Increased Power - Improved Economy
Hybrid frugality: myth or reality?
Honda claims its hybrid-powered four-door Accord Sedan will squeeze 100 kilometres of city and highway driving out of 8.2 and 6.1 litres of regular fuel respectively. The on-board information centre in my tester displayed an average economy of 9.4 litres of fuel for 100 clicks during my hasty city stints. That may not be considered remarkable, that is until you realize the similarly sized Lincoln MKZ I recently tested displayed an average consumption of 16.7 litres for a metric century.
Convert the fuel consumption differential into cold hard cash and it's fair to say that the privilege of driving an MKZ one-hundred-K costs approximately $8.00 more than an Accord Hybrid. Add to the Accord's frugal operating cost its lower MSRP, which in Canada begins at $38,090, and the financial picture brightens considerably. Of course, the cachet of driving an Accord pales in the bold reflection of the Lincoln's waterfall grille. Yet, knowing that your carbon tire-print is substantially less than the MKZ's ought to engender a healthy dose of smugness.
Hybrid Issues
Critics of hybrid-powered vehicles suggest that any degree of smugness will surely morph into regret when time arrives to replace the car's complex battery pack. What will it cost and how will the old batteries be disposed of they ask. Of course, such replacement should be years and hundreds of thousands of kilometres away. During the interim, less fossil fuel burned translates into less cost and a healthier environment.
Hybrid Happenings
I have had the pleasure of sampling hybrid-powered cars and SUVs from a wide array of manufacturers; the Accord Hybrid is one of the smoothest, most refined yet. Leaving aside typical Accord virtues, such solid build quality and sensible styling, allows time and space to focus on the hybrid-version's splendid drivetrain and inspirational driving dynamics. The heart of the Accord's hybrid technology is its 3.0-litre, V6 gas engine. This mill swirls silently under hood, only announcing its presence when the throttle sinks sufficiently to move the sedan with authority. And move it can, augmented with the system's electric motor.
Hybrid frugality: myth or reality?
Honda claims its hybrid-powered four-door Accord Sedan will squeeze 100 kilometres of city and highway driving out of 8.2 and 6.1 litres of regular fuel respectively. The on-board information centre in my tester displayed an average economy of 9.4 litres of fuel for 100 clicks during my hasty city stints. That may not be considered remarkable, that is until you realize the similarly sized Lincoln MKZ I recently tested displayed an average consumption of 16.7 litres for a metric century.
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| Estimated fuel consumption is optimistic compared to real-life numbers. |
Convert the fuel consumption differential into cold hard cash and it's fair to say that the privilege of driving an MKZ one-hundred-K costs approximately $8.00 more than an Accord Hybrid. Add to the Accord's frugal operating cost its lower MSRP, which in Canada begins at $38,090, and the financial picture brightens considerably. Of course, the cachet of driving an Accord pales in the bold reflection of the Lincoln's waterfall grille. Yet, knowing that your carbon tire-print is substantially less than the MKZ's ought to engender a healthy dose of smugness.
Hybrid Issues
Critics of hybrid-powered vehicles suggest that any degree of smugness will surely morph into regret when time arrives to replace the car's complex battery pack. What will it cost and how will the old batteries be disposed of they ask. Of course, such replacement should be years and hundreds of thousands of kilometres away. During the interim, less fossil fuel burned translates into less cost and a healthier environment.
Hybrid Happenings
I have had the pleasure of sampling hybrid-powered cars and SUVs from a wide array of manufacturers; the Accord Hybrid is one of the smoothest, most refined yet. Leaving aside typical Accord virtues, such solid build quality and sensible styling, allows time and space to focus on the hybrid-version's splendid drivetrain and inspirational driving dynamics. The heart of the Accord's hybrid technology is its 3.0-litre, V6 gas engine. This mill swirls silently under hood, only announcing its presence when the throttle sinks sufficiently to move the sedan with authority. And move it can, augmented with the system's electric motor.
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| The Accord's hybrid technology is the combination of a 3.0L V6 engine and an electric motor-generator. |