Here's some free advice for you. Some things never change, most people don't mend their wicked ways, and leopards most certainly don't change their spots. This was perhaps the best bit about driving around the Helderberg in the new Honda Accord. The previous generation 2.4 Executive Automatic model at first seemed a tad bland before I realised what a marvellously accomplished and refined motorcar it really was.

The new flagship Honda made a favourable first impression, based on an encounter with a rather dusty pre–launch model I found in Honda Helderberg‘s cellar, where they keep all the good stuff. The car in question was an entry–level 2–litre model in white. My 2.4L test car cut a more dashing figure, thanks also to the bigger wheels, Xenon lights and twin exhaust pipes which are reserved for the fancier derivative. The designers weren‘t too daring with the new metalwork, but the Accord arrives with its own mixture of odd angles and lines, thin window line and flattened wheel arches.

The Accord's official launch at Honda Helderberg was a suitably elegant and sophisticated affair that highlighted the car and the company's history, and gave eager customers a chance to give the newcomer a good stare or two. Later in the evening I joined the merry crowds in exploring the inside of the new Honda, poking at random buttons and rubbing various surfaces while nodding and grunting approvingly.

The only negative remark I picked up was that the rear doors were a bit on the small side and restricted access to the rear bench. Once inside the cabin, the opinions flipped back on to their shiny side with plenty of back support and legroom. The standard features of an Accord got quite a few approving nods as well. Xenon, sunroof, PDC and USB are reserved for the 2.4 models, but even the 2-litre comes with plenty of toys and gadgets to keep you entertained.

The front row of an Accord is even better, both chairs are comfortable and opulently cushioned (including extra shoulder padding), with electric adjustments and driver's memory function for all models. Two-stage seat heaters enhance your driving experience on cold winter days, as do the simple and effective dual zone heating and vent controls on the dashboard (rear aircon on 2.4 models).

Further north lies the car's audio hub whose peculiar layout leans strongly on that of the Civic hatchback's system. Most things are self-explanatory, but in a stroke of genius the volume / power control is half the size of the select / enter one. This takes some getting used to, much like the satellite buttons on the steering wheel, as I repeatedly turned up the volume on a bad track, and then skipped forward in the middle of a good one.

All information is displayed in parts of the big screen near the top of the dashboard, which also reveals audio and a few vehicle properties. While testing the sound properties (which are very good!) I stumbled across inputs for auxiliary (mp3 player) AND USB devices. Top that with an RDS radio and in-dash 6-CD mp3 & wma-compatible player, and you'll never run out of music in the new Accord. Strike 62 for the Accord's perfection. And strike 63 was lurking on the rear parcel shelf in the shape of a big subwoofer which adds thundering thumps and rumbling lows to the latest musical torment from that Justine Timberland girl they so adore on our youthful radio stations.

The instrument cluster is a daring new approach of grooved silver surrounds over two main dials with adjacent recessed temp and fuel dials, and with their red and white lighting is quite easy to read. The needles of the two big readouts seem to defy gravity and serenely hover past the markings of their respective confines. A digital information display in the speedometer informs you of any warnings, open doors, range, mileage, trip, and consumption information.

As you might've safely assumed already, I bluffed my way to the key of the 2008 Honda Accord 2.4 (A) shortly after its introduction, and we spent an entire week together. The start of our relationship was familiar territory from my time with its predecessor, and the Accord made a fairly good impression when I simply needed to get from point A to point another-traffic-jam-on-the-N2.

The 2.4 litre VTEC 4-cylinder engine kicks out a healthy 147kW at almost 7000rpm, and has 1/4 thousand Newtonmeters, but the performance of this new Accord suggested otherwise. Its power delivery and response is soooo relaxed and smooth that I often wondered if I wasn't commanding the 2 litre model.

