Honda Accord 2.4 EL AT (2008–2013) (Discontinued) - ฿1,399,000

On a used Honda Accord 2.4 EL AT, start with the 5-speed automatic gearbox: drive it from cold and make sure shifts are smooth with no flare or shudder. Then check the suspension for knocks over bumps, look underneath for rust and for scrape marks that suggest the 140 mm ground clearance has met deep water or rough tracks, and confirm the air-conditioning blows properly at idle. A full service history and evidence of regular oil and timing-related maintenance matter more than low mileage on a car of this age.

The Honda Accord 2.4 EL AT launched at THB 1,399,000 when new and now trades used at roughly THB 380,000 to 680,000 depending on year, mileage and condition. Beyond the purchase price, set money aside for a pre-purchase inspection, a full fluid and filter service, tyres if they are old, and likely suspension refresh work. Insurance and annual tax on an older large sedan are ongoing costs worth planning for before you commit.

The Honda Accord 2.4 EL AT is a conventional petrol midsize sedan, so it competes with the Mitsubishi Galant as a comfortable older family car you buy used and run with easy access to parts. The Deepal SL03 is a newer electric sedan, which means a very different ownership pattern: charging instead of refuelling, and dependence on charging facilities that vary a lot across the country. If you want simple refuelling anywhere and a large 536 L boot at low purchase cost, the Accord still makes sense; if you want the lowest energy cost per kilometre, the electric option suits you better.

The Honda Accord 2.4 EL AT returns 11.5 km/L, which is honest for a big petrol sedan of its era but well behind today's small cars and hybrids. With a 65 L tank, a steady highway routine can go a long way between fills, while constant short stop-start trips will empty it noticeably faster. If your monthly mileage is high and mostly urban, expect fuel to be the single biggest running cost of owning one.