Honda Accord Hybrid Launched – All You Need to Know

Honda Accord Hybrid Launched in India 1

Honda Accord Hybrid gets a 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol engine combined with dual electric motors to produce a maximum system output of 215 PS

Honda Cars India has long been mulling over getting back in the fray in as many segments as it possibly can after losing way in terms of sales with its current gang of products. The Honda BR-V SUV was the latest addition to the fleet and it is now followed by the re-entrance of the once-popular premium sedan, the Accord.

The timing would not have come any better for the Japanese company considering the antagonism towards conventional IC engined diesel cars. Honda Accord’s main rival in the premium sedan segment is the Toyota Camry. The latter has been reaping benefits due to the tax exemptions provided by the Indian government under FAME scheme.

Honda Accord Hybrid Launched in India

Since the implementation of the diesel ban from start of this year, sales of Toyota Camry with its hybrid powertrain has excelled. In the month of May, 177 units were retailed, the best margin in over a year. With the growing band of customers shifting towards hybrid sedans, Honda’s already proven new Accord model is a jewel in the crown. Moreover, it is the closest competitor to the Toyota Camry in terms of pricing, specs and mode of powertrain right now.

The Honda Accord luxury sedan made its debut in India back in 2001 and after thirteen years of running, the Japanese manufacturer decided to temporarily discontinue production and stop selling the flagship model due to its poor sales performance. The premium V6 model never got off to the sales figures the company were expecting, and overall retailing took huge slump before being discontinued following a re-entry in 2008.

New Generation Honda Accord Hybrid 5

The new-gen facelifted Honda Accord was made available for the U.S market in July 2015 and ever since its re-entry into Indian shores had eagerly been anticipated. As expected, the ninth generation Accord was re-launched at the Delhi Auto Expo 2016 with petrol and hybrid powertrains.

The new model boasts more space and come with lot of technologies inside. Offered initially via CBU (Completely Built-up Unit) route and available at selected dealerships across India, the new Honda Accord Hybrid will rival mainly against its Japanese counterpart Toyota Camry Hybrid as well as the upcoming Volkswagen Passat GTE and the latest generation Skoda Superb. The hybrid powertrain should help in getting more customers lean towards the Accord but the pricing seems to have gotten higher than we all would anticipate.

2016 HONDA ACCORD FRONT VIEWHonda Accord Hybrid Price:

The pricing of the 2016 Honda Accord Hybrid has taken many by surprise. For the single petrol-hybrid variant the asking price is a whopping Rs. 51.08 lakh (on-road Bengaluru). When compared to main rival Camry Hybrid, it is a disaster as the latter’s on-road price is more than Rs. 13 lakh cheaper at around Rs. 37.5 lakh (Bengaluru).

The ex-showroom prices are quoted at Rs.37 lakh (New Delhi), Rs. 40.14 lakh (Navi Mumbai) and Rs. 40.57 lakh (Bengaluru). Just the ex-showroom prices will indicate that the ninth generation Accord Hybrid is over Rs. 6 lakh costlier than the popular Camry Hybrid.

Variant On Road Price Bengaluru
Top-end Hybrid Rs 51.08 lakh

Honda Accord Hybrid Engine & Specification

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid India Official Spec Released_The Honda Accord is offered with a Sport Hybrid i-MMD (Intelligent Multi Mode Drive ) system. It comprises of a 2.0-litre, Atkinson Cycle, four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve, i-VTEC petrol engine developing a power output of 145 PS at 6,200 rpm and 175 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. The 1.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack has dual electric motors capable of producing a peak output of 184 PS between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm and 315 Nm torque instantaneously. Power is delivered to the wheels via E-CVT automatic gearbox with steering mounted paddle shifters.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid 11

Honda claims the resultant engine tuning has led to creating excellent power characteristics, lowered emission and better fuel economy rated at 23.1 kmpl. The IC gasoline engine operates only when needed and therefore the total system power output is 215 PS. Assessing the battery charge and other parameters, the IC engine shuts down automatically during deceleration and when the vehicle is at stop or working under pure battery power.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid India Official Spec Released_-3It restarts whenever the situation beckons without the concern of the driver. Up front, the hybrid system will have PCU (Power Control Unit), the i-VTEC engine and two hybrid electric motors with electric servo brake. Meanwhile, at the rear lithium-ion battery and DC-DC converter are located.

