Handy Auto Guide

Kevin Massy writing over at CNET posts an analysis of the features of the 2006 Honda S2000 roadster. 'The 2006 Honda S2000 roadster was designed with one thing in mind: performance. Honda took a punchy engine, dropped it into a great-looking, lightweight wrapper, then tried to make all the other gubbins fit around it. The S2000 has changed little since its introduction in 1999, and, as advances in in-car entertainment and information have raged around it, Honda's racy roadster has maintained its focus on pure drivability. Accordingly, most of the tech in the 2006 Honda S2000 is to be found under the hood, in the drive train, or in other parts of the performance infrastructure.

AutoMotoPortal previews the features of Honda's next-generation FCX Concept fuel cell vehicle in an article on the launch of the vehicle. 'The FCX Concept features a newly developed compact, high-efficiency Honda FC Stack as well as a low-floor, low-riding, short-nose body. It offers a comfortably large cabin and futuristic styling along with significant improvements in power output and environmental performance. Limited marketing of a totally new fuel cell vehicle based on this concept model is to begin in 2008 in Japan and the U.S.'

CNET editors share their impressions of the 2006 Honda Element EX-P in a review of the SUV. 'We've had a couple of years to get used to the mini-UPS delivery-truck styling of the Honda Element, so when our 2006 Element EX-P all-wheel-drive tester arrived it wasn't too much of a shock to see it up close. The P stands for paint, which Honda will now apply to the front and rear fenders of an Element for an extra $500 (for the 2007 model year, the painted panels will be standard on all EX's). Inside, the 2006 Element is all but unchanged from the 2005 model: all-round plastic fixtures and fittings suggest the primacy of practicality over comfort. Forward and rear visibility are as good as one would expect for a mobile greenhouse, although with the rear seats folded up toward the sides of the cargo area, three-quarter visibility is severely impeded.'

CNET have posted their review of the curvy 2007 Honda CR-V crossover SUV. 'The 2007 CR-V comes with 60/40 folding rear seats that tumble forward with the pull of a strap on each of the three segments. With the first passengers--Moe, Ella, and Rosie--successfully installed, we set out to collect the remaining quintet. Driving the CR-V around the hilly residential streets of San Francisco, it felt nimble and responsive for its size. In the course of picking up our remaining passengers--namely Oscar, Rhet, Dobre, Moby, and Jiggy--we had to perform multiple 3-point turns and reversing maneuvers, which were made considerably easier by the CR-V's backup camera.

A review of the Honda CR-V 2.0 i-VTEC 4x4 has been posted over at Pocket Lint. ‘The CR-V has always been a cracking machine, offering a truly car-like driving experience with the ride height and practicality of a 4x4. The last version added great styling, high levels of comfort and relatively low running costs.

CNET have published their review of the 2007 Honda Civic compact hybrid sedan. 'The 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid may have relinquished its title as the World Green Car of the Year to the Mercedes E320 Bluetec diesel, but the previous winner hasn't changed much since we reviewed a 2006 Civic Hybrid last year. As then, our 2007 test car was equipped with the main option: voice-controlled touch screen navigation, which remains one of the best such systems we've used (it also appears in Acura models).

PaulTan.org have published a "Test Drive Report" of the 2007 Honda CR-V. 'Indeed, the CR-V is a very pleasant and relaxed drive. It’s really hard to get irritated with the car. You just glide along, and the happy feeling that you get with it may have something to do with the higher driving position, allowing you to see a great deal further ahead than what you can with a sedan. The R-series 2.0 liter SOHC i-VTEC engine paired with the 5-speed automatic gearbox is tuned to have a miserly behavior in terms of fuel, and perhaps stingy with power as well.

