Honda Accord Hybrid arrives just in time to battle high pump prices

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
The new 2018 Accord Hybrid brings a new level of style to the mid-size hybrid sedan segment. (Photo: Honda)

Timing is everything, or so the saying goes, but with Canadian pump prices rising at an alarming rate in some jurisdictions, it appears the age-old adage couldn’t be truer and Honda’s timing couldn’t be better for the all-new 2018 Accord Hybrid. 

The new model’s official April launch date arrived just in time for Metro Vancouver fuel prices to hit record highs, bouncing up against a dollar and 60 cents per litre resistance that has since proven penetrable. Local authorities aren’t promising any relief over the summer, with some predicting the exact opposite. 

Even if you live elsewhere in Canada, current fuel prices may still be eating into your budget. As of Thursday, July 5, GasBuddy.com showed the average Canadian gasoline price as 134.4 cents per litre, which is a 2.6-cent-per-litre increase from the prior week. That represents a 26-cent rise from the average of 109.4 cents per litre in July of 2017. While it hasn’t yet reached the highest average pump price ever recorded in Canada, which was 142.4 cents in August of 2008, this is still a hard pill to swallow for those driving less fuel-efficient vehicles. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
The Accord Hybrid features the same sleek four-door coupe lines as the conventionally powered Accord. (Photo: Honda)

Enter the new 2018 Accord Hybrid, which combines all the positive attributes of the recently redesigned 2018 Accord sedan, a model that recently beat the new Toyota Camry and all other new entries to win the revered Automobile Journalist Association of Canada’s (AJAC) 2018 Canadian Car of the Year award, with a highly advanced two-motor hybrid-electric powertrain capable of a claimed 5.0 L/100km in the city, 5.1 on the highway and 5.1 combined. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
From front to back, the new Accord Hybrid has style in its corner. (Photo: Honda)

This brings Accord Hybrid fuel economy within close range of the new 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid, which is estimated to achieve 4.9 city, 4.8 highway and 4.9 combined in base trim, albeit take note that a fully loaded Honda Accord Hybrid Touring still gets the same mileage as the base model, whereas the top-line Camry Hybrid XSE is rated at 5.3, 5.0 and 5.1 respectively, losing out to the Accord Hybrid in the city, where it matters most. 

A unique two-motor hybrid powertrain joins an efficient 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine to provide the Accord Hybrid with a class leading total system output of 212 horsepower, while its electric drive motor puts 232 lb-ft of almost instantaneous torque down to the front wheels for strong straight-line performance. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
These 17-inch alloy wheels come standard on both base and Touring trims. (Photo: Honda)

To be clear, one of the electric motors drives the front wheels, while a smaller secondary motor serves mainly as a generator, providing electric current to the drive motor in order to supplement or replace power from the battery during lighter loads, such as cruising. The second motor also starts the engine that in-turn adds torque to the wheels, but it’s never used as the motive driving force for those wheels. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
Like with the regular 2018 Accord, the new Accord Hybrid gets standard LED headlamps and LED taillights. (Photo: Honda)

Additionally, the car’s Electric-Continuously Variable Transmission, or E-CVT, removes any need for a conventional automatic transmission, or even a traditional belt/chain-operated continuously variable transmission (CVT), both of which inherently rob performance and efficiencies from the powertrain. Instead, Honda’s E-CVT drives the front wheels directly through four fixed drive ratio gearsets, without the need to shift gears or vary a planetary ratio. This means there is no “rubber-band” effect when accelerating as experienced in regular CVTs, or in other words the engine is never forced to maintain steady high rpms until road speed gradually catches up, this process causing a much-criticized audible “droning” effect. Honda claims its direct-drive technology benefits from 46 to 80 percent less friction than a conventional automatic transmission, depending on the drive mode. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
Thanks to 212 net hp and 232 total lb-ft of torque the Accord provides stronger performance than any mid-size hybrid sedan rival. (Photo: Honda)

Drivers can choose between three standard propulsion modes as well, including electric-only (providing the 6.7-kWh lithium-ion battery is charged sufficiently), gasoline-only, or blended gas and electric (hybrid), while a standard SPORT drive mode joins ECON and EV modes as well, all found on Honda’s exclusive pushbutton/rocker switch gear selector that comes complete with an electromechanical parking brake lever and an automatic brake hold button. Honda also includes standard steering wheel shift paddles, but take note these are specifically for downshifts during deceleration. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
The Accord Hybrid gets the same high-quality interior as the regular model, plus a higher level of standard features. (Photo: Honda)

Another positive is styling, thanks to the new Accord Hybrid not visually deviating from the conventionally powered Accord sedan’s design, the latter having received a lot of positive feedback from the automotive press and customers alike. This said, Honda changes some minor trim pieces as well as the wheels, but few will likely notice any visual differences between a regular Accord sedan and the Accord Hybrid. 

