a collision mitigation system, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and traffic sign recognition.
Bottom line
Though American manufacturers have abandoned this market niche, it remains popular with buyers and is highly competitive. We think the Camry, Legacy, Mazda 6, and Nissan Altima belong on the front row with the Accord.
We'd be happy to take any on a Saturday-morning adventure.