Is it really necessary? Sometimes, cars are redesigned without really needing to be. After five years on the market, the current Accord will be replaced by an all-new version this fall. However, every time I drive it, it just doesn't feel that old.A V6-powered Accord is quick, well-equipped, spacious and tight as a drum. The hybrid version promises to be the Ultimate Accord, with a higher level of straight-line performance while consuming less fuel.
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| After a week's test drive, the fuel consumption numbers were higher than the published figures. |
Performance This car is quick. With its 253 horsepower, the 0-100 km/h sprint is accomplished in under 7 seconds, which is about a half-second quicker than the regular Accord V6. By mashing the gas pedal for some passing power, the 5-speed automatic reacts instantly and allows the gas engine and electric motor to vigorously pick up the pace.However, I could never quite determine the situations when the electric assistance comes into play; there doesn't seem to be a pattern, or at least I couldn't figure it out. I had the impression that the system intervenes whenever it feels like it, and didn't always help out under full-throttle accelerations. The same thing goes for soft launches; sometimes the electric motor stumbled in, sometimes it didn't.
Fuel consumption As for the V6 engine, it deactivates three cylinders when full power isn't required. So, at 110 km/h on the highway, or at a stable 50 km/h around town, the green 'ECO' turns on to indicate that we're saving gas.In addition, the engine stops when the car is immobilized at a stop sign or a traffic light, for example, and it restarts in a fraction of a second when the car is back in movement. I felt a small vibration every time the engine fired up, which becomes irritating. A Ford Escape Hybrid that I recently drove didn't seem to have this problem.I averaged 10.6 L/100 km. It's more than the published figures of 8.2 (city) and 6.1 (highway), but I did perform some full-throttle blasts to the redline; it's the most-powerful Accord after all, so I'd be foolish not to try it out.
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| 253 ponies are generated by Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) in the Accord. |