Released back in 2012 and updated quite a bit with the 2016 MY, the Accord still is one of the better selling cars on the US market. However, despite that it hybrid versions were not as successful as the car itself and in order to change that, the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid went through quite a bit of change and hopefully for Japanese car maker it will attract an additional number of customers.
To start it all off the new model will not be offered in a plug-in hybrid version because Honda wants to release an all-new model to fill in that role. Also, the powertrain of the car has been massively revised and even though it still is no match for the Prius, the more expensive Accord should be a better family car thanks to a more comfortable interior that offers a lot more space than that of the Prius.
Even though it was showcased a few weeks ago, the model will not be available for sale for at least the next few months. It could be finally introduced to the market during the summer of this year, and that perfectly fits plans of the company.When it hits the market, rumors suggest that the price will still be around $31,000 for a base version which is still quite good. The downside is that being a hybrid rather than a plug-in model, the Accord will likely not be able fully to match the Prius and its fuel efficiency.
Revised powertrain of the car still uses a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated inline four running on an Atkinson cycle plus two motor-generators that can send power to wheels or supply energy for the new lithium-ion battery pack when you brake. Changes to the battery pack and entire powertrain should allow it not only to last a lot more than before but also be lighter than the previous model thankfully to a denser battery. The total output of the system will now be 212 horsepower which is a sizable improvement over the 196 of the previous car.
Honda said that the new Accord hybrid will do 49 MPG in the city and 47 MPG on the highway which is not as good as the Prius but take into account that it is larger, more comfortable and also quite a bit more luxurious than its competitor. Moreover, when we compare it to competitors that we currently have, it is obvious that Accord could easily beat most of those vehicles.
Also, check out new 2018 Honda Accord.
Like with the 2016 update, the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid offers pretty much the same look inside and out, but it is quite a bit better equipped than a standard version. A seven-inch screen is provided as standard, the seats are electric and wrapped in leather while the dashboard can be customized with real wood or aluminum.
Compared to the base model, the exterior of the car received subtle body kit changes to lower its drag coefficient. On top of that, we have the newly turbine shaped wheels that should reduce the road noise considerably and to even slightly affect the efficiency numbers.
