ACCORD CM

About the Accord CM

Seventh-gen Accord, and Honda went bigger to chase the American market. The CM got a 160-hp 2.4-liter K24A4 in base trim and the J30A4 V6 making 240 hp in the top spec. The V6 with a six-speed manual in the coupe was one of the best front-drive performance cars you could buy in 2003, and almost nobody bought it that way. Five-speed automatic was the volume transmission and it was fine. The interior went upscale with available leather, navigation, and a build quality that made Camry owners jealous. Ride comfort was the priority over the CD's sharper handling. Honda made the CM softer because that's what moved units. Enthusiasts grumbled. Families bought them by the hundreds of thousands. Both groups were right.