The Honda Accord Hybrid is a
hybrid car version of the
Honda Accord made for the
United States domestic market. It became the company's
third
hybrid when the
2005 model was introduced in late
2004, following the
Honda Insight and
Honda Civic Hybrid. The Accord Hybrid is priced
US$3,000 higher than the EX V6 model Accord, and
retains the same trim and feature levels (with the deletion
of the power
sunroof). Honda has positioned the Accord Hybrid at the
top of its (non-Acura)
lineup.While this new vehicle
shares the same displacement as the regular seventh
generation Accord
V6
powerplant, the engine in the Hybrid is derived from the
2005 Honda Odyssey minivan and can shut off 3 of the 6
cylinders under certain conditions for better fuel economy
(a technology that Honda calls
Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)). The new engine
features iVTEC technology and drives a new compact
transmission. Power is up from 240 to 255 hp (179 to 190 kW)
and
torque rose from 212 to 232 ft·lbf (287 to
315 N·m).
Fuel economy is around 29 mpg (8.1 L/100 km) city and
37 mpg (6.4 L/100 km) highway, equivalent to a 4 cylinder
Honda Civic.
Honda puts the emphasis on the performance
and targets the high-end buyers. Unlike traditional hybrid
designs, the new Accord hybrid uses a more powerful engine
than its non-hybrid counterpart. Together with the
electric motor assist, the hybrid version is a much
higher performance car than the regular Accord.
The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan is also 4 in
(102 mm) longer than the 2005 Accord Sedan. The 2005 Accord
Hybrid Sedan comes in four colors: Graphite Pearl, Desert
Mist Metallic, Silver Frost Metallic, and Taffeta White.
Awards
The Accord Hybrid won the
Canadian Car of the Year Best New Alternative Power
award for 2005.