Honda hybrid ranks as top family sedan

[lovuian]

http://feeds.bignewsnetwork.com/redir.php?jid=53c211c35e221d88&cat=c08dd24cec417021

By Anne Thompson
Correspondent
NBC News
Updated: 7:50 p.m. ET March 7, 2005EAST HADDAM, Conn. - On the Consumer Reports track in Connecticut, where some 200 vehicles are put through 45 tests, a familiar nameplate with a new power system is this year's top pick of family sedans — the Honda Accord Hybrid.



“I think hybrid technology has gone mainstream with this car,” says David Champion, who leads the Consumer Reports auto test team.

With an electric motor assisting the V-6 gasoline engine, Champion gave the hybrid high marks for fuel economy at 25 miles per gallon.

more...

Wheres GM? Wheres Ford??? Wheres Chevorolet??? Wheres Lincoln???

WHERE ARE THEY!!!

Talk about American car manufacturers snoozing!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. I absolutely LOVE our Hybrid

Honda Civic

[elizsan]

27. What's your MPG?

I just bought an AT Civic Hybrid in Dec and love the car but am disappointed over the mileage. It's supposed to get 44 city 45 Hwy and I get ~37. I'm hoping it'll improve as it gets "broken in" and the weather warms. Do hybrids have lower emissions, or is there no difference there?

I love how quiet this car is when it starts up. No noise at all.

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. It is averaging 38, but

it is also carrying a high load in the trunk at all times

Also incrase the tire pressure that will help, to factory high specs

Oh and yes it does get better as it is broken in... and believe it or not the cruise control is not good for this, but you have to find your sweet spot... watch the bar...

I will put it this way, we get twice the range for half the tank when compared to the Toyota 4x4

[Sunny_Sunshine]

61. I have a regular 2005 Civic

I just did my first mileage check and I get 36. Most of my driving is highway. My 2001 2 door auto also averaged 37. I now have a 4 door 5 speed. I wanted a Hybrid but didn't see the real advantage in the gas mileage.

[brentspeak]

71. Did you trade your 2001 in for a 2005?

My local Honda sent me an invitation to a "trade your 2001 Civic in for a 2005". Mine is the 2001 EX coupe.

[Sunny_Sunshine]

107. Yes, 2.9% financing suckered me in

I also never liked the 2 door, I thought I would because this is basically a "get to work" car and rarely does anyone else ride in it but with no back door, it was hard to store stuff in it. I'm enjoying the four door and the 5 speed.

[Drifter]

51. I just got one a month ago ...

I love it.

I am getting between 35 - 40 MPG, but this is in the cold.

It was 50 yesterday and I was getting 45.

Cheers
Drifter

[democracyindanger]

2. Like the 70s all over again

The Big Three continued to make big gas guzzlers while Japanese manufacturers churned out compacts. Typical American business strategy--utterly short-sighted.

[Tux]

10. Yup

Too much focus on SUVs and trucks. No innovation and assumed Japanese wouldn't R&D anything.

[natrat]

40. ford makes a small suv hybrid called escape

it's gas mileage i think may be in low 30s

[mimitabby]

89. nope, 28 mpg is their best highway mileage

[kysrsoze]

111. The Escape actually uses hybrid tech licensed by Toyota, as does Honda

[Skidmore]

38. They deserve to go the way of the dinosaurs.

[lady lib]

3. My new Toyota Prius gets 50 mpg

and it's fun to drive. I love my new hybrid!

[bookman]

4. I tried to buy one

..a little less than a year ago.

I was told they wouldn't even take an order.

[lovuian]

5. Latest I heard the Prius a year wait!!! But Congress has to take

responsibility for letting American car manufacturers get away at snoozing... the manufacturing jobs of Americans are at stake here

If any American car manufacturere had a hybrid car I bet they would have tons of orders... Who does research for these companies

HELLO!!!

And Congress needs to get off its A$$ and start promoting Mass transit rather than cutting it...

This is time to get going we are already way too late!!!

[physioex]

9. And in that line.....

It would be great if the US can be connected between big cities by high speed rail like in Europe and Japan.

[lady lib]

21. I drove my Prius off the lot. No wait at all.

The dealership that I went to had a story about soldiers ordering their cars and then having to cancel when they received orders to go to Iraq (as an explanation as to why they had some cars available). I have no idea if that was the truth or a story concocted by the salesman. Anyway, you might try again, maybe the dealerships are ordering some ahead of time now. I also checked at a Honda dealership and test drove the Civic and Accord Hybrids, both very nice! I think the wait for them is 3 months here in Arizona.

