Hold the brake and push the start button and there’s the sound of silence. It’s ready to go, of course. There are three drive modes: EV (electric vehicle), Hybrid, and Engine Drive. All three are automatically controlled. The first is pure electric. There is an ‘EV’ button but Honda say that the range is just about one kilometre. Yup. The second, Hybrid mode, is where the car is mostly at. While the e-motors drive, the combustion engine plays generator and delivers as much as 23 km/litre. The third, and this is interesting, is Engine Drive which is where the engine also directly supplements power to the wheels via a single-speed transmission with what was described as an overdrive ratio, at the very top end at speed when more power is desperately needed; for instance, while overtaking on the highway.
The glorious Hyderabad outer-ring-road has a speed limit of 120 km/h and this was ideal to try out the potential of the car. Unless you have ‘ECON’ mode on, which relaxes throttle response and the force of the climate control, the response is instantaneous and satisfying. It drives fantastic for a hybrid and you get this subdued growing roar from the four-cylinder engine when you really step on it. For four strokes per revolution, with bores offset from the crank, 6,000 rpm sends my brain to peak revs. Honda have variable valve timing and lift control on this motor too: wizardry that delivers the power well while sounding, for most part, as relaxed as Sunday afternoon tea.
The Accord Hybrid behaves at all speeds and the ride quality is more on the supple side in line with its character. The MacPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link independent rear suspension provide a nicely balanced feel and are adept at keeping it planted. It is efficient for its size, no doubt about that. The indicated fuel efficiency was 14 km/l, including the spirited driving bit at triple-digit speeds and the matter of negotiating truck traffic and underpowered three-wheeled people-moving death-traps.
The highlight, though, is that this is a Hybrid for the eco-conscious saloon buyer and, as such, is not meant to be a driver’s car. The luxury elements within the Accord, like its arch rival, will, hopefully, make you think twice before plonking 50 per cent more money for a premium-badged car that’s missing 50 per cent of the equipment these hybrids offer.
The Accord Hybrid is a pleasant place to be. The engine can be remote started, running for up to 10 minutes, and the car can be pre-heated or pre-cooled before you decide to step in. The build quality is good and the choice of material reflects a balance of quality, luxury and focus on lightness. Keeping weight down is essential and, as a whole, the Accord Hybrid weighs 1,620 kg. That includes the battery pack, the DC-DC converter in the back, and power management plumbing. That doesn’t mean it’s devoid of any equipment. Not in the least.
One element that I distinctly remember marking itself out is the leather upholstery. The seats are magnificent. They’re plush yet ergonomically-gifted and hold you well; among the best that I remember. The driver’s seat is eight-way power-adjustable and has two memory settings. The front passenger seat is four-way power-adjustable. Then there are the gizmos.
First, there’s a 7.7-inch intelligent information display, together with the 7.0-inch high-res touchscreen both in the centre. They provide everything from the time to the navigation guidance. You also get voice controls, a premium sound system with DVD and mp3/aac/wma support, two USB ports, an HDMI port, Bluetooth connectivity, a Wi-Fi receiver, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay to let you pair pretty much any device for music and entertainment. It also features active noise cancellation.
On the safety front, the ACE up Honda’s sleeve is the Advanced Compatibility Engineering that the frame is principally built on. The structural integrity is evident when you drive and the design is also friendly to pedestrians should you run into them. You do get the whole hog of ABS, EBD, hydraulic brake assist, vehicle stability assist with traction control, ISOFIX anchors for child seats, and, if they all still fail to keep you on track, front, side and curtain airbags.
An interesting addition is LaneWatch that builds on blind-spot assistance. When you flick the indicator stalk to the left, a camera in the left wing-mirror feeds the centre display with what’s approaching from the side. The feed shows about four times more than the mirror and allows for safer lane changing. Honestly, it’s one step ahead of a simple audio-visual warning. Awareness is a critical element in a safe drive.
In today’s day and age, value has begun to lose its meaning altogether, but there are some who do it right indeed. With a price-tag of Rs 40.14 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Accord Hybrid has the credentials to take on the big names and come out fighting, or even on top in some cases. The badge isn’t exactly European but the machine behind it does make a strong case for itself.
Need to Know – Honda Accord Hybrid
Price: Rs 40.14 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi)
Engine: 1,993 cc, Atkinson-cycle, naturally-aspirated, petrol
Max Power: 145 PS at 6,200 rpm
Max Torque: 175 Nm at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission (eCVT)
E-motor: 2x AC synchronous, permanent-magnet
Peak Power: 135 kW (184 PS) at 5,000-6,000 rpm
Peak Torque: 315 Nm at 0-2,000 rpm
Battery Pack: 1.3-kWh, 72-cell, Lithium-ion
Net Peak Output: 215 PS
Weight: 1,620 kg
