Munich77

Has anyone else seen the Car and Driver car of the year issue. They compared the E-class to the Honda Accord and gave the Accord thumbs up over the E-class

Lanzz

I have friends with a brand new 2017 Accord sedan - it is a heck of a car in terms of performance, packaging and overall value for money. I don't see the Accord and E Class as competitors - and I don't think anyone will cross shop the two cars - but if you step back and consider both vehicles as spacious, contemporary 4 cyl, mid sized sedans, then it makes for interesting reading in an auto magazine.

PeterUbers

The accord has ridiculous value over the E class. The accord will always be the hands down winner from a pragmatic standpoint. And as years go by I am thoroughly impressed with the accord

Streamliner

I happen to think that the Accord is a very attractive design and sometimes, I feel like running out and buying one just for the hell of it. I happen to think that the current Accord is just SOOOOOO much better looking than the new E Class and a magnificent V6 available without having to go "boy racer" with some ridiculous AMG model. All that said, our 2016 E350 sedan is my wife's car, she loves it and I know there will be a W213 in her future. We are pretty hooked on MB these days, but I can't help admiring the Honda Accord as a worthy competitor, especially if price is an object.

thefisch

Hard to go wrong with an Accord. All around great car. I just wish Honda was quicker to adopt new features. But I guess that's why their reliability is so good.

ngerstman

Also wish they had a better sound system. That alone kills one for me. Regards. Ned.

c4004matic

On a value basis the conclusion is obvious. But they drive completely different. Obviously the furniture of the mb is in another league. As a transportation appliance the accord is obviously a better "deal". On the other hand if you love in the snow belt you quickly learn to appreciate the 4 matic advantage so up in our neck of the woods a Subaru is a much better solution than an Accord.

Munich77

I totally agree - I just think that the E-class should do better against the Accord. If I needed a run of the mill family sedan the Accord would be it.

ua549

I don't like the handling of a FWD car. I won't buy or rent one.

c4004matic

In normal driving you cant tell. The difference is only obvious when pushed. Personaly I dont do FWD either but, for 90% of drivers its all theyll ever need.

shak

I guess that's what happens when MB tries to sell a luxury car with 4 cylinder engine.

PeterUbers

most e classes are cabs internationally ...4 cylinder .. are they not?

ua549

Over the years MB has sold mostly 4 cyl vehicles internationally. Only the US prefers 6, 8 & 12 cyl cars. Trucks are mostly 6 cyl.

mjsbenz

Several of my friends kids have Honda accords. Great car. But cheap, cheap, cheap inside and out. And they ride poorly. Do some of you really believe they compare with the new E300? If so, you are banned from this community.

Jan AMG

Honda doesn't sell Accord in Europe anymore. Maybe they are afraid of phenomenal success. Or maybe they decided to pull their C-Class alternative out of the market due to other reasons.

ADD0514

I must respectfully disagree with this assessment. The Accord has always been praised for its ergonomics, ride, and build quality - By professional reviewers and consumers alike. They punch way above their price bracket and has been known for their driver oriented attitude. The Accord and the Odyssey have no problem remaining calm and composed at ~115MPH. Yes, I've driven them at that speed. My son's 2003 Accord has no squeak, rattle, or any problem when we gave it to a friend last summer. Sadly, it was totaled by a 17YO when he drag raced it.
Sure, Honda has no chance to reach the par sets by MB. But at half the price, the Accord is not cheaply built and goes toe-to-toe against the E300 for the values offered for each hard earned dollar you spend on them.

PeterUbers

I think the ride in an accord is great

mjsbenz

If this thread is about praising the Honda Accord, then lets compare it to its true competition; Mazda, Nissan and Hyundai with its 10 year warranty.

