If you like pressing buttons then you will be in seventh heaven behind the wheel of Honda's new high-technology Accord.

No fewer than 16 are dotted around the reach and rake-adjustable, three-spoke steering wheel; the driver's door houses another 13 and I lost count of the number covering the centre console.

At first you feel you need to have a lie down, or go on a week's course to understand the complexities of this boy's toys-laden saloon. The good news is that the touch of just one button, which controls several voice-activated systems, allows you to manage many of the on-board functions simply by chatting to the car.

Externally, the Accord looks significantly more aggressive than its predecessor, with a larger, more pronounced grille. It is also significantly wider and slightly lower, with a ‘sharp-edged’ design and muscular wheel arches that emphasise the car’s wider track.

Honda unashamedly admits it used the BMW 3 Series to benchmark its ride and handling, and enthusiastic drivers will appreciate the new car’s greater agility. A lowered centre of gravity, the wider track and new front and rear suspension mean that body roll has been reduced and handling is more responsive.

Three engine choices are available, a new 150 horsepower, i-DTEC, second-generation diesel engine, a 156 horsepower 2.0-litre petrol i-VTEC and the test car's 2.4-litre engine, that punches out 200 horsepower.

All three engines are matched to a six-speed manual transmission, while both petrol engines have the option of a five-speed automatic. An automatic gearbox for the i-DTEC engine will be launched in early 2009.

Manual models feature a shift indicator light, which appears in the centre of the rev counter, with ‘up’ or ‘down’ graphics to advise of the best point to change gear. Honda claims fuel savings of up to five per cent can be achieved by following the display.

The dashboard itself features ‘floating’ backlit instruments, with an LCD multi-information display contained within the centre of the speedometer face.

If you think the dashboard looks complex, that's nothing to the safety systems lurking unseen beneath the bodywork. There is vehicle stability assist, designed to assist in maintaining control during cornering, acceleration and sudden manoeuvres and another system that detects instability in slippery conditions, both during cornering and under braking, that automatically prompts the driver to steer in the correct direction. To say nothing of the optional adaptive cruise control, that uses radar to maintain a consistent distance to a vehicle directly in front, and a 'lane keeping assist system', which uses a camera mounted behind the rear-view mirror, to detect white lines on either side of the lane and help steer the car straight down the middle. All at the touch of a button . . .

Auto facts Honda Accord 2.4 EX

  • Price: £23,600
  • Insurance group: 12
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 32.1mpg
  • Top speed: 141mph
  • Length: 472.6cm/186in
  • Width: 184cm/72.4in
  • Luggage capacity: 16.5 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 14.3 gallons/65 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 204g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/90,000 miles