At last count, more than 30 configurations of the 2006 Honda Accord were available.The most economical starts at $18,225 and the most model offered has a starting retail price of $29,300. Between the more than $11,000 price range variance, it's likely anyone seeking the vehicle often considered the most reliable and resale friendly on the market can find a Accord they like. There's the four-cylinder, 166-horsepower, two-door coupe to a six-cylinder, 244-horsepower four-door, sedan with a navigation system. My weekly test drive was a lower-end Accord, the four-door special edition (SE). The configuration is the base Accord with the addition of Special Edition features package offered a $750 discount. The sticker price of $21,785, plus the usual $550 destination charge, still places the SE among the 10 least expensive Accords. That considered, what does the SE have to offer when compared to its siblings? The SE has its fare share of standard offerings, and like all Hondas, there's not much to complain about. The basics are all there: smooth ride, poised handling, above-average quietness, spacious room for front and rear seat passengers, nice, straightforward, efficient design and good fuel economy. There's little to dispute the year-after-year recommendation for the Accord from nearly every auto review publication as a Best. Like the other less-expensive Accords, the SE has the standard 166-horsepower, four-cylinder engine with a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine does just fine, with the exception of a few steep inclines when there was a noticeable hesitation while accelerating. The Accord SE has an extensive list of standard features, from the usual power windows, mirrors and door locks to daytime running lights. But the standard features list also has the not-so-common " a maintenance reminder system to illuminated visor vanity mirrors. The SE (Special Edition) designation features include: AM/FM 6 Disc In-Dash CD with six speakers and steering wheel audio controls. My test vehicle had a silver exterior (Alabaster Silver Metallic) and a black interior. The color combination worked well, with one exception. As a non-frills Accord, the cloth black seats are neither smooth nor stylish. Rather the "brushed" material picks up its share of lint from passengers' clothes. It's a small annoyance, for sure, and it may be the only downside for Accord fanciers seeking a moderately priced edition. The Weekly Driver: 2006 Honda Accord Safety features - Dual front and side and side curtain airbags. Fuel Mileage (estimates) - 24 mpg (city), 34 mpg (highway). Warranty - Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles. Base price - $21,675. |