[screembloodymurder]

36. Imagine what the world would be like

if the US would have pushed this technology 10 years ago. Had we spent the kind of money we're wasting in Iraq we could have saved the oil, the environment, the lives, the good will of our allies and maybe even our democracy.

GM is a victim of it's own arrogant, motor-headed culture. They are like dinosaurs unable to adapt because of a stagnant gene pool. Devoid of outside thinking and engineering, GM continues to push the big engine, muscle car even as they approach extinction.

[physioex]

7. Consider a VW TDI.....

It is mechanically simpler than a hybrid and gets excellent fuel economy. Plus you can run it on biodiesel.

And you can buy without any waiting....

[kysrsoze]

112. True. The new common rail diesels will be just as powerful with better

gas mileage than the hybrids. The new Mercedes E-Class CDI gets 45+ mpg and is a real rocket.

[Ronnie]

15. We bought one using the internet.

We were even able to negotiate a good price for the package and color we wanted. It's been over a month, and we're still getting offers by e-mail. And, oh, we LOVE the car. Smoothest. Ride. Ever.

[Technowitch]

6. We have one, too, the 2004 model and LOVE it.

That's about our mileage, too.

[Charles19]

70. How much gas does the tank hold?

[Technowitch]

96. Close to 12 gallons

We've driven over 500 miles on a single tank -- with a couple gallons left over.

[pstans]

8. I am in school and graduate in Dec 2005

When I get a job, I will get a Hybrid. Probably the fall of 2006 since I will will be looking for a teaching job and will be graduating mid school year. I figure by then they will have all the kinks ironed out and have upgraded them. I can't wait. Now I just need to convince my wife.

[Tux]

11. Good luck

Jobs are getting scarse. I graduated in 1998 and couldn't find anything at all. Should've majored in sociology instead of psychology. That way, people wouldn't see me as either a free shrink or a threat to their insecure minds.

[lovuian]

14. Consuling Jobs are in demand

Your Psychology could be used for that...

[Tux]

19. Consulting?

With a bachelor's degree in experimental psychology? Everyone is expecting clinical oriented psychologists. Hell, clinics here won't even let me have a job as a receptionist since I have no interest nor patience for clinical psych. It's something I can't do, it's not for me at all.

IF I do get a recent job opening, I could make enough to attend grad school and get a M.A. in sociology and continue that path. Psych is too clinical and the researchers vs clinicians are bad as liberal vs conservative. I want to do research and jobs for that are far and few.

I also live in a red state and since i graduated from a university in a blue state....And psych isn't for me. Since my old professors refuse to give me letters of recommendation since I loved without either telling them or apply at thier psych program. I'm really unhappy about my major and wish I could take it all back.

[pstans]

22. Get your teaching degree

Get your teaching degree. Depending on where you live it would probably take a year or two. If you teach secondary (7-12) it probably would be closer to 1 year. It would give you something to fall back on and the country will always need teachers no matter how the economy is doing.

[Tux]

24. True

I could do that if I could get a job to pay for college. Same situation. Would be different. Would cause insanity working with kids but it'd be a job.

[Misunderestimator]

54. Sooner or later they will outsource teachers... they'll be beemed into...

classrooms via Satellite.

[lovuian]

12. I have a friend who loves hers and always gets comments

when she fills up her tank!!! Everybody asks how she likes it and she loves it!!!

I hate to say it but this could be the death of car manufacturers especially if Gas gets up in the 60's and 70's

[sjgman9]

13. I just bought a Honda Accord -- not hybrid, sorry!

2003 V6 XLE. $18,500. 26K Miles. Its a great car!

I wish i coulda had the opportunity to buy the hybrid, oh well.

[lovuian]

16. Still 26 miles is great gas mileage thats the point

You bought a honda which has good gas mileage

Where the heck is the American guys???

I feel they have been part of this whole conspiracy to screw the US consumer

just like they plotted in the boardroom on California's Black outs!!!

