Road Beat: 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring

The 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring, Only the performance and fuel economy lets you know it’s a hybrid.

Most of you know I haven’t been a fan of hybrids, but that’s changing and this new Honda Accord Hybrid has put me over the edge, it’s the first hybrid I have ever driven you can’t tell the transition from electric to gas or even start-up that it is a hybrid. The only clue is the phenomenal fuel economy, extreme quiet and ethereal smoothness. You simply can’t feel the integration of the gas motor coming on line. I would buy this hybrid for this and so many other reasons.

Accord’s new design is fabulous taking on the character of the class leading Civic using an almost identical window line except for a dip is the rear quarter windows. While the shape follows the Civic, the Accord has smoother lines that flow cleanly. Headlight assemblies are sophisticated LED units with multiple contiguous individual cells. They are the best in the business turning night into day.

Ok, so the Accord is beautiful, what about under the hood and floor boards? Under the bonnet is a trick 2.0L DOHC, 16 valve port injected Atkinson cycle four-cylinder inline engine. It is a different unit than the 2.0 turbo motor used in other Accords as it is a long stroking under square engine designed to increase the efficiency of the extremely high compression (13.5:1) Atkinson design which increases the ratio of the expansion cycle over the compression cycle. This new design has reached an unheard-of 40 percent thermal efficiency, or in plain language is able to convert 40 percent of the energy in the gasoline fuel into motive force.

It’s rated at 143 hp at 6,200 rpm and 129 pounds of twist at 3,500 rpm. If you wonder why such a low output for a 2.0L engine, it’s because of the Atkinson’s cycle late closing intake valve which effectively reduces the effective displacement and compression of the engine. But not to worry as this Accord also gets an electric motor(s) of 181 hp and 232 pounds of torque. But because hp of the electric system is limited by its L-I battery output to 69 hp, the maximum combined output is a still very powerful 212 hp @ 6,200 rpm.

Accord Hybrid scoots from 0-60 mph is a scant 6.58 seconds and accelerates from 50-70 mph on a level highway in just 3.53 seconds and up a 6-7 percent grade in just 5.48 seconds. This is a very high-performance sedan. It uses a trick CVT which allows a smooth continuous flow of quiet power except during heavy throttle applications when the CVT allows the gas engine to run at high rpm to extract max performance. It’s so smooth that the only way to tell when the vehicle is running as an EV is checking the instant fuel econ gauge which indicates 90 mpg. There is also a green EV light somewhere.

Ok, so it runs like a scalded dog, but what about fuel economy? Glad you asked. How about 50.4 mpg at 70 mph on a level highway, a number achieved in a two-way highway run. In my 210-mile round trip over the Sierras to Carson City it averaged an astounding 42.5 mpg. Imagine using just 5 gallons of gas. Overall in 500 miles of driving the Accord hybrid averaged 43 mpg in very aggressive driving. More sedate driving might add an mpg or two to that total. EPA numbers are 47/47/47 mpg city/highway/combined which is to be expected, hybrids usually never achieve the Federal test cycle numbers, but in this case the Honda exceeded highway numbers by almost 10 percent. In more urban driving, mileage might go up to that 47-mpg number. The only negative is a two-gallon reduction in fuel capacity down to 12.8 gallons, but considering its super long legs, that still equates to a 600 mile plus range, long exceeding a mortal’s liquid capacity.

Hondas always handle with an edge, a cut above and this hybrid is no exception and in fact perhaps does a bit better because of its battery location low below the floor. The credentials are all there, state of the art independent suspension, a super quick electric power steering rack at 2.3 turns lock to lock, decent, wide tires (225/50) mounted on 17-inch alloys, reasonably light weight at 3,428 pounds, a super rigid body and a 63-inch-wide track. It changes directions without complaint with excellent cornering power and feedback.

Ride quality is excellent with no float and the ability to absorb road punishment beautifully, helped again by its bank vault like body structure. It is also extremely quiet with absolutely no wind, road and engine noise except when big into the throttle and the CVT allows the engine to race ahead to about 5,000 or so rpm and go up from there (there is no tach so these are seat of the pants estimates). The new Accords are the best riding Honda sedans ever. I limit that to sedans as the new generation Pilot and Ridgeline also ride extremely well.

Safety is not compromised as standard features include incredible headlights with auto high beam and lane keep assist. But it seems the LKA system cannot be turned off, or if it can I couldn’t figure out how to do it. All the other safety acronyms are present as well.

Accord Hybrid Touring’s interior is bathed in leather and the seats are super comfortable and rear seat leg room is massive as the new chassis has increased wheelbase of a couple of inches to 111 and the length now stretches out to 192 while it is a beamy 73 inches wide which translates into an inch or two extra hip and shoulder room inside.

Instrumentation lacks a tach, but since the driver has no control over engine rpm it makes no difference other than for info purposes, but I like that kind of info, most others don’t. The center stack is getting easier to use, maybe that comes with more time behind Hondas or I am becoming more computer literate, but in any event, it is easy to use and sounds beautiful. While the fuel tank is small, the trunk is huge at almost 17 cubic feet.

Pricing for this top of the line Touring Hybrid starts and ends at $34,710 plus $895 for the train and truck from Marysville, Ohio assembly plant. And guess what, a free full tank of gas and carpeted floor mats are included. Amazing! With this kind of fuel economy and so much luxury for $35 large, it makes electric cars kind of a stupid buy, especially in California where the average cost of electricity is 20 cents a kWh, making the 50 mpg Honda cheaper to operate at about half the acquisition cost with gravity defying performance and there is absolutely no range and refueling anxiety. Honda has the answer.

Specifications
Price $35,605 all in
Engine 2.0L DOHC, 16 valve four cylinder engine 143 hp @ 6,200 rpm
129 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,500 rpm
Electric Motor 181 hp @ 5,000-6,000 rpm
232 lb.-ft. of torque @ 2,000 rpm
Combined max power 212 @ 6,200 rpm
Transmission
CVT
Configuration
Transverse front engine/front wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 111.4 inches
Length 192.2 inches
Width 73.3 inches
Height 57.1 inches
Track (f/r) 63.0/63.4 inches
Weight 3,428 pounds
Weight distribution (f/r) 60.7/39.3 percent
Passenger volume 102.7 cubic feet
Trunk volume 16.7 cubic feet
Fuel capacity 12.8 gallons
Steering lock to lock 2.3 turns
Turning circle 38.1 feet
Performance
0-60 mph 6.58 seconds
50-70 mph 3.53 seconds
50-70 mph (6-7 percent grade) 5.48 seconds
Top speed Who cares, what are you going to do with it, rob banks? Clyde Barrow liked Ford V-8s which couldn’t hold a candle to this Honda
Fuel economy EPA rated at 47/47/47 mpg city/highway/combined. Expect 43-45 mpg in suburban driving and 50 mpg on the highway at legal speeds.driving