2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

Details about this fall’s new Accord Hybrid are starting to trickle from Honda in the form of official images and a boast about the new midsize sedan’s 47 mpg combined rating. The Hybrid model leverages the advanced Sport Hybrid battery systems, new engine and aerodynamic tweaks from its pricier Plug-in Hybrid Accord sibling. Luckily, the Accord Hybrid benefits from the latest LED styling outside and new high-tech eco displays inside – without the questionable new nose Honda grafts onto the PHEV (as well as this regular Accord Hybrid outside the U.S.)

There is still blue-tinted lighting and badges galore, but this time it is not trying to disguise old halogen bulbs like on the CR-Z.
Pricing and final stats for the Hybrid’s smaller lithium-ion battery pack are not yet available and will directly influence the showroom costs. The Accord PHEV’s $40,000-plus pricing has raised some eyebrows, but the new Hybrid will be built on the regular Ohio assembly line for the first time – hopefully bringing savings versus the Japanese-built Accord PHEV.

Pricing in the low $30,000 range will put the new Honda about $2,000 above similarly equipped Toyota Camry and Ford Fusion Hybrid sedans. Buyers are still lapping up the base $23,000 Prius hatchback’s mileage and ease of use. Even so, the the real sales prize will be winning over not just early adopters but mainstream sedan shoppers with an eye on fuel economy and cruising refinement.

Click past the jump for the full preview of the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid with details on the all-new 2.0-liter engine and twin-motor Sport Hybrid system ahead of the Accord Hybrid’s arrival at Honda dealers this October.


Exterior
 The exterior of the Accord Hybrid is a blend of the standard Accord’s grille and bumper details paired with the cool LED headlamps from the Plug-in Accord. These low-energy lights use small squared lenses for the high-powered white LEDs that provide lighting power. The design stands out on the road because it runs four lamps –- two on each side –- in typical low-beam driving.

Conventional reflector halogens serve as the high beams, turn signals and fog lamps – but all the assemblies are tinted blue to convey the Honda’s advanced technology.

LED driving lights line the bottom half of the headlamp in a tasteful way, and LED blinkers on the mirrors add a touch of class. The standard Accord bumper and grille are very welcome with a tasteful chrome bar forming a smirk in just the upper grille opening.

The Accord PHEV’s nose adds a line of blue LEDs in the central grille area in a way that hasn’t been seen since the Mercury Sable of the late 1980s.

Despite the tacky shield grille on the PHEV, it does not score any better in the wind tunnel than the basic Hybrid model here. Both score a 0.29 cD that is just one click better than base Accords and significantly behind the best from Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, with each now offering cars with 0.25 and lower aero scores.

The LED enhancements continue in the rear, which also gets a body-colored trunk spoiler and the up-level LED taillights shared across the better-equipped Honda Accord family of models.

The Hybrid runs similar low-drag forged 17-inch alloy wheels but drops the five-spoke shrouded shape for a curved turbine style with a machined surface like the wheels from the VW GTI and others.

The curb weight of the forthcoming Hybrid Accord is the real question mark. Clearly it will fall somewhere between the 3100 pounds of the base Accord and the 3800 pounds of the PHEV – with most bets on the high side of 3400 pounds.