[natrat]

42. yea the government giving tax credits for the hugest of the suvs

was kind of weird----now it makes sense---sell them the gas guzzler just in time for expensive gas - make a ton of $ for our texas oil cabal-screw them----wonderful

[Mugweed]

43. Not really...

My '99 Saturn averages 35 MPG, and I speed (thus lowering fuel efficiency). I have a Prius I drive for work that averages around 43 MPG. Too much highway mileage, and the fuel efficiency of the hybrid simply equals a regular gasoline engine. I don't agree with this V-6 crap on a hybrid. Honda just made a car that is more expensive than others without any better mileage. Your commuter mobile doesn't need to be a race car. Maybe if people could finally do without that extra horsepower that's usually only good for racing to the next red light... What's next, the V-12 hybrid Cadillac that's touted for its incredible 15 MPG?

[woosh]

66. totally

Plus this type of hybrid technology will not benefit the highway driver much at all.

boondogle.

[TommyO]

92. 26MPG

In my VW Jetta TDI I average around 46MPG, in my larger Pontiac Grand Prix GT (recently purchased to allow more room for family and friends in the back seat) I average around 26MPG in combined city/highway driving - this is an "old-fashioned" pushrod engine.

I'm happy with both cars, and have no intention of buying anything that gets lower mileage than the Grand Prix (no SUVs, even hybrids, in my future).

[mimitabby]

101. funny my 1990 Honda

routinely gets over 30 mpg, and that includes 90% city driving.
funny that newer cars don't do as well.

[confludemocrat]

119. You'd expect that-- no more--from a V6

Our Prius is a V4/electric and gets routinely in the mid 40's. What's so great about 25 MPG? Our old turbo new beetle got that.

[flaminbats]

17. great article..social democracy again kicks capitalism's ass!

now all I need is $21,000 ;)

[Sandpiper]

18. When Gas hits $3.00/gallon this summer

Americans will finally start asking why hasn't Detroit been doing anything other than seeing who can build the biggest SUV.

[Tux]

20. Answer

Americans that want the biggest SUV or truck to compensate for a small penis. Especially diesel for guys.

Just my view.

[physioex]

26. It's not that simple.......

Diesel is meant for applications where high torque is required. For example landscape workers, trailer towing, and snow plowing. And diesel is more fuel efficient than gasoline engines. I have no problems with people who buy SUV for a specific purpose such as a business or commercial use. Rather what pisses me off is the soccer moms and suburbanities.

[NV Whino]

23. Ummm, 'scuse me but 25/mpg is not all that great

especially for a hybrid. I get 30 to 45 with my Celica. The key is 4-cylinder, manual transmission. My piece of shit Ford Ranger gets 21 to 27 mpg. Again, it's 4-cylinder, manual transmission. Geez my old Honda Prelude (4-cylinder 5 speed manual used to get 35 to 40 before it gave up the ghost at 210,999 miles.

(Hybrids are great for city driving. For my country, up and down hill driving, they aren't too much better that what I have. But they should get better thatn 25 mpg.)

[Technowitch]

25. No, it's not great at all

And read what they said "electric motor assisting the 6 cylinder engine" -- which suggests to me anyway that Honda hasn't changed their basic design as yet. In the Toyota Prius, it's the other way around -- a tiny engine assists the electric turbines, plus it uses a continuously variable transmission and a drive-train unlike that in any conventional car.

It's sad when 25 is seen as good. My old non-hybrid Saturn did better than that.

[pauliedangerously]

52. I totally agree with you and NV Whino...

25 mpg is pathetic. My '91 Accord gets 25-30 mpg...all city driving. I'm holding out for something that gets over 50 mpg. I don't care how slow it is.

Manual transmission helps a lot.

[kysrsoze]

114. 25 sucks, even for a V6. The Acura TL gets just as good of mileage

I think it's just a big marketing gimmick for Honda. $32K for an Accord? Absolutely not.

[trogdor]

59. CU's test cycle is more strenuous than EPA's

Basically, they drive like you do (or like a teenager might), more or less, and then figure the mileage. Under those circumstances, 25 is pretty good.

I will point out, though, that my '99 Accord with the four-banger gets around 26. This in the winter after 115,000 miles.

My question is, if you're using an electric motor to help move the car, why do you need a V6? Why not use a Civic four banger and make a family sedan that gets 40 MPG (and still puts out something like 180 HP all together)? I agree with the rest of you that Toyota is winning this tech contest handily.

[catzies]

85. Wrong comparison. Compare Civic hybrid to Prius. Both 4-cylinders

The Accord V6 is a different animal.

