Why Honda Accord 0-60 Specifications Are Significant

Stop-and-go traffic is the norm for most urban drivers. Chronically congested streets afford few chances to actually test full acceleration speed in real time, but situations still arise where a nimble start can prevent a rear-end collision, or when freeway traffic makes merging quickly imperative. While most family vehicle operators seldom push their cars to the maximum, Honda Accord 0-60 results illustrate the possibilities.

Acceleration measurements were first taken after the Second World War, and the best figures for Detroit-made vehicles exceeded sixteen seconds. Although unimpressive by modern standards, the stats soon began to show marked improvement. The sixties witnessed an explosion of technology sparked by the space race, and acceleration times were reduced by nearly half. The fastest vehicles could boast seven seconds.

The bleak energy crunch of the seventies contributed to a marked decrease in acceleration improvements. Unleaded fuel was introduced for new vehicles, and the addition of the first emission control devices helped sap the strength of an entire generation of new cars. Even the loudest and fastest muscle cars were slowed. Design improvements eventually solved most issues, and were reflected in better measurements.

Today, most new vehicles can pass the test in less than nine seconds. Even some new mini-vans, the brunt of endless jokes, beat the speediest sports models of the past by several seconds. Efficient design aided by high-tech computers is largely responsible, and gas mileage today is twice that of previous decades. Few people drive across the country any longer, but the cars on the highway today could manage quite well.

Auto enthusiasts often look at the acceleration specifications before anything else, but other potential buyers may find them confusing. Some new cars are equipped with high-tech launch devices, sport sticky tires that give quick-starts an advantage, and feature all-wheel drive mechanisms. These automobiles can do the required sprint in under four seconds, extremely fast by any standard.

Most speed records eventually are surpassed, and acceleration will still increase in small amounts. The important thing to remember is that the specifications are best seen as a measurement of performance overall. For daily commuters, this translates to a quick response when needed. Being confident that a vehicle can handle nearly any traffic situation is important when safety is a primary concern.

Accords fit that description. New models manufactured by this Japanese corporation post figures between 5.5 to 7.6 seconds. Older models can be slower, adding as much as eight seconds to the current model times. This is less speed than some top-performers, but most operators find the acceleration quite satisfactory. Solid engine design coupled with high-quality production standards offset any shortcomings.

While carefully measured, figures do vary. Poor quality road surfaces can reduce performance, and standard tires can lose their grip. Trunk cargo and passengers add weight, which can also slow acceleration. Weather conditions are also a factor. The best way to determine if acceleration meets personal requirements is a test drive on a variety of roads in different types of traffic.