Honda is piloting their luxurious Accord Hybrid Plug-In in Canada to determine the viability of adding the vehicle to its Canadian Accord lineup.
With a relatively short commute, I could drive to work and back with nary an ounce of fuel sucked from the tank of the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Plug-In. And if I chose to take the long way home, no worries. My ride was capable of 800-plus kilometres of travel on a full tank of gas thanks to an estimated combined city and highway fuel-economy rating of 4.1L/100km.
Before reading any further, I need to mention that my review of the “Accord with a cord” is somewhat academic since the vehicle is not yet on sale in Canada, and that’s too bad. Despite being called naively optimistic more than a few times over my adult years, I suggest it’s highly likely that we’ll see this car in showrooms some time in 2014. If so, it’ll undoubtedly give Ford’s Fusion Energi highly charged competition.
Plug-in hybrids blend the attributes of an electric car with those of a conventional hybrid vehicle, thereby enabling extended electric-only propulsion before transitioning to normal full-hybrid operation. Depending on the Accord’s charge status and the distance driven before the next opportunity to acquire a little alternating current, it’s possible to complete many journeys without waking the car’s 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gas engine.
When needed, the plug-in Accord’s gas engine can contribute up to 141 horsepower to the 55 horsepower electric-drive setup, which features a 124-kW electric motor powered by a 6.7 kWh Li-ion battery. Funny, while it’s rated at 55 horsepower, the electric motor feels far stronger than its double-digit threshold would suggest. I assume it’s the instantaneous torque that underwrites the sense of greater power. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) manages the varied flow of power, sending it forward to the Accord’s front wheels.
Following a full charge, which takes as little as three hours at 120 volts and one hour at 240 volts, the wired Accord will reward its driver with 20 to 28 km of pure electrically propelled motoring. Unless rapid acceleration is called for, or steep hills are encountered, the gas engine will hold its fire until the Accord depletes its electrical storage tank. When the engine does come online, it’s quite a polished, seamless experience. And this brings me to the drive.
I’ve driven Honda’s Accord more than I’ve changed shirts — OK, that’s not quite true — and have always enjoyed my time behind the wheel, but in a conservative manner. Yet, I’ve never enjoyed the car more than I have with the plug-in variant. The stealthy, silent operation under battery-power is pure delight when one is in need of solitude and repose within a hectic motorized world.
The Accord Hybrid Plug-In pulls effortlessly from a stop and up to highway speed on battery-fed propulsion. Once the 20 to 28 km of electric driving has been drawn from the system, the introduction of the gas engine barely alters the harmony unless full acceleration is called for. Yes, the engine can be heard within normal driving parameters, robbing the car of some tranquility, yet the cabin remains a domicile of refinement.
The Accord’s driving dynamics — plug-in or not — have been lauded over the years, and this one seems to extend those qualities thanks to a significant reduction in weight intended to enhance the vehicle’s efficiency and range.
If there’s a drawback to the Accord Hybrid Plug-In, it’s the lack of trunk space and the fixed rear-seat that jointly conspire to undermine Costco runs. While the car’s cabin is spacious, and exceptionally well-appointed, the vehicle isn’t the best for cargo capacity, but that’s the plug-in trade-off. The battery must reside somewhere, and in this case it’s behind the rear seatback.
In addition to greater trunk space, I’d like to see more electric-only range. The Fusion Energi that I reviewed earlier this year regularly rewarded a night plugged into the grid with 30 or more kilometres of electric range, and even that should be increased. Nevertheless, I’m a strong proponent of plug-in hybrids provided cleanly generated electricity flows through the charging lines.
Unlike pure electrical cars, such as Nissan’s Leaf, there’s no range anxiety to suppress when driving a plug-in hybrid, yet all the attributes of an electric car can be achieved, if only for the first 20-30 kilometres. After that, conventional hybrid operation maintains the virtues of going green — albeit in a lighter shade.
I hope Honda sees fit to accord Canadians the opportunity to be plugged in, though it may come with a hefty price. The Accord Hybrid Plug-In is tagged at US$39,705 in the U.S. granted it’s loaded with luxury, convenience, and safety.
\By Rob Rothwell
Hybrid sedan provides a lighter shade of green
Driving to work day after day in a luxury car without burning fuel is almost the stuff of dreams; almost, because it’s entirely possible.
Following a full charge, which takes as little as three hours at 120 volts and one hour at 240 volts, the wired Accord will reward its driver with 20 to 28 km of pure electrically propelled motoring. Unless rapid acceleration is called for, or steep hills are encountered, the gas engine will hold its fire until the Accord depletes its electrical storage tank. When the engine does come online, it’s quite a polished, seamless experience. And this brings me to the drive.
I’ve driven Honda’s Accord more than I’ve changed shirts — OK, that’s not quite true — and have always enjoyed my time behind the wheel, but in a conservative manner. Yet, I’ve never enjoyed the car more than I have with the plug-in variant. The stealthy, silent operation under battery-power is pure delight when one is in need of solitude and repose within a hectic motorized world.
The Accord Hybrid Plug-In pulls effortlessly from a stop and up to highway speed on battery-fed propulsion. Once the 20 to 28 km of electric driving has been drawn from the system, the introduction of the gas engine barely alters the harmony unless full acceleration is called for. Yes, the engine can be heard within normal driving parameters, robbing the car of some tranquility, yet the cabin remains a domicile of refinement.
The Accord’s driving dynamics — plug-in or not — have been lauded over the years, and this one seems to extend those qualities thanks to a significant reduction in weight intended to enhance the vehicle’s efficiency and range.
If there’s a drawback to the Accord Hybrid Plug-In, it’s the lack of trunk space and the fixed rear-seat that jointly conspire to undermine Costco runs. While the car’s cabin is spacious, and exceptionally well-appointed, the vehicle isn’t the best for cargo capacity, but that’s the plug-in trade-off. The battery must reside somewhere, and in this case it’s behind the rear seatback.
In addition to greater trunk space, I’d like to see more electric-only range. The Fusion Energi that I reviewed earlier this year regularly rewarded a night plugged into the grid with 30 or more kilometres of electric range, and even that should be increased. Nevertheless, I’m a strong proponent of plug-in hybrids provided cleanly generated electricity flows through the charging lines.
Unlike pure electrical cars, such as Nissan’s Leaf, there’s no range anxiety to suppress when driving a plug-in hybrid, yet all the attributes of an electric car can be achieved, if only for the first 20-30 kilometres. After that, conventional hybrid operation maintains the virtues of going green — albeit in a lighter shade.
I hope Honda sees fit to accord Canadians the opportunity to be plugged in, though it may come with a hefty price. The Accord Hybrid Plug-In is tagged at US$39,705 in the U.S. granted it’s loaded with luxury, convenience, and safety.
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