The high-quality 2018 Accord interior has been carried forward into the new Accord Hybrid too, with premium-level soft-touch synthetic surfaces in key areas, attractive metallic and matte-finish woodgrain inlays, high-resolution digital interfaces, and more, while the Accord Hybrid is just as accommodating for front occupants and rear passengers as the roomy conventionally powered model. Its voluminous trunk hasn’t changed in size either, providing 473 litres of available space and handy 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks for fitting in longer cargo. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
The left two-thirds of the Accord Hybrid’s gauge cluster is made up of a 7.0-inch colour TFT multi-information display. (Photo: Honda)

Like the regular Accord, there are noticeable differences between the base Accord Hybrid and top-line Touring trim, such as an upgraded set of full LED headlamps with the addition of light emitting diodes for the high beams, unique signature LED elements around the outside of the headlamp clusters, chrome-enhanced door handles, and if chosen the availability of no-cost Obsidian Blue Pearl exterior paint instead of standard Crystal Black Pearl and $300 White Orchid Pearl, the only two colours offered with the base model. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
This 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen comes standard, as does a multi-angle backup camera with dynamic guidelines, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, gesture controls, and more. (Photo: Honda)

On that note, pricing for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid starts at $33,090 for the base model and $39,790 for Touring trim, plus freight and fees, with key standard features on the base model including 17-inch alloy wheels, auto-on/off LED headlights (low beam only) with automatic high beams, LED fog lamps, LED taillights, a remote engine starter, proximity keyless access with pushbutton ignition, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, a 7.0-inch colour TFT multi-information display within the primary gauge cluster, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with tablet-style tap, swipe and pinch gesture controls, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, Honda’s exclusive LaneWatch blindspot display, Bluetooth phone connectivity with streaming audio, near field communication (NFC), 452-watt audio with 10 speakers including a subwoofer, two front and two rear USB charging ports, SMS text message and email reading functionality, Wi-Fi tethering, a 12-way powered driver’s seat with four-way powered lumbar support, heated front seats, the HondaLink Assist automatic emergency response system, plus all the expected active and passive safety features including front knee airbags. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
Honda makes its unique button and rocker switch filled gear selector standard with the new Accord Hybrid. (Photo: Honda)

Unexpected safety features can be found in the standard Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance equipment, including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), and traffic sign recognition, this being enough to earn the regular 2018 Accord a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS when equipped with its upgraded headlights, while all Accord trims get a best-possible five stars from the NHTSA. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
The Accord Hybrid features the same interior dimensions as the regular Accord, making it one of the more spacious hybrid sedans currently available. (Photo: Honda)

Additional 2018 Accord Hybrid Touring trim features not yet mentioned include Blind Spot Information (BSI) with Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system (replaces the aforementioned LaneWatch blind spot display), adaptive dampers to improve handling, rain-sensing wipers, a head-up display (HUD), an auto-dimming rearview mirror, passenger side mirror reverse gear tilt-down, a HomeLink garage door remote, a powered moonroof, front and rear parking sensors, navigation, voice recognition, satellite and HD radio capability, wireless device charging, an AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot, driver’s seat memory, a four-way powered front passenger’s seat, a heatable steering wheel rim, perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear outboard seats, and more. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
With 473 litres of cargo space along with 60/40-split rear seatbacks, the Accord Hybrid is just as accommodating for cargo as the conventionally powered model. (Photo: Honda)

While the new Accord Hybrid is exciting enough on its own, it was preceded by the even more efficient Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, which is sized similarly to the Accord yet features totally unique styling that helps it stand out more distinctively as an alternative fuels vehicle. The Clarity Plug-in Hybrid starts at $39,900, and receives a Transport Canada fuel economy rating of 5.3 L/100km in the city, 5.9 on the highway, and 5.6 combined in regular hybrid mode, or much better efficiency when its considerably larger battery is externally charged on a regular basis and its EV mode is engaged, resulting in much greater electric-only range. 

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid
This is no ordinary hybrid electric powertrain, thanks to Honda’s exclusive two-motor design that doesn’t even use a conventional transmission. (Photo: Honda)

Additionally, Honda has just added a new compact hybrid to its lineup. The stylish 2019 Insight is sized identically to the Civic Sedan that shares its underpinnings and some bodywork, even offering the same accommodating interior roominess and an identical 428-litre trunk with convenient 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks. The new Insight will be Honda’s most affordable hybrid at $27,990 when it arrives this summer, and achieve the best fuel economy amongst Honda hybrids at a claimed 4.6 L/100km city, 5.3 highway and 4.9 combined. 

Honda’s expanding lineup of hybrid-electric cars is a good sign that it’s on the right track, and the Accord Hybrid should put up a good fight against the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, Kia Optima Hybrid, but this said Honda really needs to electrify its SUV lineup so it can go up against Toyota’s RAV4 Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid, plus others from competitive brands that are expected to arrive soon. 

Oddly, Honda sells a CR-V hybrid in Europe, but it’s not yet available in North American markets, while similarly Nissan offers a Rogue Hybrid to its U.S. customers, but not here in Canada. 

For now, the new 2018 Accord Hybrid, 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, and 2019 Insight point the Japanese brand in what most consider the right direction. Only time will tell if we receive hybrid versions of the popular compact CR-V and mid-size Pilot as SUV alternatives to Toyota’s offerings.