Honda Accord Hybrid

Honda Accord has been a prominent name among the elite class buyers in the Indian market. The previous-generation Accord bagged several accolades from the auto aficionados as well as the buyers due to its striking exterior appearance, luxurious interior cabin and imperious performance. However, the Japanese automaker discontinued the saloon a couple of years back because of unsatisfactory sales figures and did not launch the facelift model instantly.
After a tumultuous wait of over two years, the company has reintroduced the Accord saloon in India, albeit in a hybrid avatar. The ninth-generation model was showcased at the 2016 Auto Expo in February and the extravagant response that it got from the buyers catapulted Honda to bring it to the Indian shores.
Identical to the preceding model, it would be sitting at the top of company's vehicle line-up, while being continued to be retailed as a CBU. Needless to say, the new-generation Accord is smaller, lighter and advanced than its predecessor. Unfortunately, despite being a hybrid vehicle, it wouldn't receive benefits from the FAME scheme of the Indian government as it is not being locally assembled. Honda Accord Hybrid would take on the likes of Toyota Camry Hybrid and the yet-to-be-launched Volkswagen Passat GTE.

The 2016 Honda Accord Hybrid exterior has taken designing cues from the pre-facelift model. The front fascia gets several updates in the form of a clear blue accented chrome grille, LED fog lamps and a restyled bumper. The new-generation saloon also flaunts a lighter-than-before all-aluminum hood and automatic LED headlamps with Daytime Running Lights (DRL).

Honda engineers have chopped down the length and wheelbase of the saloon by 80 mm and 20 mm, respectively. It rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, while carrying the same side profile as the preceding model.
Coming to the rear end, the Accord Hybrid boasts of an integrated trunk spoiler, blue-frame LED tail-lamp cluster and redesigned bumper.
The saloon is available in four paint schemes: White Orchid Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Modern Steel Metallic and Crystal Black Pearl.

Honda, continuing its 'Man Maximum, Machine Minimum' philosophy, has designed the Honda Accord Hybrid interior cabin exceedingly well. There is oodles of space for the front as well as rear seat occupants. The cabin gets an Ivory colour plush leather upholstery with several high-end premium features, such as an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat with 2-position memory function, 4-way power-adjustable co-driver's seat with easy access switches, electric sunroof, one push start and smart entry, 7-inch touchscreen audio system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Navigation, In-built Wifi Receiver for Internet Browsing, 360W 10-speaker music system with Tweeters and Subwoofer, pre-heating and pre-cooling system, etc., to name a few.

Honda Accord Hybrid features a multifunctional steering wheel, 7.7-inch colour TFT i-MID (intelligent Multi-Information Display), rain-sensing wipers, 12 V power outlets in the front and centre consoles, cruise control, and i-dual zone climate control with plasma cluster.

The all-new Honda Accord Hybrid derives its power from the Sport Hybrid Intelligent Multi Mode Drive hybrid system, which features a 2.0 L 4-cylinder DOHC i-VTEC petrol engine and 2 electric motors. The electric motors are powered by a 1.3 kWh Lithium-Ion battery. The total power output is 211 bhp, out of which the petrol mill generates 145 bhp. The engine is linked to an e-CVT automatic transmission, which transmits the power to the front wheels. Honda Accord Hybrid offers three driving modes: EV, Hybrid and Engine. In the EV Mode, the power is provided by the electric motors as they draw it from the Lithium-ion battery.

In the Hybrid mode, the petrol engine powers the generator motor, which then provides energy to the driving motor. In case of the Engine mode, the petrol motor powers the wheels directly. Besides the aforementioned three driving modes, two additional driving modes, Sport and Economy, can be activated by pressing the buttons on the centre console. The hybrid sedan is being hailed as the most refined and fuel-efficient hybrid model in its segment.

Honda Accord Hybrid mileage reaches an impressive figure of 23.1 kmpl (ARAI specified), which makes it the most fuel efficient hybrid sedan in the segment.

The Honda Accord Hybrid sedan gets ventilated disc brakes at the front wheels, while solid discs do the duty at the rear wheels. In terms of safety, Honda Accord Hybrid specifications have gone a level ahead, and some never-seen-before features have been introduced in the form of 'LaneWatch' Blind Spot Monitoring System, Multi-angle Rear View Camera and Active Cornering Lights.

In addition, the sedan also comes with an array of safety features, such as 6 airbags, 3-point seatbelt for each seat, front seatbelts with pre-tensioner and load limiter, Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control, Brake Assist, and Hill Start Assist (HSA) as standard.

The Accord Hybrid is a delight to drive, and the drive mode shifting is exceptionally smooth and swift that one even doesn't get to know. The cabin is quieter in the Hybrid mode as well. It performs decently at high speeds and feels well proportioned at low speeds in the thick city traffic too. The brake pedal is pretty responsive and exertion of slight force brings the sedan to a standstill.

Undoubtedly, Honda Accord Hybrid is one of the prettiest cars in its segment, but it has been priced absolutely bizarrely. In the same segment, Toyota Camry is nearly Rs. 6 Lakh cheaper than the Accord Hybrid. Honda needs to contemplate local production to bring down the Honda Accord Hybrid price and remain in the competition.

Honda Accord Hybrid would take on the likes of Toyota Camry Hybrid and Volkswagen Passat GTE in the Indian market.