The best way to be completely sure is to drive a loaner for a couple of days. After driving basic Civics for many years, anything should be a big step up in the quietness and comfort category.
The Accord is the standout car among 4-door sedans when you consider the whole package - from soup to nuts, as they say. However, if one criteria is more important than others to you, it may not be the car for you. For example, if you want sporty styling and flashy looks, you might go with a Mazda 6. If you want to ride on a pillow with 4 wheels and minimal excitement, you might choose the Camry. If you want to have regular visits to your dealer and a resale value that drops like a rock the minute you walk out the door, you would choose a Buick.
My thoughts in reading your comments were that you might find the Accord's ride a little harsh if you compare it to a Buick, especially if you like the Buick. But the performance and handling are light years ahead of the Buick. The stereo is very good, the resale value is tops in the segment, the reliability record is unmatched, dealer service is generally very good.
I drove Camry's exclusively from 1986 to 2004, when I bought my first Accord. As much as I felt at home in a Camry, the Accord was a revelation to me. I have since bought 2, 2000 model Accords for my daughters.
By the same token, I have had 4 friends ask my advice on sedans in the $20-$25k range in the last 6 months. I told them nothing could touch the Accord in that price range. They all bought something else (2 Mazdas, 2 Camrys). So the Accord isn't for everyone - but someone who keeps their cars for a long time would do well to stick with a Honda (or at least a Camry).
FYI - An Accord V6 EXL without Navi should be closer to $24k before taxes and fees. Your price seems a little steep....
P.S. I have the Graphite Pearl and I am very happy with it. However, I did see a new shade of green for the '05 model that was really stunning...make sure you see all the colors in person before you decide.
