Ed Voyles Honda J. D. Power Awards

J.D. Power and Associates August 2011 SpecialPowerReport Honda

Honda is Highest-Ranked Non-Premium Brand in the 2011 Initial Quality Study

Honda Earns Seven Model Awards—More Than Any Other Brand—and Three Plant Quality Awards
Honda is the highest-ranked Non-Premium nameplate in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Initial Quality
SM
Study (IQS)—a benchmark study of new-vehicle quality
after 90 days of ownership. The study has been conducted annually for the past 25 years. Expected reliability continues to be the single- most-important reason why new-vehicle buyers choose one model over another.
Honda earns seven initial quality segment awards—more than any other brand in the study this year and the most the brand has ever received—and three awards for plant quality. This year, Honda is one of two automakers to earn the Platinum Plant Quality Award, which represents the highest initial quality among plants producing vehicles for the U.S. market.
Nameplate Ranking: 2011 Initial Quality Study

Honda has ranked among
top 10 industry brands in initial quality for 21 of the past 25 years.
Honda also receives the Bronze Plant Quality Award for the Americas for the Crosstour, CR-V, and Element manufacturing facility, and the Silver Plant Quality Award, Asia Pacific
for the Civic and Insight production facility.
In all, Honda earns seven model
awards in the 2011 IQS for the
Accord, Crosstour, Fit, Element, and
Ridgeline, as well as the Insight and
Civic in a tie. The Crosstour, an all-
new model in 2010, and the Accord
receive awards for a second consecutive year. In the Compact Crossover/SUV segment, Honda achieves the first and second rank positions for the Element and CR-V. The Odyssey ranks second in the Minivan segment.
Honda Quality over Time
Historically, Honda has performed well in the Initial Quality Study, placing among the top 10 brands in the study during 21 of the past 25 years. In addition, Honda received the most model-level IQS awards among nameplates in three earlier years: 1997 (tie), 1998, and 2008.
This year, Honda achieves its highest-ever ranking among nameplates in the IQS, and is also the highest-ranking Non- Premium nameplate.


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The 2012 Honda Accord combines a unique balance of style, performance, efficiency and value within a diverse range of spacious sedan and sporty coupe models.

The 2012 lineup, features and specifications remain similar to the 2011 model year when the Accord received upgrades for fuel economy and styling, plus the addition of a Special Edition (SE) trim level. For 2012, a USB audio interface becomes standard on every Accord with the addition of the feature to the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedan models.

The Accord Sedan's exterior conveys an upscale and powerful presence with a prominent two-bar grille consisting of chrome-style crossbars, windswept headlights, inset character lines along the body sides and distinctively-shaped C-pillars. Building on the sedan's design character, the Accord Coupe's muscular stance is enhanced by a sporty front fascia design, a sleeker overall roof profile, a shorter wheelbase and an exclusive trunk and tailgate design.

The comfortable and spacious interior is complemented by high-quality materials with an emphasis on switchgear refinement. A hallmark of Honda design, the Accord exhibits simple and intuitive ergonomics with the audio, climate and vehicle controls organized by expected frequency of use. Often-used climate-control buttons are positioned on the left side of the center stack within easy reach of the driver for quick access. Less-frequently used buttons are positioned on the right side.

The front seats are designed to provide supportive cushions for long-range cruising comfort and progressive lateral support while cornering. The fold-down, rear seatback offers cargo-carrying versatility and also includes a lockable pass-through for long items.

The 2012 Honda Accord Sedan earns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) best-possible Overall Vehicle Score1 of 5 stars. Helping the sedan achieve its top overall score were 5-star ratings in each of the three combined categories of overall frontal crash safety, overall side crash safety and rollover resistance. These achievements represent a significant safety milestone for the automotive industry, as the 2011 Accord Sedan was the first vehicle to receive 5-Star ratings in each combined category.

Listed by increasing levels of feature content, sedan models include the 4-cylinder Accord LX, LX-P (Premium), SE, EX and EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V-6 and EX-L V-6. Coupe models include the 4-cylinder Accord LX-S, EX, EX-L, and the 6-cylinder Accord EX V-6 and EX-L V-6. The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System is available on all Accord EX-L models.

