Once I opened the door, the interior surprised me nicely...
. soft to the touch, comfortable, nothing ill-mannered about it. "Hmmm, "I said, "this is getting more interesting. Could have potential."
But then I took it out. Our first date made me suspicious. It was jerky, on both the downshifts and when braking. It didn't have enough low-end torque to satisfy, requiring more force on the accelerator that I thought should be necessary. Though I tried to change my mind on successive dates, I just couldn't get over the hump. Other hybrids didn't have this issue. Besides, this car was dullsville: The ride was adequate but flat, and there wasn't any flash on the dash.
Of course, compromise is the essence of any good relationship, and there's a lot I might consider giving up in order to have a hybrid's fuel economy and low emissions. But a smooth ride is not one of them. Yes, the interior is
very nice, and yes, it's a hybrid. But the less-than-seemless transitions from zero to thirty -- and thirty to zero -- left me wanting.
Now that I've seen both Caroline and Warren's blog entries on the Accord Hybrid, I see this is the third time this jerkiness complaint has come up. Which means, it's not just me; this car has some "issues." Issues I wouldn't be willing to spend the next few years with.
Yes, yes, it's a fine car, an honest and reliable car! It'll make a very good car for someone else. But it's not the one I'd want to bring home. Alas, it was just a passing flirtation, one that got less interesting the more time we spent together.
Joanne Helperin, Senior Features Editor @ 19,206 miles
But then I took it out. Our first date made me suspicious. It was jerky, on both the downshifts and when braking. It didn't have enough low-end torque to satisfy, requiring more force on the accelerator that I thought should be necessary. Though I tried to change my mind on successive dates, I just couldn't get over the hump. Other hybrids didn't have this issue. Besides, this car was dullsville: The ride was adequate but flat, and there wasn't any flash on the dash.
Of course, compromise is the essence of any good relationship, and there's a lot I might consider giving up in order to have a hybrid's fuel economy and low emissions. But a smooth ride is not one of them. Yes, the interior is
very nice, and yes, it's a hybrid. But the less-than-seemless transitions from zero to thirty -- and thirty to zero -- left me wanting. Now that I've seen both Caroline and Warren's blog entries on the Accord Hybrid, I see this is the third time this jerkiness complaint has come up. Which means, it's not just me; this car has some "issues." Issues I wouldn't be willing to spend the next few years with.
Yes, yes, it's a fine car, an honest and reliable car! It'll make a very good car for someone else. But it's not the one I'd want to bring home. Alas, it was just a passing flirtation, one that got less interesting the more time we spent together.
Joanne Helperin, Senior Features Editor @ 19,206 miles
dderosa says:
05:15 PM, 07/17/06
There is a noticable jerkiness in the Accord Hybrid and you don't get used to it after driving it for a while. The new Toyota Camry Hybrid, while it has less power than the V6 Accord has none of that jerkiness. If you're interested in midsize hybrids, you may want to check out our full test of the Camry Hybrid: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=115799
researchqueen says:
09:22 AM, 07/18/06
If it's got less power than the Accord, then I'm probably not interested! (This is an occupational hazard of working at Edmunds.) Still waiting for "the one." I figure that when my lease is up in two years, there will be something really worth lusting after.
vma131marine says:
06:31 AM, 09/13/06
Maybe Honda updated the programming on the AT for the 06 Accord Hybrid, because I have an 06 with 7,000 miles on it that does not seem the slightest bit jerky to me. It does have two noticeable 'quirks' however: when coasting to a stop the auto trans will downshift to increase engine rpms and make battery regen more effective; when slowing down with your foot on the brake the engine shuts off (Auto-Stop) at 12 mph, with the engine stopped you no longer have engine braking and until you get used to it, it "feels" like you are actually speeding up. Once you get Auto-Stop figured out the it becomes fun to manage the energy of the coasting car to get to your parking spot or whereever without having to let up on the brake enough to restart the engine.
vma131marine says:
06:32 AM, 09/13/06
Not enough low-end torque!!! The Accord Hybrid does 0-60 in under 7 seconds, how much more torque do you need?