And stylish it is! Forget the bland lines of the previous versions, this eighth generation of Accord wears a dynamic and stylish new robe, partially shared with the sedan.

The good news is the beauty doesn’t stop at the sheetmetal. This is a car no one will ever feel ashamed to be seen in.

The redesigned 2008 Honda Accord came to market this September with an expanded range of innovative technologies designed for greater efficiency, enhanced safety and more power across the lineup of stylish sedans and coupes.

Our tester was a sliver Coupe EX-L V-6 with manual 6-speed transmission, 18-inch wheels, leather and navigation. This car proved itself to be more of a sports car than a luxo-coupe.

According to Honda, the goal with this eighth-generation is to provide Canadians with a vehicle that is “green, safe, fun,” and includes an emphasis on expressive styling, fun-to-drive performance and innovative packaging. We are not so sure about the innovative packaging part of this statement, but this new Accord sure is fun to drive, powerful and a good handler.

“During its 30-year history in Canada, the Honda Accord has been a perennial segment leader with average annual sales in excess of 24,000 units,” said Jim Miller, executive vice-president of Honda Canada Inc. “Canadian buyers have exhibited passion for the refined features, strong performance and overall design of the Accord. With over 735,000 Accords sold to date since its introduction in 1976, the Accord has remained a clear choice for Canadians looking for high levels of dependability, quality and reliability — attributes that are hallmarks of the Accord.  With a new level of engineering sophistication, the 2008 Accord is designed to exceed expectations with innovative technologies, a more spacious interior and increased power, while retaining good fuel efficiency and a fun-to-drive character.”

We were impressed by the engine’s power, the very good handling, the lack of torque-steer (unless you are on slippery pavement) and the fastastic feel of the manual shifter.

The Accord is available in sedan and coupe body styles, with two variations of a 2.4-litre 4-cylinder and two variations of the 3.5-litre V-6 engine.

The two L4 engines have 177 and 190 horsepower, respectively, with estimated city/highway fuel economy ratings of 9.4/6.5 L/100km (with manual transmission).

The 3.5-litre i-VTEC V-6 engine produces 268 horsepower — the most ever for any Accord — while introducing a new generation of fuel-saving advanced variable cylinder management (VCM) technology and achieving low emissions.

The VCM system operates in six-cylinder mode for power and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, resulting in an estimated city/highway fuel economy rating of 11.0/6.7 L/100 km. The Accord Coupe EX-L V-6 we tested came with the VTEC version of the 3.5-litre and was combined with the 6-speed manual transmission. Unfortunately, the VCM version can only be had with the automatic.

Another innovative technology for Accord is variable gear ratio (VGR) steering. This new steering system uses variable mechanical ratio steering, in addition to variable power assist, to provide precise on-center feel and greater responsiveness at larger steering angles. And for once, such a feature actually works and is as unobtrusive as can be.

Premium quality with a spacious design describes the philosophy behind the new Accord’s interior. The larger interior is intended to provide “equal” seating comfort for front and rear passengers. There is increased rear legroom and width to allow the front seats to be positioned farther apart for a wide center. This contributes to give a nice airy feel to the cabin, without having the passengers feeling like they are miles away from each other.

The latest generation of the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System with bi-lingual voice activation (available on EX-L) uses a larger 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. Features include the Zagat Survey guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions. Navigation-equipped models also include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink.

The EX-L Coupe with V-6 engine and 6-speed manual transmission also features larger 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, chrome door handles, front fog lights, dual exhaust finishers and rear lip spoiler.

The Accord sedan and coupe ride on longer wheelbases and are slightly longer than the 2007 model they replace.

Safety-wise, every 2008 Accord “integrates sophisticated technology that includes driver’s and front passenger’s dual-chamber side airbags with a passenger-side occupant position detection system; side curtain airbags; and dual-stage, dual-threshold driver’s and front passenger’s airbags.”

All Accords also feature active head restraints designed to help reduce the severity of neck injury in the event of a rear collision. Standard active safety features include vehicle stability assist and four-wheel-disc anti-lock brake system with brake assist and electronic brake distribution.

Aside from some option availability combinations that we question, like the lack of a manual transmission on the V6 sedan, a few details did bother us. Honda is usually the best in terms of ergonomics, but the radio and HVAC controls on the center dash is less than optimal. Too many look-alike buttons. For example, the big round center knob would, at least one instinctively thinks, adjust the volume of the radio, but actually changes radio stations. Every one in our test team made this frustrating mistake more than once. And so did most passengers!

All in all, this new Accord presents itself as a very viable alternative for those who are looking for Honda’s reliability but also want to enjoy the driving experience. All signs lead us to believe the sedan will be as exciting to drive as the coupe… Kids, hold on; dad is having fun!