New Generation Honda Accord Hybrid 3

Engine Specifications (Power, Torque and Transmission)
2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol and dual electric motor 215 PS, around 306 Nm peak torque and E-CVT automatic

Honda Accord Hybrid Mileage

The 2.0-litre Hybrid automatic is claimed to return a mileage of 23.1 kmpl which 4 kmpl more economical than what Toyota rates for the Camry Hybrid.

Image Gallery:

Honda Accord Hybrid Dimension and Exterior

Dimension:
The 2016 Honda Accord Hybrid measures about 4,933 mm in length; 1,465 mm in height; 1,849 mm in width and stretches 2,776 mm in wheelbase. The kerb weight stands at 1.6 tonnes while the fuel tank capacity is rated at 60 litres. The car rides on 235/45 R18 tubeless radials.

MacPherson struts with coil spring and multi link with coil spring take care of suspension duties up front and rear respectively with torsion type roll bars and telescopic shock absorbers. Electro servo brakes regenerate energy during braking while the stopping power is addressed by ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes.

New Generation Honda Accord Hybrid 2

Honda Accord Hybrid Exterior

The 2016 Honda Accord gets styling revisions everywhere to reassure its sharpness, sportiness and aggressiveness. The major styling changes include newly designed front fascia with a sharper cluster and sleeker headlights alongside LED tail lights and fog lamps. The aluminium bonnet has also been re-styled with revamped bumpers at front and rear. As part of the package, it also gets a newly designed multi-spoke 19-inch aluminium alloy wheels.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid 1

The important exterior features are chrome finished front grille, rear license plate and bumper garnish, beltline and window garnish alongside chrome door handle, shark fin type roof antenna, body-coloured side sill garnish, rear deck lid spoiler, one-touch electric sunroof with tilt feature, tail lamps with integrated LED light bars, LED position lights with turn indicators, signature hybrid blue accent in headlamp,tail lamp and front bumper grille with hybrid badging, auto LED headlamp with auto levelling, LED fog lamps, LED DRLs, etc.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid TVC:

https://youtu.be/Mr332LwxvcE

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid Interior & Features

2016 Honda Accord Dashboard
On the inside, the new Honda Accord features dual touchscreen system stacked one above the other. The upper touchscreen is a 7-inch system with audio and smartphone integration including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support whilst the lower one is a 0.7-inch bigger screen that is used for accessing information about the car. Other features included are 60:40 split folding rear seats which come with heating option and wipers that can automatically sense rain.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid interior

The equipment list will contain premium ivory leather seats and upholstery, eight-way power adjusted driver seat with memory function, four-way power adjustable co-driver seat, piano black and wood finish steering wheel, leather wrapped gear knob, premium wood finish garnish on dashboard and door and piano-black finished centre console. The instrument cluster comprises of advanced combimetre with multi-info display, energy flow display in MID screen and Eco Assist System along with ECON, Sport and EV mode switches.

As for the entertainment system, Honda provides 7.7-inch colour TFT I-MID display, 7-inch advanced display audio with high resolution WVGA touchscreen, smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth audi and handsfree telephony, Honda satellite linked navigation, voice recongnition, USB interface, premium sound system, etc.

New Generation Honda Accord Hybrid 4

Honda Accord Hybrid Safety Features:

The safety features new Honda Accord is expected to come with are Six Airbags, ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure, Vehicle Stability Assist, Hill Start Assist, Rain Sensing Wiper, Emergency Stop Signal, Hydrophilic Outside Mirror, Auto High Beam, Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision and Road Departure Mitigation systems, Forward Collision Warning, parking sensors front and rear, Lane Assist and Departure Warning systems as well as Rear view multi-angle camera among others.

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid Auto Expo Gallery:

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid Interior Gallery:

2016 Honda Accord Hybrid Key Rivals

Toyota Camry, Skoda Superb, Audi A3, Mercedes CLA and upcoming Volkswagen Passat are the main competitors. But, the Camry Hybrid will be the only direct rival that Honda will importantly be targeting at we reckon.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & on Youtube

REVIEW OVERVIEW
Overall
honda-accord-hybrid-india-launched-specs-price-331654Honda Accord Hybrid gets a 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol engine combined with dual electric motors to produce a maximum system output of 215 PS Honda Cars India has long been mulling over getting back in the fray in as many segments as it possibly can after...