[raifield]

37. Exactly

Four cylinder, manual is the way to go. My Mini Cooper S gets 33 miles to the gallon, which I think is pretty good for a gasoline car. Plus, it doesn't take me three days to go from 0 to 60, like it would if I had a hybrid. :D

[sendero]

50. I agree..

.... I have a Mazda Protege with a 1.5 liter engine and 5 speed xmission. It consistently gets 31 mpg in town and 37 mpg on the highway, and I paid less than $3,000 for it (it's well used) :)

[all.of.me]

53. i had an 85 toyota van about 10 years ago

it got 33 mpg when we had the back loaded up to move across country. my little toyota trucks have also gotten about the same. i'd fill up and go for about 10 days.

[Castilleja]

77. Much agreed!

My big ole Intrepid gets this type of mileage. My husband's little escort gets close to 40 mpg, although he never uses the A/C, but still, Crowing about 25 mpg on a little hybrid sedan that should be getting at least 35 is a little off.

[bbgrunt]

78. I agree--25mph for a hybrid is really nothing to shout about

I used to get 35 mph in my 1980 corolla wagon. I now get 27 in my rav4. I suppose the extra hp is nice, but you have to wonder just what the objective here is: are you really interested in fuel economy or do you just want to feel less guilty?

[buddysmellgood]

116. This is lame. College students in the Future Truck competition do better

than this. Why a 6 cyl? I'd love a hybrid but this seems like a feeble attempt.

[AndyTiedye]

28. Ford is Building the Escape Hybrid

> Wheres Ford???

Building the only hybrid SUV on the market.
They've been available since last summer.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/escapehybrid/home/
I've got one. I'm a happy camper so far.

> Wheres GM? Wheres Chevorolet???

Well, GM called back all the EV1's and was going to crush them.
A group in Sweden was begging them to sell them to them, depleted
batteries and all. Not sure what happened with that.

GM seems to be banking on the Hummer :-(

[mahina]

29. At the car show three years ago GM said that

their hydrogen platform car represented the end of the internal combustion engine within a decade.
Tick tick tick tick tick....
hey did you know that with some modification you could plug a hydrogen car into your house when you get home and it could power your house?
Hydrogen from solar energy ba-by!

[MalachiConstant]

30. hummer h2:

biggest peice of shit ever!

[Mugweed]

94. maybe...

The State of Florida is getting a few hydrogen Fords for testing. They're setting up some hydrogen fueling stations, starting with one near the Orlando Airport. The cars cost over $750,000, get 50 miles to the "gallon" of hydrogen, have a 4-gallon tank, and enough room in the trunk for one laptop. The questions I keep getting asked are:

Aren't these emissions offset vehicles, since the emissions will now be generated by the hyrogen-generation source as a stationary source as opposed to many mobile sources (the cars)? A=yes

Doesn't the coal-degassification that is being used to make the hydrogen produce more emissions than the same amount of gasoline-powered vehicles? A=yes

This hydrogen auto thing is just another boost to the coal industry. Now we can remove more mountaintops and fill in sensitive waterways with slag in the name of reducing our dependence on foriegn oil. Personally, I thought the idea was to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, not simply change where they come from.

[Downtown Hound]

33. GM has been building their fuel cell car

The Sequel. It sounds promising but it will be awhile before these cars are mass marketed. In the meantime, hybrids can pick up the slack and ease some of the pressure on global warming and fuel economy. Unfortunately, most of the American car manufacturers have been dragging their heels on creating them. If Toyota hadn't shocked the auto world with the introduction of the Prius, then they would still be dragging their heels. Even with the success of the Prius, GM still is. Their strategy is to concentrate on the eventual rise of hydrogen cars and ignore hybrids. Click on the link below to learn more about the Sequel.

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/FuelCellToday/IndustryInformation/IndustryInformationExternal/IndustryInformationDisplayArticle/0,1588,940,00.html

[hatrack]

57. No, GM has been sticking its snout in the R&D trough

Oh, and of course there's all that "cutting edge/green" PR they can reap from their heavily hyped hydrogen program.

Average cost so far for GM's hydrogen car prototypes is about $1.5 million dollars. So, all they have to do is reduce that cost by two orders of magnitude, and then persuade the oil companies to start installing hydrogen pumps. I've heard of one in DC and a couple in LA so far, though there may be more.

And of course, Bob Lutz last month dismissed hybrids as nothing more than curiosities that a few left-coasters would buy to trumpet their environmental correctness. Well, whatever, Bob, but when I opened the paper this morning, the full-page ad was one in which Chevrolet offered $9,000+ in rebates on Tahoes and Suburbans, not one in which Toyota and Honda begged people to take hybrids off their hands.

