The majority of posts concerning our long-term 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid focus on the debatable benefits of its gasoline/electric powertrain. But it's important not to forget that the Accord, no matter what engine happens to be powering it, is still of the best midsize sedans available.
I was reminded of this recently I as I was driving on Panoche road, one of the many rarely driven roads that run laterally through central California and the Pacific coastal mountains. On the day I drove on it, I encountered nothing more than hungry dairy cows...
While certainly not a sport sedan, the Accord Hybrid is still an entertaining car to drive fast. I had a fun time flinging the Accord through medium-speed corners, tires squealing like mob informants. The car's suspension does an OK job of keeping body motions in check and the steering is light and accurate. Exceed the Accord's modest limits and predictable understeer sets in.
Fuel economy? Don't ask. But had our other long-term hybrid vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Hybrid Escape, been there, I'm sure they would have been left behind within the first quarter of a mile.
2005 Honda Accord Hybrid Introduction
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor, Edmunds.com, 22,420 miles
tsgeisel says:
11:57 AM, 09/18/06
What qualifies as a "medium speed" corner? I just like to be able to compare experiences.
bromans says:
07:48 PM, 09/18/06
In the range of 30 to 50 mph.
vma131marine says:
10:31 AM, 09/28/06
I'm curious, have any of the people who have test driven this car for Edmunds.com even tried to drive it for best fuel economy over an extended period of time? I appreciate that for the purpose of reviewing the car you want to test it to it's performance limits, but maximum fuel economy is a performance limit too, isn't it? I have an '06 Accord Hybrid and consistently get 39-41 mpg door-to-door on my 50 mile (each way) commute and with an average trip time of 50 minutes or less. My average fuel economy over the last 3000 odd miles is nearly 33 mpg. I can't imagine what you are doing to get the poor mileage you get.