Lifestyle-orientated buyers may value style over substance but that doesn't mean that they're blind to everyday economics. Hence the fact that the majority of sales of cars like Audi's A4 Avant and BMW's 3 Series Touring are of diesel models.

Without a diesel, you're without a prayer when it comes to shifting volumes in the profitable compact prestige estate sector, so when Honda's Accord Tourer was initially launched without one, dealers weren't too hopeful. As it happens, the car sold quite well, probably because it's one of the few models in the sector to be able to mix eye-catching lines with surprisingly spacious loading capacity. With Honda's 2.2-litre i-CTDi diesel now available and with the Accord freshened by improvements made for the latest model year, it could all be about to come together.

From nowhere, Honda created the finest diesel in its class with the 2.2 i-CTDi, arguably the finest diesel you can buy, yet this is the first such engine produced in the company's 55 year history. The fact that Honda is the word's biggest engine maker should mean that we shouldn't be surprised by this. Obviously, they were able to bring considerable expertise and resource to the project. However, given disparaging remarks made by Honda executives over the years about cars able to drink from the black pump, it was tempting to expect their first foray into diesel territory as little more than a sop to convention. Nothing could be further from the truth.

"Without a diesel, you're without a prayer when it comes to shifting volumes in the profitable compact prestige estate sector?"

The engineers given this project were culled from the company's F1 and world motorsport programmes and were, apparently, none too pleased to be given the brief. Still, having got it, they decided to make the whole idea work and create a diesel that was as much like one of their hi-tech petrol units as possible.

They've ended up with an engine 2.2-litres in size cranking out a hefty 138bhp at 4,000rpm and have created a unit that is easily the most refined of its type. More soundproofing and thicker window glass help to isolate the diesel grumble and it's genuinely tricky to aurally differentiate it from a petrol engine at normal cruising speeds.

You'll know it's a diesel when you put your foot down. The 340Nm of torque means that it's the most torquey Honda engine currently available and it even puts the legendary NSX sportster in the shade. Mid-range acceleration is very crisp and typical motorway speeds see the engine revolving at a very restrained gait. The sprint to 60mph will detain you for just 9.2 seconds in the saloon or 9.9 seconds if you're hauling the additional bulk of the Tourer. Emissions are another area where the Honda excels, complying with the tough Euro IV regulations. The figure of 153g/km for the Tourer being excellent, given that the Accord is such a substantial feeling vehicle.

Two versions are available - Sport GT and EX - costing between £21,967 and £23,767 in Tourer guise. That's a premium of around £1,000 over the comparable saloons. The Sport GT version features 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lights, mesh grille, sports upholstery, cruise control and a 3-spoke leather steering wheel as well as dual zone climate control, a 6-speaker CD-based stereo and front, side and curtain airbags. The plush EX models feature a 6 CD changer, gas discharge headlights, leather trim, heated front seats and 8-way power adjustment for the driver's chair.

The wheelbase of the Tourer has been increased by only 50mm over that of its saloon stablemate and the increase in overall body length is only an extra 85mm. No use expecting a van-like loading bay then. Still, a load volume of 576 litres with all the seats in place is no mean achievement for this class of car. The total volume of 921 litres with the rear seats folded is rather less impressive, but compensation does come in the form of a clever 'One Motion' system for easy access of what space there is.

Positioned on top of the 60:40-split rear seat backs are the operating catches, one either side of the car. To fold either seat section, you simply pull the lever forward which simultaneously releases the seat back lock and automatically flips the headrest forward via an interlocking cable. You then continue to pull the seatback forward and, since this is interconnected with the seat base via a sliding linkage, the effect of this action is to flip the seat base up automatically into a vertical position behind the front seat. Since the headrest is flipped forward, it comfortably clears the seat base. There's no messing about with seatbelts and anchor points either, since everything is integrally designed into the seat mechanism. Easy.

Overall, this particular Honda is probably the best all-rounder you can buy in its particular station wagon sector, whether you're after a Medium range Mondeo-sized estate or something Audi A4 Avant or BMW 3 Series Touring-like with a more prestigious badge. Honda heading up the diesel market. Whoever would have thought it?