SearchChicago.com have published an overview of the 2007 Honda Element models. 'The base 2007 Element LX does have a sound system (AM/FM/CD player with four speakers.) It rides on a modified, strengthened version of Honda's last-generation (2002-2006) compact CR-V SUV chassis. It has front-wheel drive and all versions except the sporty new SC are available with all-wheel drive without low-range gearing for serious off-roading.All Elements are well-equipped. Even the base version has air conditioning, tilt wheel, cruise control, height-adjustable driver's seat and split folding/flip-up rear seat and power windows, mirrors and door locks with remote keyless entry.'

Forbes Autos have published a review of the 2007 Honda Pilot. ‘The midsize Honda Pilot is a well-equipped, well-mannered and practical SUV that shares its platform and powertrain with its more-luxurious sibling, the Acura MDX, and the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. All three, in turn, are based on the Odyssey minivan. It's available with front- or four-wheel drive.The Honda Pilot is the automaker’s first midsize SUV. It debuted as a 2003 model and became an immediate success. According to CNW Marketing Research, it remains one of the top-selling models in its class, thanks, no doubt, to a lower ride height than most truck-based SUVs, sophisticated ride and handling and bulletproof Honda reliability (Consumer Reports rates it as much better than average).’

CNET have published a review of the 2007 Honda S2000 convertible. ‘The 2007 Honda S2000 isn't terribly practical--it uses a classic two-seat roadster design--but it is terribly fun. It doesn't have much in the way of cabin tech, but we love driving it. The S2000 is a pure sports car, made for winding roads rather than the daily commute. It won't haul your stuff, but it will keep you happy. The body is a wedge, softened by rounded edges, while the hood dips in from the fenders. The fender lines are reminiscent of a boat's gunwales, a design theme Honda emphasized a little too much in the Acura Advanced Sedan Concept that we saw at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Fortunately with the S2000, those lines don't meet in a point at the front, instead disappearing in the front bumper.’

The Car Connection have published a review of the 2008 Honda Accord coupe and sedan. 'The new Coupe is particularly fun to drive, something enhanced by its 268-hp V-6 and standard 18-inch wheels. Considering the general industry trend, we were excited to see Honda maintain its manual transmission offerings. The Coupe's six-speed is particularly quick and responsive. For all the exterior changes, you live inside a car like the Accord, so we were anxious to experience the new interior. Material choices have been nicely upgraded. The Honda mantra for the 2008 upgrade is "attainable exclusivity." That might take things a little far. This is still a mainstream, mid-size sedan, but the new Accord's cockpit is definitely among the best.'

A review of the 2008 Honda Accord has been posted over at the USA Today. 'Honda has stretched its mainstay Accord sedan enough that the redesigned 2008 model moves up, barely, to full size from midsize. It's the biggest Honda car, and the automaker hopes it now will compete against the full-size Toyota Avalon as well as the midsize Toyota Camry. The '08 Accord, on sale Sept. 12, is roughly an inch wider, an inch taller and 3 inches longer than before. "As our customers grew up, Accord grew with them," and the latest move is "in the right direction" to keep up with buyer preferences, says Dan Bonawitz, vice president of corporate planning and logistics for American Honda.'

CNET have published a review of the 2007 Honda Element SC sports utility vehicle. 'The so-ugly-it's-cool 2007 Honda Element SC eschews the rugged character favored by its model mates, the EX and LX, instead going for a more urban character. As opposed to the wash-and-wear interior of the other models, the Element SC actually has some carpet on which the passengers can rest their feet. Unfortunately, just because the Element SC is intended as an urban car doesn't mean it gets any better cabin gadgets than the LX and EX. The utilitarian style of the Element is polarizing--a few people love it, but most hate it. But you can't argue with the practicality of its interior space.'

Inside Line have published their "First Drive" review of the new 2009 Honda Fit minicar. 'Not surprisingly, the all-new 2009 Honda Fit follows the same recipe as its predecessor. Centered as before around its centrally located fuel tank — the key ingredient in the packaging formula — the Fit gets a tweaked design look, more interior space and, wait for it, improved ride and handling, an issue of some controversy with its predecessor. As Project Chief Engineer Kohei Hitomi says, "When you're on a good thing, don't just stick to it. Make it better." At our drive of a production prototype of the new Fit at Honda's test track in Northern Japan, Hitomi and his design team were beaming with confidence as they pulled the covers from the new subcompact.'

