1994 Honda Accord Ex review from North America

Rust on doors, fenders, and rear above wheel wells... you'll find this on most Accords from this generation.

Seats belts in coupe wear horribly and become loose.

ABS died.

Auto trans shifts really hard, despite flush and treatments; this isn't wrong (so much) as this car just shifts horribly. Overall the auto trans isn't good. I'd buy a manual if I could find one.

Paint on hood and mirrors is flaking off. Paint job isn't of high quality.

Vehicle speed sensor died. Again, this is a fairly common problem in this generation for some reason.

Passenger side window won't roll down all the way. Fixed this before, and now it's broken again. Motor is running fine.

Washer fluid pump died.

CV joints needed replacing. Due to the assembly of it I just replaced the whole drive axle. Probably needs ball joints too. My old Accord went through this several times. Tie-rod ends should go next I'm guessing.

Gas door won't open anymore without being pried open.

This is a good economy car. It's not a race car (despite how you might see 18 year olds driving this gen. of Accord around your town). If you treat this car like one it will break down on you, and besides, while the 4 cylinder is decently powered for the economy it gets, it's not too fast a car. The VTEC system is NOT a turbo despite what I've heard people tell each other. Don't buy this car thinking it is, or that it's fast. I get 0-60 in probably 9+ seconds. It handles great. The steering is intuitive and well balanced. The EX offers a sun roof and power amenities (locks, a power seat, mirrors, windows).

The car looks good too, assuming the body is OK. These cars rust like mad above the wheelwells, if you live in a not-so-pleasant climate. Routine washings and waxings should help. The EX comes with 15" 5 spoke rims which don't look too bad. The car looks very modern compared to previous Accords. People find it hard to believe it was designed in '94.

The interior benefits from the extra width of this generation compared to previous ones. Compared to my '89 Accord Lx-i, it's quite spacious, and the controls are well laid out. That said, the interior isn't extremely comfortable. The seats offer the same lumbar support bar found in older Accords, and the EX has a power seat adjust, but the seats are still (literally) a pain in the back. The middle flip-up storage console is a nice addition. The back seats are spacious (for a coupe). The trunk is very generous.

The engine compartment is well thought out. This car is easy to work on. They all have the same problems more or less, and with a Haynes manual and the internet, you can keep it running forever pretty much. The engine just won't quit.

The auto transmission is pretty inexcusably bad. Some shifts can be smooth while others can be downright clunky and rough. The transmission searches for gears a lot. It doesn't feel like an improvement over my 1989 Honda at all. In fact, it feels like the same transmission transplanted to a nicer car. I've flushed it, and used expensive fluid conditioners to mild results. The Camry shifts nicer and rides nicer too, but I like the styling of this car much more.

The ride is smoother than previous years, but you'll still feel a lot of the road. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, but the shocks seem susceptible to being destroyed, so I take big bumps quite slow.

And lastly, the economy is good. I get a reliable 25-29 mpg, with a decent amount of highway driving. It seems to do substantially poorer on gas in the city. Due to the MPG difference and the horrible auto trans., I'd advise the manual 5-speed to anyone who can find it... you'll thank yourself.

Overall, this is another good economy offering from Honda. If you want something a little less sporty and better on gas, get the Civic. If you want a sports car, get the Prelude, or for a little more power, the 6-cylinder Accord.