![]() Honda, if you’re listening, please jettison the frustrating, dated touchscreen and return to the sensible use of knobs and instinctual switchgear for audio controls and various other vehicle settings. I may not be an automotive engineer, but I’m quite certain that one screen with an intuitive controller is enough for any car. It’s my chief complaint – in fact only complaint – against this week’s tester. The Accord’s instrument panel houses a dual-screen setup, which Honda is also known for, and which I am known for hating. Nice environs all-around, built with the usual accuracy Honda is known for. Settling into the driver’s perch brings with it plenty of comfort and support. So let’s talk further about life behind the wheel of Honda’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. The best I saw in the city was 5.9L/100km, but don’t get me wrong, that’s still darn good for such a large, capable sedan falling under the administration of my “not so subtle” right foot. Impressive? You bet, but hard to achieve with typical – my typical that is – driving styles. So well in fact, Honda claims that the 2017 Accord Hybrid is the class leader for fuel-efficiency based on National Resources Canada ratings of 4.9 and 5.1L/100km city and highway driving respectively. Think of it as a bit of mechanical magic that works remarkably well. Together, the two motors perform the role of a continuously-variable transmission. It also harvests regenerative power during de-acceleration. Without getting overly technical, one motor propels the car while the other acts as a generator driven by the gas engine to produce energy for the battery. While on the surface, this sounds like a typical “hybrid,” it differs from others due to its use of a second electric motor. No doubt more than a few yen went into re-engineering the powertrain, which now stands out as a clever blending of two electric motors and a gasoline-fired internal combustion engine.Īt the core powerplant is a 2.0L Atkinson-Cycle 4-cylinder engine augmented by an AC synchronous motor to develop a total output of 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. With lessons learned, Honda has leapfrogged the competition for 2017. That would be the Accord Sport Special Edition sedan – a $1,000 value package that comes with a number of upscale features including leather seats with red stitching, heated seats and a "Special Edition" badge.Ģ017 Honda Accord prices (sedan and coupe) and fuel economy ratingsĮngine, Trim Name & Transmission, MSRP (including $835 destination charge), Estimated EPA mileage Ratings (city/highway/combined)Ģ.4 L4, LX CVT w/ Honda Sensing, $24,990, 27/36/30Ģ.4 L4, Sport CVT w/ Honda Sensing, $27,050, 26/34/29Ģ.4 L4, EX CVT w/ Honda Sensing, $28,365, 27/36/30Ģ.4 L4, EX-L CVT w/ Navi & Honda Sensing, $31,655, 27/36/30ģ.5 V6, EX-L 6AT w/ Navi & Honda Sensing, $33,730, 21/33/25Ģ.4 L4, LX-S CVT w/ Honda Sensing, $26,710, 26/34/29Ģ.4 L4, EX CVT w/ Honda Sensing, $28,835, 26/34/29Ģ.4 L4, EX-L CVT w/ Navi & Honda Sensing, $31,830, 26/34/29ģ.Prior to 2017, the Accord Hybrid was not a particularly popular choice, possibly due to its hybrid-lite technology, which didn’t produce the most economical results. Of somewhat lesser importance is a new non-hybrid trim level for 2017. The 2017 hybrid also features a new version of Honda's two-motor hybrid powertrain technology. A more compact hybrid battery pack also increases trunk capacity in the latest Honda hybrid to a midsize hybrid class-leading 13.5 cu.-ft. That's not to say that the hybrid hasn't received special tweaks of its own that include standard features such as an aluminum hood, unique alloy wheels, blue highlighted LED headlights and taillights and the requisite "Hybrid" exterior badges. The big news for 2017 is the rollout of a refreshed Accord Hybrid with the same styling updates that appeared on regular 2016 Accords. ![]() As such, we didn't expect much in the way of change for 2017 – at least for gasoline-only models. The current Honda Accord sedan and Honda Accord Coupe, launched in 2012 as a 2013 model and received a facelift for the 2016 model year. A new Sport Special Edition model joins the 2017 Honda Accord lineup that includes a more powerful and fuel-efficient Accord Hybrid.
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