The USA Today have published their “test driven” review of the 2008 Honda Accord coupe. ‘The coupe's V-6 lacks the cylinder cutoff feature of the same engine in the sedan. Honda calls it variable cylinder management (VCM) and says it saves fuel, using only as many cylinders as needed for the circumstances. Curiously, it makes scant difference in the cars' fuel-economy ratings, giving the VCM sedan merely one more mpg on the highway but otherwise no advantage. The tested coupe's suspension delivered a remarkable blend of smooth, luxurious ride and agile, responsive handling. You could enjoy the excitement of snapping around a turn and immediately chase that with the sublime delight of burbling along as if you were out for a Sunday drive in your vintage Cadillac.’

A review of the 2008 Honda Accord sedan has been posted over at SearchChicago.com. 'The eighth-generation Accord comes as a sedan or coupe, but most buyers opt for the sedan, which I tested. The new coupe has sleeker styling and is 3.2 inches shorter and 1.7 inches lower than the sedan. The new Accord sedan barely edges past the mid-size car line to the EPA's full-size auto classification because it's 3 inches longer at 194.1 inch, 1.1 inches wider and about an inch higher, with a 2.3-inch longer wheelbase of 110.2 inches. A longer wheelbase translates to a smoother ride, and the new Accord has high-tensile steel; it provides greater torsional rigidity that results in a more solid-feeling car.'

CNET have published a review of the 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 sedan. 'The dashboard of the 2008 Honda Accord experienced the same overhaul as the exterior. Honda sells its Accords with trim levels from LX to the top-of-the-line EX-L, with navigation or without. Our car was an EX-L with navigation, and as such, it gets the big multifunction knob we've seen previously in Acura models, plus a center stack literally covered in buttons. The previous model year Accord had a touch-screen LCD set on top of the stack. With this new model, the LCD loses touch-screen capabilities and gets set deep into the dash, a configuration that protects it from glare.

The Car Connection have published a review of the 2009 Honda FCX fuel-cell sedan. 'First seen at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show, Honda plans to begin leasing the FCX for $600 a month, and not just to carefully selected corporate fleets, but to everyday consumers. The costly experiment is also a risky one, exposing the Clarity to all the daily challenges faced by your typical motorist, from bad weather to fussy infants. "The FCX Clarity is a shining symbol of the progress we've made with fuel cell vehicles and of our belief in the promise of this technology," proclaims American Honda president and CEO Tetsuo Iwamura. "Step by step, with continuous effort, commitment and focus, we are working to overcome obstacles to the mass-market potential of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel-cell automobiles."

A review of the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity front-wheel-drive sedan which is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell has been posted over at the USAToday. 'Hydrogen fuel-cell cars are rare and new. How they work: A compressor pulls in air, which moves through fuel-cell membranes along with hydrogen from the car's tank. As the gasses pass through the membranes, they create an electrochemical reaction that generates electricity for the motor and water as exhaust. No petroleum use, no harmful emissions. Examining Clarity strictly as a car, not as a harbinger of a hydrogen future, these are the impressions from a morning drive. The test car was an early-production version of the car that will be available next summer.'

PaulTan.org have published a review of the 2008 Honda Accord sedan. 'The new 2008 Honda Accord looks nothing like an allegedly confused Hyundai in flesh. Think BMW and you’re more on the mark. The car generally looks very eye pleasing with the exception of the crease line on the side of the car - I can’t put my finger down on what’s wrong but I think the line curves in a strangle angle that doesn’t match the rest of the car’s mostly angular body. Styling is a subjective thing. The test drive car interiors were done up in either a very aesthetically pleasing black, or beige. You sit lower in this new Accord, and the seating position is good. The car’s huge front seats are very comfortable as well and do a lot to give you the car’s interior a very luxurious ambiance for the driver.'

