A very short drive in the 2010 Honda Accord coupe makes it clear that two fewer doors is far from the top difference between it and an Accord sedan. The coupe feels much more nimble and precise than its sedan sibling. The coupe is also much more reminiscent of Accords of yore, and much less like the powerful-but-heavy European sports sedan the Accord sedan easily emulates.
Comparing the Accord coupe against the Accord sedan, in both four-cylinder and V6 forms, is similar to trying to determine how two children from the same family can become such radically different adults—some is nature, some is nurture.
The coupe we most recently tested was powered by a plenty-potent 190-horsepower four-cylinder engine coupled to a five-speed manual. Just prior, we tested the 2010 Accord sedan, with a 260-horsepower V6. Combined with the sedan's extra length, that served to make it more than 300 pounds heavier than the coupe. The coupe also has notably different suspension tuning, for tighter, sportier handling. The coupe also separates itself from the sedan with some significant bodywork differences, including a longer hood and a lower roofline.
The bottom line: You can't tell the difference between these Accords just by counting the doors.
