The new 2013 Honda Accord may be, to borrow a phrase from the company's press release, "the most sculpted Honda ever." It only doesn't look much different than its predecessor.

In the midsize segment there's too much competition for Honda's comfort, with Chevrolet's Malibu, Ford' fusion closing in fast on Honda on the one hand, and the arch- rival Toyota's Camry getting a refurbishing on the other. Then there are Volkswagen's Passat, Hyundai's Sonata, and Nissan's Altima -all reloaded and ready to battle it out.

Clearly, the days of Accord as "easily the best mid-size sedan" are past. Already it's being hailed as an "ageing' brand." That's one of the reasons why the release of the 2013 version was all the more anticipated. And the 2013 Accord has disappointed if looks are anything to go by.

Apart from the addition of what the manufacturers call 'character lines' to the sides and a little redo of the front and rear, the sedan looks pretty similar to its predecessor.

However, there's no reason to suspect that the ease of steering, braking and overall handling will be compromised in the newer version if not improved. On this account, 2013 Honda Accord will certainly give Fusion and Malibu, perhaps even Camry, a tough competition.

To quote Vicky Poponi, an American Honda executive, "The car is the most sculpted and the most dynamic Accord yet. Following Honda's long-held philosophy of 'man maximum, machine minimum,' the beautiful exterior evolved from a focus on interior spaces and the needs of the people inside it."

One has to give the company that. It certainly knows what an American midsize sedan buyer is exactly looking for. And they have historically kept their interiors roomier, the trunk larger and the fuel economy better. If they manage to retain all these in the 2013 Honda Accord, they look but all set to face the competition in style.

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