I was among the first people in North America to drive the brand new Honda Accord in 1976. I was immediately impressed. I was the junior-most editor at Car Craft Magazine. When the preview invitation came everyone above me passed. “Send the new kid,” said the editor, so I went.

I owned a Shelby GT350, a low rider Chevy pickup, and an Austin Mini panel delivery, so I had some affinity for small cars. Compared to the rudimentary Austin Mini, the Accord was a high quality compact 2-door hatchback with excellent performance, attractive styling, and an introductory price of $3,995. I remember thinking that I should go home and place an order before demand drove up prices.

Unfortunately I was right about second sticker pricing and long waiting lists. I waited until 1979 to buy an Accord coupe. Waiting times were still substantial and $1,000 second stickers were common. The owner of a Honda dealership coveted my ’65 GTO, so I got cuts at the front of the line and only paid full retail.

That little tan Accord was probably the best car I’ve ever owned out of some 120 vehicles. It ran like a top, got great gas mileage, and was fun to drive with its peppy 72 horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and 5-speed transmission (weight was a mere 2,000 pounds). Total maintenance costs for five years were a $50 water pump and a set of tires. We placed a for sale sign in the window at 9 am and sold it by noon for only $500 less than we originally paid. I’ve never since found a value like that.

Three decades later the Honda Accord is still an outstanding car and a good value, although hardly the bargain it once was. Our top-of-the-line Accord EX coupe with V-6 and navigation system was nipping at the $30,000 barrier. The vast array of Accord models starts around $16,000. Trim levels in ascending order are DX, LX, LX V-6, EX-L, and EX V-6. Body styles are a 2-door coupe and a 4-door sedan. Engine choices are a 2.4-liter 160 horsepower I-4 and a 3.0-liter 240 horsepower V-6. Transmissions are a 5-speed automatic and a 5- or 6-speed manual.

The industry benchmark Accord has grown steadily in size, performance, and price while maintaining its high popularity rating. The Accord is now classified as a midsize car. Compared to the original, the current Accord seems like a big luxury coupe. Honda took the conservative approach to styling. It’s paid off in strong sales, but it’s not a car that offers a lot of excitement. The fact that the Accord is so quietly competent also tones down any possible excitement. It just goes about its business without making any fuss. That’s perfectly fine for most people, but we’d prefer a little more flair.

Hondas are known for their high quality engineering. The single overhead cam 24-valve VTEC engine is smooth and seamless. It’s CARB-certified as a Low Emissions Vehicle. The close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission was as smooth as the engine. The V-6 coupe is capable of sub-six second 0-60 times and quarter mile elapsed times in the mid-14 second range. Those were once muscle car numbers. EPA fuel economy numbers are 20 city and 30 highway. We averaged mid-twenties fuel economy in mixed driving.

Our coupe had sport-tuned suspension, 17x7-inch alloy wheels, 215/50 R17 all-season tires, front and rear stabilizer bars, a shock tower brace, traction control, and 4-wheel disc brakes.

Those items combined for a sporty, but comfortable ride.

Interior room and comfort are excellent. Front legroom is stretch-out spacious and back seat room is surprisingly ample. Six foot tall passengers will clear the headliner which is another surprise given the sloping roofline. Fit and finish are first class. Our heated black leather driver’s seat was 8-way power adjustable with lumbar support. The leather-wrapped steering wheel had audio and cruise control buttons.

An excellent 6-CD in-dash stereo system included standard XM satellite radio. Our coupe had the voice-activated navigation system. The Honda system is as good as any and better than many. Trunk space is average with a medium-sized opening. The trunk floor is flat and the split rear seats fold for long items. Large front door bins feature contoured bottle holders. Interior storage is excellent.

Whines: Back seat amenities are lacking. There wasn’t a center armrest and the outboard ones are hard plastic. There aren’t any rear A/C vents and grab handles would make ingress/egress easier.

Bottom Line: The 2005 Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe is a long ways up the size and stature scale from the original hatchback. Everything that was positive about the original is even better today. The Accord has maintained its excellent resale value. It’s a high-quality car that does everything asked of it very well.