Honda Accord Hybrid

The Honda Accord Hybrid was a Hybrid vehicle version of the North American Honda Accord, offered in model years 2005 through 2007. It was the company's third hybrid when the 2005 model was introduced in late 2004, following the Honda Insight and Honda Civic Hybrid. The Accord Hybrid was priced US$3,000 higher than the EX V6 model Accord, and retained substantially the same trim and feature levels (although the 2005 model did not include the power sunroof). Honda positioned the Accord Hybrid at the top of its (non-Acura) lineup.

While this new vehicle shared the same displacement as the regular seventh generation Accord V6 powerplant, the engine in the Hybrid was derived from the 2005 Honda Odyssey minivan and has the ability to shut off 3 of the 6 cylinders under certain conditions for better fuel economy (a technology that Honda callsVariable Cylinder Management (VCM)). The new engine features iVTEC technology and drives a new compact transmission, developed to allow the inclusion of the electric motor sandwiched between the transversely-mounted engine and automatic transmission. Power of the gas engine is up from 240 to 255 hp (179 to 190 kW) and torque rose from 212 to 265 ft·lbf (287 to 315 N·m). However, there was no four-cylinder on this car. The vehicle reaches 60 mph in 6.7 seconds.

Fuel economy was originally estimated at 29 mpg_-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg_-imp) city and 37 mpg_-US (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg_-imp) highway, but was later changed to 25 mpg_-US (9.4 L/100 km; 30 mpg_-imp) city, 34 mpg_-US (6.9 L/100 km; 41 mpg_-imp) highway, after Honda's addition of standard sunroof and spare tire (not included on the 2005 model) bumped the car to a higher weight class for United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ mileage testing. The 2006 model has also been rated an AT-PZEV vehicle. AT-PZEV (Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle) is an emissions standard created by the California Air Resources Board. In 2007, the EPA estimates were changed yet again to 28 mpg_-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg_-imp) city and 35 mpg_-US (6.7 L/100 km; 42 mpg_-imp) highway. Canadian official 2007 Fuel Consumption Rating is 8.2 L/100 km city and 6.1 L/100 km highway.

Honda put the emphasis on performance and targeted high-end buyers. Unlike traditional hybrid designs, the new Accord hybrid uses a more powerful engine than its non-hybrid counterpart. Together with the Integrated Motor Assist, the hybrid version provided slightly higher performance than the conventional V6-engined Accord. However, the marketplace did not embrace the Accord Hybrid, and 2007 was the final model year available.

The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan is also 4 inches (102 mm) longer than the 2005 Accord Sedan. The 2005 Accord Hybrid Sedan comes in four colors: Graphite Pearl, Desert Mist Metallic, Silver Frost Metallic, and Taffeta White. For 2006, the Accord Hybrid comes standard with Vehicle Stability Assist, and like the conventional US-spec Accord, received a minor exterior facelift. Accord Hybrids from model year 2006 and up can be identified by the amber rear turn signals whereas their fully gasoline counterparts have red rear turn signals.

According to road tests conducted by Consumer Reports, the V6 Accord Hybrid averages 2 MPG better than the regular V6 Accord and 1 MPG better than the 4-cylinder Accord.

Honda has announced that there will be no hybrid version of the next generation (2008 model year) Accord, as the mid-size Honda FCX Clarity debuted at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show. The FCX Clarity debuted as a 2009 model. The Accord hybrid sold 25,000 since 2004, and 6,100 of the 2007 model.