[Greyskye]

110. Ford is licensing its hybrid tech from Toyota

So Ford isn't really doing any huge innovations here - they're just buying the technology from Toyota.

[Seabiscuit]

31. I was browsing through Consumer Reports at a mall today and

noted CR also rated the Honda Odyssey above the Toyota Sienna, yet in their analysis section, the Sienna trounced the Odyssey. CR's primary criticism of the Sienna was "confusing options packages". But it outperformed the Odyssey in every way they measured it.

I'm buying a Sienna soon. I've studied both carefully and it's a much better vehicle on every important level for less money than the Honda version. And I don't find the options "confusing" - I can read.

[patricia92243]

32. 25 mles? My Toyota Prius gets 41 here in the mountains. On flat

land I have got as high as 63. Plus the Honda is ugly (unless they have changed it and I haven;t seen the new ones)

[Dover]

35. It seems they go out of their way to make hybrids ugly.

I think Ford has the right idea of creating an SUV version given the U.S. love affair with them. I wouldn't buy a Ford, though.
I like the diesel option (VW Golf) better as an interim hybrid until they come out with something significantly better.

I'm infuriated at the U.S. auto and oil industries for consistently oppressing real and significant change in transportation.

[Technowitch]

98. We never thought our Prius ugly

True, it does take some getting used to. But part of the point is they threw out all the old car designs for something new.

For instance, why have a long, vision-obstructing front hood when you don't need one?

And why not increase interior space enough for EVERYBODY in the vehicle, including rear seat passengers, to have plenty of leg-room? Not to mention tons of available cargo space?

As for the hatch-back, it's almost like our Prius is a mini-minivan. We've hauled insane amounts of stuff in that car.

[catzies]

84. Your Prius is a 4-cylinder, and the Accord is a V6. Apples, oranges

I've driven both. I'd get the Accord.

[benny05]

122. My 2004 Prius avg 51 in the Mountains

and we have gotten as high as 65 mpg on the flats. Admittedly, the gas mileage is not as good in the winter, but 38-40 mpg still beats the regular cars at 25-35 miles that are all of the time...plus, the Prius is really good for the environment. We also love the toys--Nav system, automatic door opens, side bags for front and back, lots of room since the new Prius is a hatchback. It will hold 2 pretty large suitcases, golf clubs, small cooler, and has the ability to hang a rack for other clothes--and still get good gas mileage.

VW Diesel is good for gas mileage, but not good for the environment either.

If you want to know more about the Prius, go http://john1701a.com. He keeps stats on his car and has the best online operator's manual.

[Samurai_Writer]

39. I get more mileage with my VW Jetta...

a 1997, 110,000 miles on the odometer. It's still getting 35 mpg and runs great!

[Paulie]

41. I think CR needs better editors

25 is not something to jump for joy about. With the warmer weather here in Chicagoland, I'm up to 51mpg in my Prius. And the Prius isn't even tuned for high mileage, it's about reduced emissions. The mileage is just a side effect.

Also, Honda's hybrid technology, called IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) is only half, or mild, hybrid technology. Where my Prius can run on just battery/electric alone, the Honda technology just assists the gas motor. The only thing in common besides the battery is the automatic stop of the gas engine at stoplights. In stop and go, my gas motor doesn't even start.

Also, the Prius is mechanically SIMPLER than the diesels mentioned earlier. The transmission in the Prius has ONE FORWARD GEAR, and no reverse. Reverse is done with just the electric motor. Otherwise the trans looks more like a differential, with two inputs and one output to the wheels. And the NOx and particulate emissions from a diesel (US models) still make them quite dirty. Biodiesel increases the NOx even more.

Ford licensed Toyota's technology for their Escape (and soon Mercury version). They did use their own engine, but their engine isn't tuned for maximum efficiency. It works though, Escape owners seem happy.

With the new Lexus RX400h and the Toyota Highlander (due soon) here, both will get better mileage and performance than the Accord (electric all wheel drive via two electric motors, no drive shaft!!!), CR is going to be eating their words.

[LizW]

45. 25? 25???????

I'm shocked. I have been seeing the mileage for the Honda advertised at 37 highway, 28 city. 25 is quite a bit different. LOTS of cars get better than 25.

This is disappointing.

[natrat]

47. highlander

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/040105-13.htm

[marigold20]

44. 25 mpg? What does a regular Accord get?

