The redesigned 9th generation Honda Accord has officially landed in Malaysia today, following pre-booking of the sedan on 1 August. The uprated new Accord features more masculine styling, enhanced safety and premium features. Honda Malaysia targets to sell 500 units per month, so expectations are high for both the carmaker and Malaysian consumers alike.
Evidently, the premium D-segment sedan celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The flagship model of Honda has consistently been a favourite executive sedan in Malaysia since its introduction in 2001. Attributed to its quality, refinement and premium features, we’ve seen over 75,000 units on Malaysian roads.
According to Honda, Malaysians favour the sedan form factor over other vehicle types. The huge success of the Honda sedan fleet – City, Civic and Accord is a testament to this. The B-segment City is a market leader, while the 10th generation Civic has seen impressive bookings since its introduction in June.
On the back of strong sales despite overall lower Total Industry Volume (TIV) from January to August this year, Honda still maintains its overall No.1 position in the Non-National segment. With a market share of around 15%, Honda secures the No.2 position in the overall TIV.
Level up sophistication
The new Accord is offered in three variants: 2.0VTi, 2.0VTi-L and 2.4VTi-L. These power lumps are unchanged from pre-lift versions. The top spec 2.4VTi-L is powered by the revolutionary “Earth Dreams Technology” engine for a more exciting drive and better fuel efficiency overall. The 2.4L pushes out 175bhp @ 6,200rpm, with max torque at 225Nm @ 4,000rpm. The 2.0L on the other hand delivers 155bhp @ 6,500rpm and 190Nm @ 4,300rpm of torque.
What you’ll notice (and like) is the masculine but elegant new front valance – with a new bumper, stylish new LED headlights (front and rear), extended Daytime Running Lights (DRL) and two-tone black and silver sports rims. I personally like the new aggressive look that’s sporty, yet exudes elegance.
On the 2.0VTi-L and 2.4VTi-L variants, you’ll find Honda LaneWatch, Auto Dim Rearview Mirror, Auto Wiper, Front Passenger Power Seats, Side Airbags and Side Curtain Airbags.
The great thing is there’s six airbags included across the range. Additionally, there’s Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS), (Vehicle Stability Assist) (VSA), Hill Start Assist (HAS), Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and ISO Fix.
In cabin, you’ll be greeted with premium fabric (2.0VTi) or black leather (2.0VTi-L and 2.4VTi-L) seats and new wood grain print with gloss black trim.
Tech-savvy executives will love the new 7-inch Touchscreen Advanced Display Audio unit with i-MID that has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. You’ll be able to enjoy music on the 6-speaker setup (plus subwoofer only on the 2.4L variant) as well as smartphone connectivity.
The new Accord comes in five colour options, with an introduction of a new Obsidian Blue Pearl. The rest include White Orchid Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.
The new sedan comes with a -5-year warranty with unlimited mileage at 10,000km service intervals. For more information, visit www.honda.com.my.
Pricing and availability
The new Honda Accord is available now with pricing as follows:
- 2.0VTi – MYR144,800 (OTR incl. insurance and GST)
- 2.0VTi-L – MYR153,800 (OTR incl. insurance and GST)
- 2.4VTi-L – MYR172,800 (OTR incl. insurance and GST)
What you’ll notice is that the top run 2.4VTi-L is MYR5,000 cheaper than its predecessor. Having said that, the 2.0VTi-L is still the sweet spot and the best bang-for-buck.
For sporty folks, you can opt for the Modulo Advance Package that retails at MYR5,500. For some handy accessory add-ons, opt for the Premium Utility Package for MYR2,930.
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