Putting those cars in the same league of a E300 Mercedes or 528 BMW is silly.

c4004matic

The point of the article is valud and its not really sigleing out MB, they could have used any similar luxury car. Its thelaw of diminishing returns."Pedestrian" midsize cars are so good and well equipped now that luxury is becoming an oxymoron, even tje cheapest cars in the market have keyless system bluetooth rear cameras and yada yada yada many times included as standard equipment. For comparison the p3 package for a 300 cost (11000) almost as much as a whole Honda Fit!!!!! Therefore, they have a very valid point, as technology gets cheaper and more available the less a luxury brand is worth. Many of the parts in cars are now shared among all brands case in point the cheapy carpets with glued stickers. That kind of stuff is of little consequence but it diminishes the brand particularly when you are paying premium.

mjsbenz

I do not disagree that the Japanese brands have become more sophisticated. But when Toyota decided to create Lexus, Honda creating Acura, Nissan creating Infiniti, and now Hyundai creating the Genesis brand, it was to compete in the luxury segment. And they have failed. No one will ever think a Lexus, an Acura, an Infiniti or Genesis is going to take market share away from MB or BMW.

My kids had a CRV during their Michigan Ann Arbor days. Great vehicle but it was all plastic and cheap inside. Drove great, very reliable but not luxurious.

Honda may now have tons of features but it still falls far short on luxury IMHO. It is all about the price of entry.

ngerstman

Good points by everyone. As basic transportation, the Accord my have reached the pinnacle of value in its segment, no question. But they are building to a price point just as Mercedes is building to a price point and the higher price point is catering to higher net worth individuals and thus has a higher profit margin which brings the Mercedes even further away from a value proposition as transportation. But the comparison on certain levels is pretty silly we would all admit as the e is built to a higher degree of tolerances, better fit and finish with much more expensive interior materials and far greater and higher end options available. The luxury car makers also tend to take more technology chances to stay ahead of the curve and increase profit margins and do on occasion fail by reducing ride quality and/or the user technology experience, the price of attempting to be at the cutting edge. Thanks. Regards. Ned.

ngerstman

Unfortunately I think the Japanese luxury brands have stagnated or in some cases gone backward. They have always tried to deliver a better value proposition than their German counterparts and that strategy worked for a long time. But from what I can see they have been reluctant to take the next step up in quality and are content to keep putting "lipstick on a pig" to put it unkindly. In their defense I guess those pigs do often come in at a lower price point. I always had a lot of respect for Acura, but they seem to have one misstep after another in recent years. Regards. Ned.

Brettboytn

I came from 2 Honda Accords before my E350. I loved them, but there is no comparison in materials and ride quality. I will say that my previous Accord had better standard features (push button start, side mirror camera, blind spot monitoring, etc.). I would never go back to an Accord unless financially had no choice, simply because I love the way the German cars "feel".

Streamliner

I have no data to back this up, but as a formerly very loyal, long time Lexus LS driver (8 new ones between 1993 & 2012) I personally feel that the huge earthquake/Tsunami/nuclear reactor meltdown really hurt Toyota. To their credit, I don't recall ever hearing them using the disaster as an excuse, but I believe that it really took a toll on the company and when they chose where they would concentrate their efforts, based on their then, substantially reduced capabilities, one area they decided to let coast was the Lexus LS program. Why else would they allow such a successful, "halo" model to wither on the vine as they have, with the current model dating back to 2007? Prior to that, new redesigns came in regular intervals, and one would have expected a new car around 2013 or so, but the cataclysmic events of 2011 really threw a monkey wrench in the works and some projects had to be substantially cut back. Now, the MB S Class is so far ahead of the current LS460, that it will take a minor miracle for Lexus to compete at that level again. That said, I never under estimate what those very industrious folks in that tiny country can do, when they decide to do it.

mjsbenz

In my mind, an appropriate analogy.

Ritz Carlton vs Marriott vs Residence Inns. (All owned by the Marriott Corporation). I know where I enjoy staying when on vacation. I worked hard during my career and earned the right to indulge in these things.

And I know what I enjoy driving.