That doesn't seem like anything to cheer about. My standard Honda Civic does a lot better than that. I enjoy hearing SUV owners moan about the cost of a fill-up.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

49. My regular Accord gets 23 City/30 Highway

So 26.5 on average, I guess.

[iowa_democrat]

46. My concern with hybrids

is the battery. It is just great that they do so well in a city setting with gas mileage, but the battery needs replaced in about 5 years. It is my understanding that this is about $5K-$8K. Maybe the price will go down as more and more are made. I certainly hope they can recycle them. Millions of large nicklemetal hydride batteries floating about the environment is a problem. The trade in value of current hybrids that need new batteries is pretty low. I am currently leaning toward the diesel VW.

[no_to_war_economy]

60. beware of the great diesel MPG

the emissions on the car is horrible .. save fuel but choke the air

[jmowreader]

99. The emissions profile is way different

Diesel engines all produce less CO than gas engines do. Even an old Detroit 6-71 produces less CO--and the 6-71 is a raunchy old two-stroke.

There's more NOx and particulate from a diesel than a gas engine.

Anyone know what the emissions on the five-cylinder Mercedes engine they use in the Sprinter looks like?

[Snivi Yllom]

93. BINGO

Watch what happens when hybrid cars reach that 5 year mark and the batteries need to get junked. A major expense that leads to more waste as owners junk their cars. Hopefully battery technology improves.

Also, fuel cell is not so likely to take off as the energy required to create hydrogen is great. It currently takes 2 days to generate enough hydrogen at home to fill a small size tank using a home generator. Think how much electricity that uses.

Diesel is a great option.

[Technowitch]

97. Battery replacement currently costs $3k

Which is about the same as it cost us to drop a new transmission into the '97 Saturn we got rid of.

And apparently Toyota's eventual goal, with mass production, is to drive the cost for these down to about $1500.

And yes, they are recyclable.

[Greyskye]

113. Not true

Lab testing shows that the NiMH batteries used in the Prius hybrid have a life expectency of 170,000+ miles. 99% of hybrid owners will never have to deal with a battery exchange. Unless of course, you average over 34,000 miles driven per year.

[screembloodymurder]

117. I understand you can get a 10 year warranty

on the battery.

[Dude_CalmDown]

48. Woooohooo! - n/t

*

[Ian David]

55. Look for "Hybrid Loophole" legislation

The big American manufacturers are developing hybrid engines that use the electric motor to boost PERFORMANCE instead of mileage.

In other words, electrical "turbo-boosters" for high-performance sports cars.

Watch out for legislation mandating a certain percentage of hybrid vehicles.

We need to make sure that all legislation mandates MILEAGE and EMISSIONS, not number of hybrids.

And for the record, I have a Toyota Prius and I love it.

[Ian David]

56. Honda Accord Hybrid Specs

Looking for a car that delivers more power with less gas? Then the Accord Hybrid is your answer. It starts with a powerful, 255-hp, 3.0-liter, i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Integrated Motor Assist (IMA™) that delivers 37 mpg highway and 29 city. Inside, you'll find luxurious features such as a dual-zone hybrid automatic climate control system, leather-trimmed interior, heated front seats and a driver's seat with 8-way power adjustment. Of course, the Accord Hybrid is not short on style. An exclusive rear spoiler and aerodynamic 16-inch alloy wheels give you the sporty look you need for a car built on performance.

†Based on 2005 EPA mileage estimates. Used for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage may vary.

$30,140.00
Automatic Transmission

Hybrid with Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™
$32,140.00



---
Damn, that SUCKS!!

I have a Toyota Prius, and I get about 45-55 MPG on the highway.
But that's without the air conditioner on.
With the a/c I get something more like 40-50 MPG.

So, figure the Honda Accord only gets 27MPG with the a/c running.

[JerseygirlCT]

58. 25 MPG is HIGH MARKS???

Is this what we've come to? That's really sad. Are expectations that low?

I don't understand why we don't demand 50, 100 even mpg standards within the next 5 years. Suddenly our position in the world is strengthened b/c we don't have to bend the knee to the nasty regimes in the middle east. I don't get why this isn't an issue every American can get behind...

(yeah, yeah, I know -- the powerful oil and auto lobbies.)

[AlCzervik]

62. it's high marks because it's got 240hp, i have a regular 160hp accord

and i get about 30 mpg.

