The Accord isn’t an overachiever. It’s simply a great example of how common sense design and engineering result in an on-the-mark car. Now in the fifth year of being relatively unchanged, Accord proves that a model cycle can stretch a few years without losing a prospective buyer’s interest. (The 2002 model year does add Accord SE/Special Edition in coupe and sedan versions.) In evaluating Accord LX, a four-door sedan powered with an optional 200 horsepower V6 engine, the non-cluttered interior landscape is a vision of clarity. For instance, the only buttons on the steering wheel are for cruise control, and the plentiful storage zones include a sculpted pencil/pen holder between the front seats. One minor annoyance: radio buttons are too small for the fingertips to engage without the driver being momentarily distracted.

Standard fare on Accord LX includes cruise control, air conditioning, AM/FM stereo with CD player and six speakers, sunglass holder, driver’s 8-way power seat, fold-down rear seat center armrest, power windows/door locks, map lights, rear seat heater ducts, and rear window defroster with timer. The V6-powered/automatic transmission equipped Accord earns miles per gallon estimates of 20 city/28 highway. Going by the manufacturer’s guidelines, the engine doesn’t require a tune-up for the first 105,000 miles. The front wheel drive car has a suggested manufacturer’s base price of $22,600.