John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president, said the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid will be the mileage leader in its class.
Honda is adding a hybrid version of the popular Accord to its model line this spring, which when it arrives will give it the highest EPA fuel economy ratings of any midsize hybrid sedan in the U.S., said Honda officials.
The 2017 model is equipped with a second-generation two-motor hybrid powertrain giving it that class-leading mileage, said John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president as he showed off the vehicle at a press conference in the Detroit.
Mendel said with improved production methods and supplies of hybrid components, Honda is anticipating significant growth in sales of Accord Hybrid and is targeting annual sales to be more than double its previous best of just under 14,000 vehicles in 2014, Mendel said, who is generally reluctant to offer any kind of sales forecasts.
“The new Honda Accord Hybrid is the ultimate Accord – the most refined, technologically sophisticated and, of course, most fuel efficient in the line-up,” he said.
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“With Accord already America’s most popular car three years running and the best-selling midsize car to younger buyers, we think this new hybrid model will add considerable momentum for the Honda brand.”
The interior of the new Accord hybrid carries on the maker's tradition of simple, clean offerings, but its loaded with new technology.
In addition to its more powerful and fuel efficient hybrid powertrain, the 2017 Accord Hybrid carries the substantial upgrades made to the entire Accord lineup for model year 2016, including the availability of Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Honda said the “hybrid-exclusive” design features include an aluminum hood and wheels, blue highlighted LED headlights and taillights and “Hybrid” exterior badging. A more compact hybrid battery pack increases trunk capacity to a midsize hybrid class-leading 13.5 cu.ft.
Standard features on 2017 Honda Hybrid, which is available in three different trim levels, include a wide-angle rearview camera, remote engine start and Honda Sensing, which comes with collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, lane departure warning and forward collision warning.
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Available new features on upper trims include a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, heated rear seats, and front and rear parking sensors.
The power train in the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid is built around Honda’s two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-liter i-VTEC Atkinson Cycle engine and the powertrain will achieve peak combined output of 212 horsepower, the highest of any midsize hybrid sedan and up 16 hp compared with the 2015 Accord Hybrid.
EPA fuel economy ratings of 49 miles per gallon in the city, 47 mpg on the highway and 48 mpg combined indicates the Accord Hybrid at the top of the class for ratings.
The EPA fuel economy ratings are based on new, more stringent ratings requirements enacted by the U.S. EPA for the 2017 model year. Based on the new requirements, Honda estimates the 2015 Accord Hybrid ratings would be 48/45/47 (actually rated at 50/45/47 under the previous method), indicating a +1/+2/+1 increase for the 2017 model over the previous version.
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The Accord Hybrid’s powertrain is designed to transitions between three operating modes, including EV Drive, using its electric propulsion motor and lithium ion battery pack drives the front wheels for short distances under light loads, hybrid drive where the electric propulsion motor drives the front wheels while the gasoline engine powers a second motor/generator to supplement electrical current drawn from the battery pack and engine drive, which uses a lock-up clutch mechanism to connect the engine and propulsion motor, the front wheels are driven by both the motor and gasoline engine.