Ever pressing towards greater and greater environmental sensibility, Honda launched a hybrid variant of their popular Accord sedan for the 2005 model year. The relatively short-lived model lasted through till 2007 and was never exactly a sales success--though it furthered the automaker’s reputation in the hybrid vehicle scene to some degree.
Accord Hybrid was a bit of an oxymoron. Instead of hybridizing the Accord’s smaller, four-cylinder engine, engineers instead applied the brand’s proven Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to the V6 engine. Rather than an all-out fuel saver, the Accord Hybrid effectively aimed to give drivers a higher degree of performance. Power output was bumped from 240 ponies to 255 thanks to the additional electric propulsion.
Look for Accord Hybrid with heated leather seats, a navigation system, premium audio, remote entry, steering-wheel mounted audio controls and all of the other toys available in loaded-up Accord models.
Owners said the four-door, five-seat sedan attracted them with its promise of elevated performance and good real-world mileage, Honda’s promise of reliability, and a reputation for safety and a refined driving experience.
Complaints include seat comfort, some cheap interior trim pieces and lower-than-expected handling performance, thanks mainly to the Hybrid’s ‘low rolling resistance’ eco-friendly tires.
Put simply, data on the used Accord Hybrid in the usual online venues is patchy at best-- though many owners have reported one of a few similar problems. If you’re considering an Accord Hybrid, be sure to note them.
Perhaps the most common issue reported deals with a vibration or ‘tone’ emitted from the Accord Hybrid’s engine compartment. Over the years, it became apparent that the problem was caused when the vehicle’s ‘Active Noise Cancellation’ circuitry konks out or is turned off. In a nutshell, the V6 engine harmonics change drastically when the engine turns off three of its six cylinders to save fuel. Honda’s solution to combat the noise was to install a function within the stereo system which replicates the sound 180 degrees out of phase, effectively ‘cancelling’ it out. When this system doesn’t work properly, the sound is noticeable. If it’s working, drivers shouldn’t hear it.
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| 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid (Photo: Honda) |
Accord Hybrid was a bit of an oxymoron. Instead of hybridizing the Accord’s smaller, four-cylinder engine, engineers instead applied the brand’s proven Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system to the V6 engine. Rather than an all-out fuel saver, the Accord Hybrid effectively aimed to give drivers a higher degree of performance. Power output was bumped from 240 ponies to 255 thanks to the additional electric propulsion.
Look for Accord Hybrid with heated leather seats, a navigation system, premium audio, remote entry, steering-wheel mounted audio controls and all of the other toys available in loaded-up Accord models.
Owners said the four-door, five-seat sedan attracted them with its promise of elevated performance and good real-world mileage, Honda’s promise of reliability, and a reputation for safety and a refined driving experience.
Complaints include seat comfort, some cheap interior trim pieces and lower-than-expected handling performance, thanks mainly to the Hybrid’s ‘low rolling resistance’ eco-friendly tires.
Put simply, data on the used Accord Hybrid in the usual online venues is patchy at best-- though many owners have reported one of a few similar problems. If you’re considering an Accord Hybrid, be sure to note them.
Perhaps the most common issue reported deals with a vibration or ‘tone’ emitted from the Accord Hybrid’s engine compartment. Over the years, it became apparent that the problem was caused when the vehicle’s ‘Active Noise Cancellation’ circuitry konks out or is turned off. In a nutshell, the V6 engine harmonics change drastically when the engine turns off three of its six cylinders to save fuel. Honda’s solution to combat the noise was to install a function within the stereo system which replicates the sound 180 degrees out of phase, effectively ‘cancelling’ it out. When this system doesn’t work properly, the sound is noticeable. If it’s working, drivers shouldn’t hear it.
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| 2006 Honda Accord Hybrid (Photo: Honda) |