Four engine variations are available, starting with a 177-horsepower, 2.4-liter, i‑VTEC 4-cylinder engine in the Accord LX, LX-P and SE Sedans. Next is the 190-horsepower, 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine that's standard in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedan models and all 4-cylinder coupe models. The top-of-the-line 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V-6 engine produces 271 horsepower and is available in the Accord EX and EX-L Sedan models and the Accord EX-L Coupe. To increase fuel efficiency, Accord V-6 models with automatic transmissions take advantage of Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) technology, an innovative valvetrain system that can deactivate up to half of the cylinders while cruising. The performance-oriented Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with the 6-speed manual transmission takes advantage of a special 271-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 VTEC engine that replaces VCM with a performance-tuned valvetrain, intake and exhaust systems to further broaden the torque curve in the low- to mid-rpm range.

Transmission choices vary by engine and trim level and include a 5-speed manual transmission (available on select 4-cylinder models) and a 5-speed automatic transmission (standard on select 4-cylinder models and all V-6 models). Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters are standard on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe with an automatic transmission. A 6-speed manual transmission is available exclusively on the Accord EX-L V-6 Coupe.

Aerodynamic body features, low-friction engine technology and optimal transmission gear ratios all contribute to excellent fuel efficiency. The most fuel-efficient Accord model is the 4-cylinder sedan equipped with 5-speed automatic transmission, which returns an EPA-estimated 23/34/27 mpg city/highway/combined. The EPA-estimated fuel-economy rating for the Accord V-6 Sedan model is 20/30/24 mpg city/highway/combined, also with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

For safety, the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure is an exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal crashes. The ACE design utilizes a network of connected structural elements to distribute crash energy more evenly throughout the front of the vehicle. This enhanced frontal crash energy management helps to reduce the forces transferred to the passenger compartment. Extensive safety features include front side airbags, side curtain airbags, and driver's and front passenger's active head restraints.

The fully independent, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension systems inspire confident handling performance while also providing a comfortable ride. The 2012 Accord Sedan comes standard with 16-inch steel wheels with wheel covers (alloy wheels on LX-P and SE), and 17-inch alloy wheels are standard on EX and above sedan models. The Accord Coupe (4-cylinder) has 17-inch alloy wheels as standard equipment, with 18-inch alloy wheels standard on the Accord V-6 Coupe. All Accords feature Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control and 4-wheel disc brakes with an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS).

Three audio systems are available – all with MP3/Windows Media Audio (WMA) playback capability, an auxiliary input jack and the USB audio interface. The standard system provides a single-disc CD player, six speakers and 160 watts of power. Radio Data System (RDS) displays information broadcast by participating FM radio stations that often includes call letters, station type (searchable by genre) and programming information. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls come standard on every Accord. The Accord EX Sedan and LX-S Coupe add a 6-disc in-dash changer.

A premium 270-watt audio system comes standard on Accord EX Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models, which includes a 6-disc CD changer and seven speakers including an 8-inch subwoofer. XM Radio is standard equipment on all Accord EX-L models.

The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System (available on Accord EX-L) has an 8-inch screen and an interface dial for user input. The navigation system features the Zagat Survey guide for restaurants, nightlife, hotels and attractions, in addition to a rear-view camera on the EX-L Sedan. Accord EX and EX-L Coupe and Accord EX-L Sedan models include Bluetooth HandsFreeLink as standard equipment for connecting wirelessly with compatible mobile phones.

Currently more than 95 percent of new Accords sold in the United States are produced4 at Honda of America Manufacturing Inc.'s Marysville Auto Plant in Marysville, Ohio. In its 2011 Initial Quality Study (IQS), J.D. Power and Associates named the Accord as having the highest initial quality in its segment. Additionally, Car and Driver magazine has chosen the Honda Accord as one of its "10Best" vehicles 25 times in the 29 years that its editors have conducted the competition, more than any other vehicle in the award's history.