The 2019 Honda
Accord has been launched in Thailand. The tenth-generation Accord ditches the
2.0L and 2.4L naturally aspirated engines from the previous generation for a
1.5 litre turbo engine and a 2.0 litre hybrid version. The old car’s
five-speed torque converter auto is no more – the range is now CVT-only.
There’s no base NA variant.
The 1.5 litre VTEC
Turbo engine, as used in the Civic and CR-V, puts out 190 PS and 243 Nm of
torque from 1,500 to 5,500 rpm in this application. This is essentially the
“CR-V tune” of the engine, which is stronger than the 173 PS/220 Nm in the
Civic.
The new Accord
Hybrid with the Sport Hybrid i-MMD (Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive) system
combines a 2.0 litre naturally aspirated i-VTEC engine with two electric
motors. The Atkinson cycle ICE makes 145 hp/175 Nm, while the pair of e-motors
make 184 hp/315 Nm. Total system output is 215 hp, delivered by a CVT auto. The
more compact lithium-ion battery pack slots under the rear floor, as opposed to
in the previous car’s boot.
The new 2019 Accord
won’t be mistaken for the old one, as it boasts a fresh new look with a
sweeping roofline. At 4,920 mm long and 1,860 mm wide, the new sedan is 10 mm
shorter and 10 mm wider than before. That roofline sits 15 mm lower than
before, while the 2,830 mm wheelbase is a significant 55 mm longer. The centre
of gravity is 10 mm lower than before.
The Accord Turbo
EL, which is the new entry level variant, comes with 225/50 R17 rubber, whereas
the Hybrid rolls on 18-inch wheels with 235/45 tyres. mAs Honda’s flagship
sedan in these parts, the Accord Hybrid will come with the full Honda Sensing
suite of safety features, including Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane
Departure Warning, Road Departure Mitigation and Adaptive Cruise Control with
Low-Speed Follow.
As for equipment
highlights, the new Accord is available with goodies such as a head-up display
(HUD), seven-inch TFT multi-info display and wireless charging. Three variants
are available in Thailand – the Turbo EL for 1.5 million baht, the
Hybrid for 1.65 million baht and the Hybrid Tech for another 150k
baht extra.
The Hybrid Tech
comes with all the bells and whistles, including a sunroof, exterior door
lighting, a rear spoiler, red or black leather seats (depending on the chosen
exterior colour), HUD, four-point front parking sensors, rear parking assist
with four sensors, 360-degree parking camera, cross traffic monitor and Honda
Smart Parking Assist System with auto parallel and perpendicular parking.
In Thailand, the
Accord Hybrid goes up against the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which is priced from
1.639 to 1.799 million baht.