Concerns and comments
Honda should seriously look into offering the Accord Hybrid in an LX trim
level. It may be that Honda does not, for the moment, want to sell too many of the cars. However, if they were able to do so and retail it for around $31,500, I think that there would be more takers. Once the potential buyer takes a Hybrid for a test drive, it could be safe to say that the car would be sold.
The big question is whether the Hybrid will turn out to be reliable. The batteries are guaranteed for a period of 8 years or 130 000 km. I am not particularly worried about the durability of these cars or about the technology itself. If there are major faults, I firmly believe that Honda will act responsibly. Somehow, the ease with which Toyota and Honda are able to produce and create highly reliable state-of-the-art technological advances, puts me at ease.
The other question is: Is it worth it? The answer depends more on the individual than the car itself. On a purely environmental note, it could be. For fuel costs vs. purchasing cost, it has to do with the amount of mileage that is travelled in a year as I have noted earlier. Also, what if a new revolutionary technology is introduced in two years and renders the resale value of the Hybrids practically non-existent? The ownership cost would then skyrocket.
Conclusion
If only it was possible to sell all cars with hybrid engines in varying states of tune. Let us take the Dodge SX 2.0 as a guinea pig. The base model should have a hybrid 2.0L with modest output of 100 hp. The midrange version would have the same 2.0L but this time, with 150 hp. The top-of-the-line could have a turbocharged hybrid 2.0L that develops 225 hp. Every manufacturer should have a complete line-up of Hybrid cars. That way, more consumer real-life "testing" would occur. Consequently, there would be more on the road and this approach to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels would become accepted.
What is really missing at the moment are incentives from the Government to entice people into buying these types of cars. There is now a supplemental registration fee for those that buy a car with an engine displacement of 4.0L or more. Why would there not be a credit or rebate for those wanting to get more fuel economical vehicles. There are other Provinces in this country, like Ontario for example, that offer such rebates.
Good stuff:
Low fuel consumption
Great power
Not so good stuff:
Ivory/brown interior color
Competitors:
Upcoming Nissan Altima Hybrid
Upcoming Toyota Camry Hybrid
Honda should seriously look into offering the Accord Hybrid in an LX trim
 |
The big question is whether the Hybrid will turn out to be reliable. The batteries are guaranteed for a period of 8 years or 130 000 km. I am not particularly worried about the durability of these cars or about the technology itself. If there are major faults, I firmly believe that Honda will act responsibly. Somehow, the ease with which Toyota and Honda are able to produce and create highly reliable state-of-the-art technological advances, puts me at ease.
The other question is: Is it worth it? The answer depends more on the individual than the car itself. On a purely environmental note, it could be. For fuel costs vs. purchasing cost, it has to do with the amount of mileage that is travelled in a year as I have noted earlier. Also, what if a new revolutionary technology is introduced in two years and renders the resale value of the Hybrids practically non-existent? The ownership cost would then skyrocket.
Conclusion
 |
What is really missing at the moment are incentives from the Government to entice people into buying these types of cars. There is now a supplemental registration fee for those that buy a car with an engine displacement of 4.0L or more. Why would there not be a credit or rebate for those wanting to get more fuel economical vehicles. There are other Provinces in this country, like Ontario for example, that offer such rebates.
Good stuff:
Low fuel consumption
Great power
 |
Not so good stuff:
Ivory/brown interior color
Competitors:
Upcoming Nissan Altima Hybrid
Upcoming Toyota Camry Hybrid
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