It has been nearly five months since we drove an
early pre-production version of the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid and now we’re
finally learning its fuel economy figures. As discovered by Motor Trend, the
EPA has revealed the Accord Hybrid will be rated at 47 mpg city, 47 mpg highway
and 47 mpg combined. The numbers are similar to the 2017 model but the fuel economy rating has dropped from 49 mpg city, 47 mpg
highway and 48 mpg combined.
The drop is relatively small but it is surprising as
the Accord is lighter than its predecessor and has a third-generation hybrid
system which is more compact and features “improved power delivery” as well as
a greater thermal efficiently rating of 40 percent.
The 2018 Honda Accord
Hybrid has a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine that produces 143 hp and 174 Nm of torque. The car also has a continuously
variable transmission, a lithium-ion battery and two electric motors. The
propulsion motor develops 181 hp and 314 Nm of torque and
this helps to give the Accord Hybrid a combined maximum output of 212 hp.
While the model is less fuel-efficient, it features
a significantly improved cabin with higher quality materials and additional
space. The improved packaging also allows the 2018 model to have a split
folding rear seat and the same 473 liters of cargo space as
the standard Accord.
Those are nice features but the 2018 Toyota Camry
Hybrid is rated at 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined in LE trim.
However, the XLE and SE variants are beat by the Accord Hybrid as they are
rated at 44 mpg city, 47 mpg highway and 46 mpg combined.