CNET have published a review of the 2008 Honda Element SC SUV. 'The Honda Element's interior is designed for rough use, with tough materials and fabrics that can be easily washed off. But that doesn't mean the materials are ugly--rather, Honda uses a good mix of soft and hard plastics. The interior space is huge, with a ridiculous amount of headroom. Fortunately, the driver's seat has a height adjustment knob. We aren't crazy about the door arrangement, which uses full doors in front and half doors for the rear seat. The front doors must be open for you to use the rear doors, so you can't easily let someone out from the back seat.

Auto Express have published their "First drive" review of the new Honda Accord i-DTEC saloon. 'In the rear, our saloon provided impressive legroom. Head space is also reasonable and access to the back is easy. The cabin ergonomics are good, with the driving position offering lots of adjustment. A generous boot, tog­ether with split-fold rear seats, adds practicality and versatility. Under the bonnet, the main focus is the new, second-generation Honda i-DTEC diesel – it makes its production debut in the Accord. We sampled the 2.2-litre version, which delivers 148bhp and 350Nm of torque, at a special event in Tokyo, and our first impressions were favourable.

CNET have published a review of the 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe (3.5L 6cyl 5A). 'The interior of the 2008 Honda Accord Coupe impressed us with its materials and fit, and we could find very little difference between it and the interior of an Acura, Honda's upscale brand. We like how Honda took a fresh look at designing the dashboard and integrating the navigation system. The LCD goes from a touch screen, as in older Hondas, to a unit set deep in the dash that avoids glare. A big multifunction control knob sits front and center below the LCD, which controls most car functions and cabin gadgets on the screen. It's not always the most intuitive, but it works well enough.

A review of the 2008 Honda Accord coupe has been posted over at SearchChicago.com. 'The shapely new front-wheel-drive Honda coupe has entirely new sheet metal with long, flowing lines for a more rakish, aggressive appearance than the sedan, It's also startlingly fast with a V-6. Although roomier than its predecessor, the coupe is more compact than the sedan. It's 3.2 inches shorter overall at 190.9 inches, which helps make it nimbler and more agile. It's nearly 2 inches lower at 56.4 inches and rides on a 107.9-inch wheelbase (distance between axles) that is 2.3 inches shorter.

ZDNet have published a "test driven" review of the 2008 Honda Civic EX-L sedan. 'The 2008 Civic EX-L vies with the Toyota Corolla for the best compromise between economy and performance, with a heavy lean toward economy. The five-speed automatic transmission does its best to wring power out of the 1.8-liter engine, but with only 140 horsepower to work with, acceleration in the Civic is leisurely. At speed, it cruises well with a low final drive ratio, assisting efficiency.

ZDNet have published a review of the redesigned 2008 Honda Odyssey Touring. 'Although Honda claims a major update for its 2008 Honda Odyssey minivan, the results look to us like a minor facelift, just a little work around the eyes and mouth but the same old body. The front of the car exhibits some modern touches around the headlights and grille, but the bulk of the car looks at home in the '90s. For the real updates, we have to look in the cabin electronics and under the hood. This new Odyssey gets Honda's Bluetooth hands-free cell phone system and a new rear seat DVD screen. Likewise, the engine gets added fuel savings from a refined cylinder deactivation system, which can cut the six-cylinder engine down to three cylinders when loads are low.'

A review of the 2008 Honda Accord Euro Luxury Navi has been posted over at CarAdvice.com.au. 'Inside Honda’s commitment to above average material use and arrangement is clearly evident as are the comfortable ergonomics, tech savvy equipment levels, sassy appearance and generous proportions. The leather clad heated memory seats offer an elevated level of comfort over those of Euro’s nearest competitors as well as providing decent support and a lovely welcoming feel, which is a refreshing change from the often brash, cheaper leather trims found in so many rivals.'