Honda Accord Hybrid (CR6)

As I said in the past, Honda created some of the finest sedans than any other Japanese carmaker through the years. The 130, the 145, the Civic, the Accord, the Integra, the Legend, the Fit Aria, the Inspire, etc., etc. So, what are they up to now?

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

This is where Honda's greatness had led and if I mean "Greatness", what I meant was their weakness. Our loss was their gain right now so with Honda stop making normal 4-door saloons for all, their biggest focus was to hybridize the entire lineup, probably because of the rubbish "eco-car genzei" system that plagued the JDM industry right now and there's no stopping it. What this is, you might think, was just a Honda sedan except of course this isn't because this so-called sedan bears the name of the one I know as the "last of the Honda sedans".

Welcome everybody to the all new, ninth generation Honda Accord, and if by ninth-generation, this is the new name for the ninth-generation model, which now bears the chassis code of CR6, ACCORD Hybrid.

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

So, why the conversion into a full-fledged hybrid sedan anyway? Well, you don't need to tell me why but seems Jalopnik's list of 10 most boring carmakers were right. Seems that today's Hondas are about as boring as playing a game of Candy Crush for hours or as annoyed when you're receiving too much invites for Best Casino. Anyway, on the all new, hybrid-only, ninth-generation model, the main target was the Toyota Camry, which is also a hybrid-only executive midsize sport saloon, and the main goal for this new model is to become Honda's most fuel-efficient car ever sold.

Beginning with Honda's new 2-motor hybrid system labeled under the Sport Hybrid banner: i-MMD or Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive...

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid speedometer

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

To recall; Sport Hybrid is a new name for Honda's advanced new hybrid systems, which belong to the Earth Dreams Technology series of high-performance, environmentally responsible powertrain technologies. Beginning now and in the future, there are three types of systems fell under the Sport Hybrid category; the first one having a 7-speed double clutch gearbox which we will expect on the future Honda Fit while the second one is the system that the 2014 Honda Accord's gonna have but we will explain later, which is the i-MMD. The last one and we will expect on the future NSX supercar or the future Honda Legend replacement is Sport Hybrid SH-AWD with three electric motors bolted to the car's backbone and its engine.

Anyway, the 2014 Accord Hybrid has the i-MMD system, which is part of the Sport Hybrid series, and how does Sport Hybrid i-MMD work? I'm gonna sound like James May for a moment so please bear with me. (ahem)

Sport Hybrid i-MMD uses three different engine modes to power the 2014 Accord such as EV Drive Mode, Hybrid Drive Mode, and Engine Drive Mode.

First, let's talk about EV Drive Mode and in this mode, it uses the lithium-ion battery, a first for its class, to provide power to its MF8 electric motor, which churns out 124kW of power, to run the vehicle. Ideal in off-the-line starts and low- to mid-speed cruising. Now, the Engine Drive Mode and as an opposite, only the 2.0L Atkinson Cycle DOHC i-VTEC engine kicks in and this engine produces about 143PS of power, less than the electric motor it produces, which is ideal for cruising. On the Hybrid Drive Mode, the LFA-MF8 engine-motor hybrid is in hindsight and combined output of 199PS of power is provided in the midst of acceleration purposes. When three different modes are swapped automatically, Sport Hybrid i-MMD helps the new Accord Hybrid reached its JC08 mode-measured fuel economy of 30kmpl, 6.6kmpl more than the Toyota Camry and more importantly, 2.8kmpl more than its cheaper little brother, the Honda Insight. This, in their records, as Honda's most fuel efficient model in the market as of now. Hmmm...

So, while this was officially Honda's most fuel efficient and some say it's a lot nicer to drive than the Honda Insight, what about safety?

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid

Of course, the new Accord still cares about the driver and passenger mode than the car itself and for that, Honda borrowed one of Volvo's books to create Collision Mitigation Brake System (CMBS), which is new for this model. CMBS is a radar-based auto-braking system in which when the system senses that the car is likely to hit one of these obstacles, a three stage process is initiated. First stage is the driver is alerted by visual and audible warnings, which was engaged 3 seconds before collision. Second stage is when the system senses that a collision is still likely (typically some 2 seconds before impact), three sharp tugs are given on the seat belt and the car automatically starts to apply some braking. Final stage is when a collision is unavoidable, CMBS tightens the front seat occupants’ seatbelts (using reversible tensioners different from the pyrotechnic devices used during the collision itself) and applies a high level of braking force. The result? It prevents rear-end collisions with vehicles which are stationary or travelling in the same direction but be warned because CMBS is not yet on while you're starting driving one. CMBS can be turned on or off by means of a dashboard mounted button. It will remain active as long as if its in the "on" button.

Having satisfied about CMBS, let's head out what is like to be a driver's car...

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid interior

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid interior

For the all new 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, this maybe not as nice to drive or as fast as its predecessors but it is safe and has everything what a "Ser Chief" would want. Wait a minute...Why did I said "sir chief"? Oh wait! Probably because the main demographic for this new model would be...wait for it...wait for it...a certain ser chief of all kinds, probably someone middle-aged. Anyway, for some Ser Chief to drive one, it has good gadgets, more space in the back thanks to its longer wheelbase, wooden trim, and enough headroom to accommodate anyone up to five foot tall. A certain Ser Chief in Japan asked me that a good sport saloon's interior needs to have the right equipment despite the pricing and this does actually quite well because it has Honda's InterNavi, decent audio system, automatic air conditioner, controls on the steering wheel, digital dashboard...pretty good.

The 2014 Accord Hybrid feels like its predecessors but it doesn't, probably because of its CVT gearbox that feels like it's been made by some clever Japanese who probably doesn't know the word fun. I know, I might be ended up whining and shouting with this gearbox but the CVT gearbox is quite smooth actually but as a concept, it's a bit Candy Crush-ish.

It's worth bearing in mind though that the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid starts at 3.65 million yen, that's 610,000 yen more than its Toyota Camry rival, which is annoyingly has more combined power output than the Accord. Pity but if you didn't mind the price difference and you owned one and ignore the gearbox, it's really not to bad. It's also rides nicely...(thud!) most of the time and...at this point, I'm running out of things to say about the new Accord Hybrid.

Available colors: Champagne Platinum Metallic, White Orchid Pearl, Premium Sparkle Black Pearl, Alabaster Silver Metallic, and Modern Steel Metallic.

PRICE LIST:

LX - 3,650,000 Yen
EX - 3,900,000 Yen

Photo: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.