Hybrid cars change everything.
When we buy a new vehicle for our long-term fleet, we usually go with the biggest engine available. Our Magnum has Hemi power, and our '05 Mustang GT is packing 300-ponies. But what about something that's powerful and easy on the gas card?
We've had a Honda Accord in our fleet before and it was always satisfying — if not terribly exciting. The addition of a powerful new hybrid drivetrain, which boosts performance by bolting an electric motor to a V6, sounded intriguing. The prospect of being the first on our block to own such a vehicle was too much to resist.
We purchased one of the first Accord Hybrids in California from Goudy Honda in Alhambra and couldn't have been happier with the experience. The staff was very friendly and the salesman was helpful from start to finish.
After our first week behind the wheel we came away with a few clear impressions. One editor raved about the abundant power, comfortable interior and well-laid-out controls. He summed up his experience by saying that the Honda Accord Hybrid is to tech-junkies what a Porsche 911 is to performance aficionados — a rolling billboard telling the world you mean business.
One of our most critical road testers managed to wrangle the first week of seat time in the car, and he walked away more than impressed. He raved about the car's razor-sharp handling and abundant power, and noted that the interior was comfortable and well designed. He dinged the car for not having automatic headlights or optional Bluetooth wireless connectivity like its Acura cousins, but was otherwise floored by the Accord's pleasing nature.
The most common complaint is that the shifter has a habit of slipping into D3, or third gear, when shifted quickly from "park" to "drive." The powerplant is so smooth and quiet it can be difficult to notice the problem, and the result is drastically reduced fuel mileage. Because this proved to be an issue several times during the Hybrid's first few weeks in our fleet, we decided to leave mileage data out of this report. We'll have accurate numbers for you next time around.
Other complaints focused on the Auto-Stop Feature, which turns the gasoline engine off when the car comes to a stop. Several editors object to the way the start/stop sequence makes the car shudder, which in stop-and-go traffic quickly becomes annoying. Unlike the Toyota Prius that moves at slow speed under electric power, the Accord Hybrid always relies on the gasoline engine right from the start.
Overall, the few gripes we have with the car are minor and may just be growing pains as we get used to a new vehicle with an all-new drivetrain. For the money, the Honda Accord Hybrid is a luxurious and well-designed ride that offers a unique blend of performance and practicality. Stay tuned to future updates, where we'll report on the car's fuel economy and functionality in the real world.
Current Odometer: 424
Best Fuel Economy: N/A
Worst Fuel Economy: N/A
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): N/A
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None
When we buy a new vehicle for our long-term fleet, we usually go with the biggest engine available. Our Magnum has Hemi power, and our '05 Mustang GT is packing 300-ponies. But what about something that's powerful and easy on the gas card?
We've had a Honda Accord in our fleet before and it was always satisfying — if not terribly exciting. The addition of a powerful new hybrid drivetrain, which boosts performance by bolting an electric motor to a V6, sounded intriguing. The prospect of being the first on our block to own such a vehicle was too much to resist.
We purchased one of the first Accord Hybrids in California from Goudy Honda in Alhambra and couldn't have been happier with the experience. The staff was very friendly and the salesman was helpful from start to finish.
After our first week behind the wheel we came away with a few clear impressions. One editor raved about the abundant power, comfortable interior and well-laid-out controls. He summed up his experience by saying that the Honda Accord Hybrid is to tech-junkies what a Porsche 911 is to performance aficionados — a rolling billboard telling the world you mean business.
One of our most critical road testers managed to wrangle the first week of seat time in the car, and he walked away more than impressed. He raved about the car's razor-sharp handling and abundant power, and noted that the interior was comfortable and well designed. He dinged the car for not having automatic headlights or optional Bluetooth wireless connectivity like its Acura cousins, but was otherwise floored by the Accord's pleasing nature.
The most common complaint is that the shifter has a habit of slipping into D3, or third gear, when shifted quickly from "park" to "drive." The powerplant is so smooth and quiet it can be difficult to notice the problem, and the result is drastically reduced fuel mileage. Because this proved to be an issue several times during the Hybrid's first few weeks in our fleet, we decided to leave mileage data out of this report. We'll have accurate numbers for you next time around.
Other complaints focused on the Auto-Stop Feature, which turns the gasoline engine off when the car comes to a stop. Several editors object to the way the start/stop sequence makes the car shudder, which in stop-and-go traffic quickly becomes annoying. Unlike the Toyota Prius that moves at slow speed under electric power, the Accord Hybrid always relies on the gasoline engine right from the start.
Overall, the few gripes we have with the car are minor and may just be growing pains as we get used to a new vehicle with an all-new drivetrain. For the money, the Honda Accord Hybrid is a luxurious and well-designed ride that offers a unique blend of performance and practicality. Stay tuned to future updates, where we'll report on the car's fuel economy and functionality in the real world.
Current Odometer: 424
Best Fuel Economy: N/A
Worst Fuel Economy: N/A
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): N/A
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None
Add A Comment »
ustuplay says:
07:04 AM, 02/14/2011
My own 150,000 mile road test:
Love driving the car with all of its quirks. You have to finesse the pedals for smoother take-offs and stops. If you are accelerating, make sure that you are pointing straight ahead. There is a lag that's hard to time. When braking hard, look for a change in pedal response that you have to meter.
There is a lot of low end torque, not as much in the higher revs. I changed the rear sway bar to tighten up the ride. Not as much drifting in my high speed turns. In CA, the ride can be rough with the current condition of our roads, AZ roads were much smoother and the car drives there like a dream.
After 100,000 miles the engine developed a nice growl and possibly performs even better. Of course I use synthetic oil. The lack of a rough ride with the VCM engaged is an accomplishment and with the steering and the way I have the rear end set up its almost like driving a go cart.
Pretty hilly where I live. Mileage is 26city/31hwy. I can get 33 or more cruising at 80mph on our freeways but this car is definitely set up for performance.
Better mileage than the 4 cyl. version of the Accord, way better performance, totally worth the hybrid premium.
lj2005 says:
10:49 AM, 06/24/2010
I have noticed with my 2005 Hybrid that I get a lot better gas mileage using Chevron or Texaco fuels. I assume it's because they have techron which cleans the engine and makes the car run more efficiently.