[catzies]

86. It's actually 255 hp.

n/t

[confludemocrat]

120. Who really needs 255 hp for a "family sedan"?

Prius is ca 76 hp gets in the mid-40s MPG even here in Montana with cold weather.

[athenap]

63. What about towing?

Hubby has an Acura RS-X LEV and I've got a Subaru Outback. His car gets about 30 MPG, mine gets 24-27 at 3 years old and 60K miles. So my car is the next one to get paid off/traded in. But we use my car to tow the trailer when we go camping, haul mulch and landscaping, and haul wood or help friends move (averages out to 6-10 times a year). I so want to get a hybrid, but if it can't haul or support a tow hitch, I'm regrettably stuck with a gas-only vehicle. :( Plus, I've got a long-legged kid (soon to be two) that need hauling far more frequently.

Anything anyone's heard on the horizon about something with a little bulk in the hybrid market?

[Javaman]

64. I heard a rumor of a Jeep hybrid diesel, now that is something

I would buy. Since I can get bio-diesel locally, I could finally break the chain of dependency.

[EOTE]

106. Turbo diesel I believe.

The specs I've heard are a 2.8l 4 cylinder turbo diesel. It's supposed to provide 4 cylinder fuel economy, 6 cylinder acceleration and V8 torque for towing. Seems like quite an engine.

[woosh]

65. 25 MPG for a hybrid?

is absurd. I get better than that with my V4 Toyota Camrey.

[TommyO]

121. As I mentioned...

I get better mileage with my big, old-fashioned 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GT. And I bought that used for $7500 - a far cry from what Honda is asking for the hybrid Accord.

[d.l.Green]

67. Bogus distraction, hemp diesel is the answer!

We have oil moguls running our country, invading countries for their corporate profits. Why hybrid? To continue the need for oil. I remember in the 70's(before I could drive) there existing the little hondas and other Japanese cars getting 35-50 mpg. The technology's gone nowhere in, what 30 years...

[Strelnikov_]

69. Yep. My 83' Civic DX Got ~ 40 mpg Highway

from what I remember. Was a good little car too.

[stevedeshazer]

68. I honestly don't see the advantage

If it only gets 37 MPG. My '85 Honda Accord gets 33 MPG, and it's been paid for for fifteen years.

:shrug:

Why would I want to buy an expensive new car to get an extra 4 MPG?

When the technology gets better (and my Honda breaks down, coming up on 200,000 miles now), I'll consider it.

[Name removed]

72. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[d.l.Green]

75. Then I hope your military age relatives are over fighting in Iraq...

[Name removed]

81. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Tesha]

76. You'll give it up right quick enough...

> but I will always have my V-8! ... too many people like me
> unwilling to give up our big V-8!

You'll give it up right quick enough when the only way you can get
the go-juice for it is to mug some guy who looks just like Mel Gibson
in The Road Warrior. And that time is coming, sooner than you
think!

Or you could turn your land-yacht into a greenhouse/planter, I suppose.

Tesha

[Charles19]

73. Savings amount

Thought I would punch a few numbers into Excel to see the gas cost to get to 100,000 miles in a Ford Explorer vs. a Hybrid vehicle.

If gas is 2$ a gallon average for the entire time it takes to get to 100,000 for each vehicle and you consider the Ford Explorer to average about 18 mpg between city and highway driving (using regular gas not ethanol gas), the total cost would be $11,111.11. For a hybrid let's say getting an average of about 43 mpg with the rest of the parameters the same it would cost $4,651.16.

The savings would be $6,459.95, not bad. You would also have burnt a lot less gas into the atmosphere.

[trogdor]

105. The Escape gets 35, so says Ford.

The Exploder would probably get 30. Still, you'd save a bundle.

[Charles19]

115. Yes and it looks like gas is going to average higher

than 2 dollars a gallon so the savings would be even more. If it gets up to a bit over 3 dollars a gallon you save approx. 10k. Not chump change.

[Castilleja]

74. 25 MPG??? That is not all that great.

Please, my car gets that and it's fairly good size. Especially if it is a hybrid, should be getting better than that before anyone brags about the mileage.

[msongs]

79. my civic hybrid is FOR SALE ---->

bought an 'o4 18 months ago and its for sale. after 30 miles my leg gets sore. the seat is totally unfit to sit in and Honda would not replace it with a better one that is found in less expensive civics. plus it is full of loud rattles and vibrations where the parts were not put together tightly or properly. Honda told us "sorry you are having a problem".

so our civic hybrid with 2000 miles on it is for sale this weekend.

too bad, it got 45+ mpg and was other wise fine.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/liberaltshirts.htm

[Drifter]

90. Wow ....

that's too bad.

