You can almost set your clock by it. Every five model years, the Honda Accord gets a redesign. True, this is up from the four-year-cycles we saw in the 1980s and 1990s, but the car isn't exactly suffering for it: The past Accord EX V6 went out on top of our family sedan Ratings.

Here is an interesting factoid: depending on the source, Honda Accord sales were up around 30 percent in September this year compared to last year. It's hard to tell if that's because of clearance deals on the excellent last-generation model, or from first-on-the-block buyers of the redesigned car. Either way, that increase is a big deal given that the Accord has been the perennial second-highest-selling car (behind the Toyota Camry) in the United States. (So far this year, the Accord is ahead.)

Comparing the Accord to the Camry, the Accord is an easy answer for an enthusiast to suggest when faced with the inevitable "What car should I buy?" question at parties. The Camry has been quieter and softer riding, but the Accord achieves the same level of practicality, has long been reliable, and as a plus, is more entertaining to drive.

So far, based on the two Accords that Consumer Reports bought to test, we don't see Honda deviating far from this very successful formula. As I frequently write in "Just In" blogs, this car is bigger than the one it replaces: it seems that most of the extra four inches in length went into rear seat room. At least the just over 100 pound weight increase (for our EX-L V6) is nominal, given the big jumps we've seen in other cars.

Another jump is in horsepower; the four-cylinder LX-P sedan we're testing has 177 hp, up 11 from the old four-cylinder. (The EX four-cylinder has 190 hp.) Our EX-L V6 sedan has moved up in displacement from a 3.0 to 3.5 liters, gained a deactivation system that shuts off two or three cylinders under light load, and added 24 horsepower. Honda stuck with a five-speed automatic; while many manufacturers are going to six-speeds, Honda so far has been able to eke out strong fuel economy and responsive performance with five forward gears. As Jim Travers wrote in his recent "Fuel for Thought" blog, Honda is claiming improved fuel economy despite more power.

First impressions are that the new Accords are impressive to drive. Stability control is standard on all trim levels--a welcome addition of this valuable safety technology. We'll have more on the Accords when we post our First Look.

--Tom Mutchler

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