Simply put, you don’t need to be a fan of the Accord to give Honda some credit.
With the official release of the EPA’s fuel economy numbers for the 2018 Accord Hybrid, Honda falls in with a confident 47 mpg combined. Granted, this falls in just shy of the previous Accord’s combined rating of 48 mpg, but there’s some justification for that resting comfortably under the hood. It also falls short of Toyota’s Camry Hybrid which sets the bar with 52 mpg combined but spanks the Hybrid variant of Ford’s Fusion (42 mpg) also edging out Chevy’s Malibu (46 mpg).
As alluded to above, the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid utilizes a new two-motor hybrid powertrain system. The 2.0-liter engine is mated to two electric drive motors, with game-changing magnetic technology. With a more compact intelligent power unit relocated from the trunk to the rear floor, the system generates a total of 212 hp and improves thermal efficiency over last year’s offering.
In many ways, the Accord reminds me of the automotive equivalent of a middle-aged housewife or stay-at-home dad who decide to reinvent themselves, once the kids get older. Night classes to finish that degree they put on hold, a new hairstyle, and four-days-a-week at the gym. Next thing you know, they’re walking around a little taller, looking (and feeling) years younger.
Between its recent facelift and some smart choices made on both the standard and hybrid models, the Accord feels just as reinvigorated. Gone are so many of its dated trappings, that it feels new and interesting. That said, it’s not hard not to appreciate the effort.
Here’s a closer look at the surprising eye candy that the Accord hybrid has become, courtesy of the 2018 Montreal Auto Show.
