The typical Accord Hybrid competes with hybrid models of the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Toyota Camry, as you move the plug-in version competes with the Ford Fusion Energi--additionally a plug-in hybrid--and also the Chevrolet Volt.
The conventional Accord Hybrid proceeds sale in October 2013, while plug-in model may be accessible in a tiny handful of selected markets--largely in California--since January.
Honda says it expects EPA ratings of 47 mpg combined (49 mpg city, 45 mpg highway) with the Accord Hybrid. That the best of the segment, the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and is particularly higher than the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima hybrids at 38 mpg combined, as well as the Toyota Camry Hybrid at 41 mpg. If the hybrid Accord can deliver 47 mpg in real-world use remains to appear; the Fusion Hybrid largely appears to place at 36 to 42 mpg.
The heavier Plug-In Hybrid is rated at 46 mpg combined (47 mpg city, 46 mpg highway) when operating in gasoline/hybrid mode once its larger battery power continues to be depleted. The EPA rates that model's electric range at 13 miles, in excess of the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid at 11 miles (and only 6 miles continuous) but under the 21 miles in the Fusion Energi or 38 miles with the Chevrolet Volt.
The EPA rates the Accord Plug-In Hybrid's efficiency in electric mode at 115 MPGe, more than the Fusion Energi's 100 MPGe. (Miles-Per-Gallon-Equivalent measures the space an auto can travel electrically on the same energy as within 1 gallon of gasoline.)
While Honda who has sold mild hybrids--which don't offer all-electric running--since 2000, its previous Accord Hybrid in 2004-2007 was tuned for performance as an alternative to gas mileage. Confused consumers didn't understand it, plus the model was withdrawn.
Now Honda features a new two-motor hybrid system for larger vehicles, that has every one of the usual hybrid virtues. It offers electric running at low speeds and under light loads, electric torque to help a smaller gasoline engine, and regenerative braking to recapture and reuse energy that might otherwise have been wasted as brake heat.
The styling with the hybrid 2014 Accords is basically that surrounding the redesigned 2013 Accord gasoline models, but a different grille and front bumper, special aerodynamic wheels, and some detail differences like LED taillights. It is just a clean, handsome sedan lots in the mold of Accords past, and now we give Honda's designers special praise for keeping the beltline low--helping the driver's rearward visibility and making it possible for shorter rear-seat passengers to view out the windows.
The Accord Hybrid's 137-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine runs on the ultra-efficient Atkinson cycle, and contains one electric motor--which can serve as a generator to charge the battery pack on engine overrun--fixed for the back from it. An extra electric motor that powers the automobile is fixed on the differential that transfers chance to top wheels, and will also recharge those under regenerative braking.
Unusually, Honda's new large hybrid system offers three several types of operation--these people automatically chosen by its control software. It could accelerate electrically approximately 30 mph, and it will also drop into electric-only mode under light load at higher boosts to 60 mph.
Additionally , it functions to be a conventional parallel hybrid with engine and motor together contributing torque (while using clutch engaged). Including higher speeds, the engine alone powers leading wheels, without any electric involvement. Nevertheless the driver won't necessarily know what's happening within the hood, because engine is well muffled and comes on smoothly at any given time.
Using a larger 6.7-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion power supply mounted within the trunk behind the trunk seat, the plug-in hybrid adds yet another mode. It can operate as a Volt-like series hybrid using the engine turning the very first generator to generate electricity that powers the other motor (with the clutch between your motor opened). It too reverts to everyone-electric running under light loads, equally the hybrid does, at speeds up to 60 mph.
The plug-in hybrid gives drivers an "HV" button which allows these to direct the plug-in hybrid Accord to operate only as a hybrid, to store the battery charge because it can be needed later. There's also an "HV Charge" mode that keeps the engine on longer to charge the battery again finish off to its ability to maximum electric range subsequently. The normal Accord Hybrid, however, doesn't offer those.
We have not yet driven the normal Accord Hybrid, though wespent a day driving a prototype Accord Plug-In Hybrid. It clearly carries a longer electric range and stronger all-electric acceleration compared to plug-in Prius. It stays in electric mode under almost probably the most aggressive driving circumstances--and under conditions in which the plug-in Prius would lang syne have fired up its engine. The plug-in Accord stayed in electric mode around 45 mph, and sometimes switched here we are at electric running while using the accelerator steady at speeds of up to 60 mph. If your engine did activate, it only became noisy under foot-to-the-floor acceleration, as well as then rrt had been even more of a muted turbine noise compared to anguished howl of the plug-in Prius engine.
Usually the one drawback we found is that our plug-in hybrid felt considerably heavier than the gasoline Accord models. Honda couldn't provide us with a definative weight difference, but it is likely a couple of hundred pounds. As you move the handling and roadholding was fine, it felt as being a more ponderous larger vehicle rather than the light, easier-to-toss-around four-cylinder 2013 Accord gasoline model. It wasn't objectionable, nonetheless it would be a surprising difference in a car that looked essentially the same.
Inside, the newest hybrid 2014 Accords are just about standard-issue Accord, with some other displays within the gauge cluster and also the central touchscreen that supply more detail concerning the car's operation and usage. We particularly liked Honda's power-meter graphic left with the speedometer, that is easily intuitive, having a job in the bars showing where the engine must first turn on under acceleration. Our prototype had a beautiful pale grey, silver, and black interior, with merely the gold sparkly metalflake-like finish of some piano-black glossy plastic trim like a headscratcher.
The Accord Plug-In Hybrid for example is a the biggest end on the range, with essentially every feature that's offered with top-of-the-line Accord EX-L gasoline model, including LED daytime running lights, adaptive cruise control, and also other features.
The 2014 Honda Accord Plug-In Hybrid continued sale in California in January; the national rollout of the 2014 Accord Hybrid model with not a plug will begin in October 2013. No prices are released to the Accord Hybrid established.
Download here 2014 Honda Accord Owners Manual