RESTING ON ITS LAURELS
Honda’s fine two-motor hybrid has evolved slightly in the latest Accord. Is that enough to cope with Toyota’s latest equivalent?
WHAT’S NEW?
After driving Honda’s latest Accord with a new downsized petrol-turbo engine earlier this year, it’s now time to get behind the wheel of the petrol-electric variation.
The previous generation Accord’s hybrid drivetrain already excelled, so Honda has, understandably, decided to carry it over into this tenth-gen model. Its success might explain why half of the 4,500 orders Honda received for the new Accord to date consist of the hybrid version.
As before, the Accord Hybrid comes with a 2.0-litre petrol engine hooked up to two electric motors producing a combined output of 215hp. But thanks to some lighter and smaller electrical components, fuel efficiency has improved from 23.8kpl to 24.4kpl (CO2 drops from 99g/km to 97g/ km).
There are two grades for the Accord Hybrid: the regular one is going for 1.639 million baht, with an extra 169k for Tech, as driven here. These prices are cheaper than ever (slightly) thanks to excise taxation falling from 8% to 4%. They also happen to be exactly the same as those in the twotrim Toyota Camry HV (see graphic for the technical differences).
Which one of these hybrids from the country’s two top-selling passenger car brands is more effective? Hybrid is refined but not that responsive.
WHAT’S COOL?
The Accord Hybrid performs very much like before, with plenty of oomph in both city and highway driving. In the typical fashion of hybrids without plug-in facilities, electric-only driving in the Accord Hybrid takes place at low speeds in short bursts making it ideal in urban areas. In fact, the Accord Hybrid’s fuel economy is, they claim, the best for city driving.
Where the Accord Hybrid really scores over the Camry HV is refinement. Thanks to a smaller combustion engine, the overall drivetrain in the Accord Hybrid feels smoother and quieter, whether cruising or during more enthusiastic driving.
To suit its hybrid status, the Accord Hybrid comes with a suite of driver-assist technologies, the most notable ones being the all-round view monitor and automatic manoeuvring for both parallel and perpendicular parking. These particular items aren’t available in the Camry HV.
While much of the interior is the same in the two Accords, it’s the Hybrid variant that feels plusher thanks to hi-tech features like head-up display. In fact, the Accord Hybrid has a more upmarket ambience than in the Camry HV.
WHAT’S NOT?
Despite having an edge over the Camry HV in refinement, the Accord Hybrid feels less energetic in outright performance, even if it really isn’t short of any in its own right. This can particularly be felt when overtaking other vehicles on two-lane country roads where the Accord Hybrid has less instantaneous power pick-up (something like lag in a turbocharged engine). The Sport mode could have been more aggressive, as well.
And while the Accord Hybrid is generally comfortable on the move, it lacks the more intuitive handling of the Camry HV. Several testers from Thai media have also noted that the Toyota actually has seats that are more comfortable to sit in.
BUY OR BYE?
On paper, the Accord Hybrid appears to have more sophisticated electrification thanks to a two-motor setup and more modern and lighter lithium-ion battery pack.
But in the real world, the Camry HV arguably does a better a job in terms of responsiveness and delivers slightly higher levels of fuel efficiency on a combined cycle.
However, if you like toys, refinement and a truly spacious and opulent cabin, the Honda comes up trumps here. Owners of the previous Accord Hybrid, in particular, won’t come away disappointed.
So while the Accord Hybrid’s technology still looks reasonably good in its own game, it hasn’t evolved enough when compared to the Camry HV.
It almost seems that Honda is content to just satisfy its current customers. Toyota, on the other hand, has made a more concerted effort in improving its hybrid (despite that older battery tech) to attract buyers.
Of course, there are other areas where these two cars have different appealing attributes. But when it comes to the hybrid system itself, Toyota looks to have the better one for driving anywhere in the real world.