All-New 2018 Canadian Car of the Year: Honda Accord Hybrid

 

The 2018 Accord Hybrid is the newest addition to Honda’s growing portfolio of electrified vehicles. Boasting class-leading power, cabin space, and cargo space, the next-generation Accord Hybrid wholly embodies Honda’s unique approach to electrification – infusing fun-to-drive performance, efficiency, premium feature content, and comfort in a sophisticated and affordable package. The new Accord Hybrid joins the Accord 1.5T and 2.0T in Honda’s all-new, award-winning 10th-generation Accord lineup. The new Accord has been named “Best Large Car” by AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada), and in February was named 2018 Canadian Car of the Year by the same organization.

The Accord Hybrid lineup comes in two trim levels: Hybrid, and Hybrid Touring. The Accord Hybrid still offers a lengthy list of standard equipment, such as 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights (low beam) and taillights, dual-zone climate control, Smart entry with Push-button Start, a 7-inch TFT digital driver’s metre, a multi-angle rearview camera, and the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, which bundles together Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System™, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Traffic Sign Recognition.

The 2018 Accord Hybrid is powered by the third generation of Honda’s innovative two-motor hybrid powertrain, which pairs a 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC Atkinson-cycle inline-4 engine with 40-percent thermal efficiency to an electric propulsion motor that churns out 232 lb.-ft. of torque for a class-leading total system output of 212 horsepower. As before, the Accord two-motor system operates without the need for a conventional automatic transmission. Helping to maximize energy generation are steering wheel-mounted Deceleration Selectors. Similar to transmission paddle shifters, the Accord Hybrid’s Deceleration Selectors allow the driver to easily toggle between four levels of regenerative braking performance. The right selector increases regenerative braking and the left selector reduces regenerative braking. The system simultaneously helps reduce stress on the brakes while increasing battery charging via regeneration. The Accord Hybrid’s powertrain operates by seamlessly shifting between three distinct drive operations: EV Drive (100-percent electric motor), Hybrid Drive (electric motor and gasoline engine driving the generator motor) and Engine Drive (gasoline engine), utilizing power from the gasoline engine and electric motors. Fuel Economy is rated at: (city / highway / combined) Accord Hybrid 5.0/5.1/5., Accord Hybrid Touring, 5.0/5.1/5.1.

The 2018 Accord Hybrid is priced from $33,090 – $39,790. More info at www.hondaa.ca