In its defence, and in keeping with its heritage, progress is actually not that slow and the sophisticated Accord is one of those cars that's always going much faster than you think it is. "I swear officer, I couldn't have been doing any more than 60." The automatic gearbox with steering-mounted paddles makes the whole exercise even more smooth, which (yet again) isn't really a bad thing. If you're expecting a racy exhaust note, screaming VTEC motor and smoking tires, step away from the new Accord.

Its suspension setup and big tires further ensure that an Accord remains serenely composed and sure-footed, unless you start driving like a courier service man with diarrhoea. The car's handling is well balanced, if somewhat on the softer side, as speed bumps and road undulations will quickly reveal. Push the new Honda beyond socially accepted norms and it will gently drift away from its path to the tune of screaming rubber.

No surprises there, then. The Accord was creeping into my heart at a steady pace, which was reinforced by all its civilised and sophisticated actions. I encountered a slight hick-up while trying to transport bulky and dirty objects for work, and quickly discouraged my passenger from scratching the rear leathers because the Accord has folding rear seats. If you know how to fold them.

I can only imagine the resulting scene to have been comical, as my fellow commuter and I climbed around the inside of the Accord like two adolescent chimpanzees. We found a lock which had no effect whatsoever, and no handles or levers. After having returned our unwieldy cargo to the shop for later collection, we swiftly returned to Honda Helderberg for a seat-folding lesson. And there, at the top lip of the boot cavity, in plain sight of anybody admiring the Accord's capacious bum, are two black handles with BIG white drawings on them. Pull them and the seats fold down.

In order to redeem my utter stupidity against the Accord, I started searching in earnest for any obvious weak points of the car. It didn't go too well. The only real problem I had was offering my cellular burden to the Accord's Bluetooth system in unholy digital matrimony. The telephone menu on the central screen is no good at all; because there isn't one.

After consulting the user's manual, I discovered secret phrases and hidden commands that engage you in a conversation with a friendly lady sitting somewhere inside the dashboard. You summon her with a button on the steering wheel, which also calls up any phone options. She guided me through a lengthy and annoying process to the point where I only had to give my phone a name, when a friend yelled "FLUFFY!!!" To be fair, I only had to do this once and Fluffy automatically connected to the Accord every time we hit the road.

After nearly a week of happy motoring I had discovered a few other niceties about the car, like its excellent Xenon lights with washers, the over-eager auto wipers, and tons of storage space and extra binnacles in, on, and around the dashboard. But it wasn't until I headed out to whale country for a cozy breakfast with pleasant company that the Accord delivered its trump card.

Longer distances expose the 2.4's quiet and frugal nature (which dropped from 13 to under 10L/100km), and although full-throttle antics are still somewhat sedated, overtaking progress is nothing to be snuffed at. You also have the option to slot the stubby gear selector into "S" and fiddle with those paddles behind the steering wheel. The Accord diligently obeyed my inputs, refusing to budge out of a high gear and even whoop-whoop'ing on the rev-limiter when I didn't tap the right paddle fast enough.

Back in full auto mode, the 4-cylinder motor smoothly swaps gears to abuse either its torque or high-rev VTEC power, while the car's high-speed handling is so predictable and comfortable that my passenger decided to embark on a Sunday lunchtime nap in the toasty seat.

I returned the Accord to Honda Helderberg early the next week, and although I probably wouldn't buy one myself, my respect for the refined sedan has been elevated to new levels. I'd love a snarling V6 or screaming S2000 motor under the hood, but then it wouldn't be as quiet, smooth and economical. And it wouldn't be an Accord.

Would I buy one? Probably not, it's too refined for me.

Is it any good? %&$@ yeah!

2008 Honda Accord 2.4 Auto daftly provided by Honda Helderberg [021 840 1700]

For:

• Great sound system & versatile interior
• Good manual function on auto-box
• Xenon lights with washers
• Superb long-distance companion
  

Against:

• Difficult Bluetooth telephone connection
• Engine not the most exciting