2017 Honda Accord Hybrid
The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid hits
showrooms this spring with a new look and more technology. Most importantly,
the Accord Hybrid also receives powertrain revisions that improve both power
and efficiency.
Honda Accord Hybrid
has a revised 2.0-liter inline-four gas engine, redesigned electronics, and a
more compact motor. Total system output is up from 196 hp to 212 hp, though
Honda is frustratingly taciturn about how much of that power gain comes from
the gas engine versus the electric motor. The car’s lithium-ion battery pack is
also physically smaller, so it takes up less trunk space than in the last
Accord Hybrid. The car’s revised bodywork is slightly more aerodynamic than
before, helping efficiency.
Fuel-economy ratings for the 2017 Honda
Accord Hybrid are 49/47/48 mpg (city/highway/combined), which eagle-eyed
readers will note are lower than the 2015 model’s numbers. But Honda had to
certify the 2017 Accord Hybrid under new, stricter EPA drive-cycle test
requirements for the 2017 model year, and says that if they were tested under
equal circumstances, the 2017 car would actually be 1-2 mpg more efficient than
the 2015 Accord Hybrid.
New standard equipment on the 2017 Honda
Accord Hybrid includes Honda Sensing (pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist,
etc), remote start, and a backup camera, while upper trim levels add a new
7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Visual distinction for the hybrid comes in the form of blue-tinted lights,
hybrid badges, and unique wheels.
Despite all the enhancements, pricing
for the 2017 Hybrid “won’t differ all too substantially” from the old car’s
sticker price. The 2015 Accord Hybrid ran from US$ 30,125 to US$ 35,875.