I bought mine used. It had 2500 miles on it. Apparently the people bought the Civic hybrid, while they waited for their Prius to come in.

We are really enjoying ours.

Cheers
Drifter

[lastliberalintexas]

80. Hmm, I get 28 mpg in my Ford Taurus

In a 6 cylinder, automatic transmission, with a mix of city and highway driving. This hybrid Accord must really suck.

[catzies]

87. What horsepower do you have? The Accord is fast! Drove it.

Love it, but not enough to ditch my paid-for 98 Accord.

[Roland99]

91. How in the hell do you do that?

I rented a Taurus recently and, on the highway, I was getting about 25-26mph. In the city I was getting about 15-17. My ex has a Taurus a few years older and she gets similar results.


Myself, I average about 25-26mph in combined city/hwy in a 5-speed 4-cylinder sedan (Mazda 6)

[lastliberalintexas]

100. I don't know

I just drive it! It has the small v-6, so maybe that makes a huge difference? And my husband and I make sure that we maintain our vehicles very well, so maybe that helps too.

[Roland99]

103. Count your blessings, then.

;)

[EOTE]

108. Both engines are 3.0l V6s.

The base engine is an OHV V6 while the uplevel is a DOHC V6. The OHV engine makes about 50 less hp (about 150) and gets slightly better fuel economy.

[lovuian]

82. Democrats need to start Screaming for GM & Ford to get Hybrids

out there and manufacture...There should be screams about setting up

Mass Transit!!!

WHERE ARE THE DEMOCRATS!!! WHERES CONGRESS???

Is this just negligence or is this on purpose!!!

America needs leadership here!!!

[AlabamaYankee]

83. What's the big deal with 25 MPG?

Our 2000 CRV, which is pretty much a box on wheels, can get up to 27 on the highway if I keep it under 70. My beloved '92 Civic with 200k miles on it can get over 40. IMO a hybrid that doesn't match that isn't worth the extra cost and maintenance.

[catzies]

88. I'll bet everyone who said "25 mpg? BFD" didn't even read the article

The Accord is not meant to compare to the Prius!!!!!!

Honda has The. Best. Hybrids. In. The. US. Market.

But no one bought the Insight and it's "geek factor" IMO is as high as the Prius.

Insight, Civic, Accord - there's a hybrid for every taste.

[NickB79]

95. If it's not meant to compare against the Prius

What else is it meant to compare against? There's nothing else!

In that case, you're right. It's hard not to be #1 when you have no competition.

[gbwarming]

102. Compare it to other overpowered V6 sedans which do ~20mpg in CR tests

That's a 20ish percent improvement. Honda obviously isn't going for highest possible fuel economy with this Accord.

[catzies]

104. It's meant to compare to the HONDA CIVIC HYBRID.

4-cylinder hybrid vs. 4-cylinder hybrid.

Civic CVT Hybrid's mpg is 46 city 51 highway
http://automobiles.honda.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Civic+Hybrid&bhcp=1&BrowserDetected=True

Prius is 55/55
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/key_features/launch_faq.html

The most important facet to me about the Accord V6 hyrbrid is that it looks, feels, and drives EXACTLY like a regular Accord. That's what they were intending with this model -- for people like me who don't want the "geek factor" but want a "normal" car.

[EOTE]

109. It's not meant to compare against anything else.

The Civic Hybrid is mean to go against the Prius. Similar interior dimensions and similar fuel economy. The Insight gets around 70 mpg, and it doesn't really compare against anything either (except for the currently dead GM EVO). The Accord Hybrid is a very powerful and luxurious sports sedan which also gets great fuel economy (25 mpg is a bogus figure, everything I've read states that it will average in the 30s). It's 0-60 time should be in the mid 6 second range. Honda is also working on the first hybrid sports cars with the Dualnote concept.

[Paulie]

118. Civic and Prius don't compare either.

Civic doesn't compare to the Prius either. The former is a compact sedan, the other is a MIDsize hatchback. The Accord is a MIDsize sedan. By entension, the Prius is also HEAVIER than the Civic, and uses full hybrid technology. Check this comparison: http://www.greenhybrid.com/compare/lineup/

And check out http://john1701a.com for Prius info! :D