Complete test drive: 2011 Honda Accord Coupe HFP
I would first like to welcome the arrival of Honda Canada within my staff.
Honda manufactures many of its vehicles in Ontario in over several
years to figure topped the charts with his Canadian sales model Civic. It was therefore important to me that Honda Montreal is formally integrated into the pages of what is now done.
When automotive journalists reserve their press cars, they do not always know what level of equipment will have their vehicle.
When I booked this Honda Accord Coupe, I expected a performance car but
rather bourgeois as its target customers has generally exceeded the
stage of youthful follies. What was my surprise to see in the parking lot of the Honda Accord all black clad, black alloy wheels and low profile body. First comment that I went through my head: I could never do less than 10 L/100 km with this car!
I must say that when I gave this mandate to try only as fuel efficient
cars, several told me that I would have only small cars flat and
tasteless. Well, there are many exceptions! And this 2011 Honda Accord Coupe HFP is one. As this Agreement is very different from the rest of the family, I will tell you about that version of HFP. If you're like me, you wonder what do those three letters. HFP Honda Factory Performance. This is the new powerful entity such as Honda, Toyota TRD or Nismo Nissan. The Honda Accord Coupe is the first car to enjoy this treatment.
You do not get on board this car, it goes down! The car is low and it is obviously necessary to bend a little more to be seated.
A few small decorative touches are exclusive to the model HFP as
carpets embroidered on the front and a numbered badge because it must be
said that HFP is limited to 200 copies. Up front, it's comfortable on beautiful leather bucket although somewhat more lateral support would not be too many. The seats are leather, it's more slippery when it would be better retained. The design of the dashboard does not break anything. In fact, the sporty image that HFP version tries to project to the outside was not transmitted inside. So we end up with a dashboard whose style is straight out of a '90s Civic. The dials are black with gray writing and although they are very readable, the car looks a little bare. The steering wheel provides control of certain commands such as audio system, cruise control and Bluetooth telephony. Speaking of Bluetooth, it is part of the multimedia system of the Agreement HFP. To be polite, this system is far too complicated to be understood easily and quickly. It took me three days to successfully pair my phone as it does in fact voice commands.
I would have much to say about this multimedia system whose interface
seems to have been drawn with a TRS-80 but I will focus on the GPS. And it deserves a paragraph ...
We are made to when the consumer GPS can display images in 3D. This Honda (I also "suffered" in a CR-V) was frozen in time. Colours fade, writes coarse and difficult to read, even at a standstill, and French voice guidance is much too "synthesized". Regarding guidance, in Montreal, no problem. Probably in all major cities, there is no problem. But the campaign? I live in the countryside and if you live away from major roads, well, you're on your own! Let me explain. I return to Montreal and I go to the Joliette region. On the highway, no problem. GPS has released a little before hitting the road for Joliette 131 (like other GPS models for that matter).
So, away from Montreal, I confronted him shortly before leaving to take small ranks since I know very well that it's shorter. GPS update would simply recalculated its path to follow mine. Not that of Honda! He draws a dotted line to a straight line from your current position and your point of arrival and taunts you by saying that this road is not "verified" and that you should return to "his" way! I'm sorry but a GPS to know all the roads, especially those who have been around for decades because it must be able to get out of trouble in an area you do not know. So, unless it is included in the vehicle you want, I would not give a penny for this equipment. This is definitely not the point and I hope that a reputable company like Honda's supplier will not GPS. It does not remain in all major cities. Phew! It feels good ...
So, away from Montreal, I confronted him shortly before leaving to take small ranks since I know very well that it's shorter. GPS update would simply recalculated its path to follow mine. Not that of Honda! He draws a dotted line to a straight line from your current position and your point of arrival and taunts you by saying that this road is not "verified" and that you should return to "his" way! I'm sorry but a GPS to know all the roads, especially those who have been around for decades because it must be able to get out of trouble in an area you do not know. So, unless it is included in the vehicle you want, I would not give a penny for this equipment. This is definitely not the point and I hope that a reputable company like Honda's supplier will not GPS. It does not remain in all major cities. Phew! It feels good ...
The sound quality of the audio system of 270 watts is very good and it
is possible to connect an iPod using a USB wireless located in the small
box between the seats. This is fine except that it should clarify this small space to be less difficult to connect an appliance at night. And it's not exclusive to Honda since many manufacturers up the USB in this dark and difficult to access. The rear seat access is laborious but I do not take offense because, for the small family and friends, choose a sedan. The trunk is not huge and if you think a larger lowering the back seat, know that the opening is not very wide. For your major purchases, shop in a store that offers delivery! I still managed to rush a lot of little boxes.
Honda Montreal, adventures.
So I think the highlight of the 2011 Honda Accord HFP is not his but his engine compartment.
This coupe HFP is powered by the 3.5-liter V6 producing 271 horsepower
at 6200 r / min and a torque of 250 lb-ft at 5000 rev / min. It is a power output at high rpm but it grows. It grows so it is difficult to make a smooth start. The only gearbox available is the six-speed manual. It requires a good right arm but it works I was not disappointed. In addition, this power-train runs on regular gasoline and fuel consumption is more than reasonable.
Braking is powerful thanks to the four brake disks and, of course, ABS
with electronic braking force distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist is
standard. This Agreement rolls on wheels HFP exclusive on which were mounted tires of 245/40R19 Michelin Primacy MXM4 94W. It provides good handling but it's a little hard on the butt.
Tires of this size combined with the suspension lowered by one inch of
this model undoubtedly harden the depreciation of the holes and bumps in
the road.
The rack and pinion steering is light on occasions, prove that this
Agreement retains some features of the bourgeois regular version.
Montreal honda dealers, here! A nice car from Honda, but which earned a few nicknames. The one I remember is that it is "an old car with a young kit"! A few things could still improve this version as a younger, sporty interior. It is the purpose of this release. A major overhaul of the audio interface / bluetooth / gps should also be put on the agenda. Compared to systems Infiniti, Ford and GM, among others, he now appears dinosaur. Indeed, this could be it a coupe for older people who refuse to grow old. Basically, all those who love to ride refuse to grow old, thank you to the team at Honda Montreal for their support and sponsorship.
Here Check our other Honda montreal dealers test drives:
Honda CR-V 2011 test drive
Honda Fit 2011 Road test in montreal
Here Check our other Honda montreal dealers test drives:
Honda CR-V 2011 test drive
Honda Fit 2011 Road test in montreal
Test conditions
Performed from 2nd to 9th of september, 2011.
Days full of sunshine, clouds, rain and hail, between 17 and 30 C.
Model tested: Honda Accord Coupe HFP 2011
- Single version: $ 37 890
Price as Tested: $ 063.03 45 all inclusive
Distance: 414.6 km (48% highway)
Average consumption: 9.4 L/100 km
Average consumption: 9.4 L/100 km
Engine speed to 100 km / h: 2200 rounds / minute
Engine speed to 115 km / h: 2550 rounds / minute
Vehicle supplied by Honda Canada . / sponsored by Honda Montreal