Honda has launched the new 2017 Accord Hybrid, with a starting price of $29,605 and an impressive EPA fuel efficiency rating of 48 miles per gallon combined (49 mpg city and 47 mpg highway).
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The new Accord hybrid uses Honda’s two-motor hybrid powertrain that increases the amount of electric assist to the gas engine. It is rated at 212 horsepower for the total system.
It is the first Honda passenger vehicle to come with the Honda Sensing advanced safety and driver assistance package as standard equipment.
The system identifies obstacles and potential hazards – including pedestrians, road debris and other vehicle – and automatically brakes to mitigate or even avoid collisions if the driver doesn’t take action quickly enough. It also assists the driver in making safe steering maneuvers to avoid unintentional drifting out of lanes or onto the shoulder of the road.
Honda said it expects the 2017 Accord Hybrid to achieve a 5-star crash safety rating from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration.
The new hybrid gets a facelift that mirrors changes made to the conventionally powered 2016 Accord, including new front and rear bumpers and fascia. The hybrid Accord also gets an exclusive all-aluminum hood for weight reduction, LED daytime running lights and taillights and new exterior colors and interior trim schemes.
It will come in three trim levels, Hybrid, Hybrid EX-L and Hybrid Touring. The top two trim levels get standard 7-inch display screens for audio and the rearview camera.
EX-L and Touring trims also get standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with HD radio.
The Touring trim adds rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, heated rear seats, automatic high-beams, a navigation system and LED headlights.
How does this compare to the hybrid Fusion?
Mark,
Sorry -just now saw your query.
The Accord hybrid compares quite favorably to the Ford Fusion hybrid in most categories, but it starts (base model) at $29,605 and runs up to $36k (plus options) while the Fusion Hybrid starts at a more modest $24,990 and runs up to $37K. With the Accord, though, you get the active safety (Honda Sensing) equipment in the base model. It’s all optional – and expensive, in the Ford until you get to that $37K “Platinum” trim level. I have not seen all of the numbers yet for the Accord, but I believe the Ford has slightly more front head and leg room. The Accord at 212 hp (system) is far more powerful than the Ford, at 141 hp, and the Honda has a better EPA fuel efficiency rating – 49 city/47hiway vs 43/41 for the Ford. Both are – in my opinion, good looking and well equipped, but the Honda does give you a bit more, for a price. Both have very good driving dynamics.