Honda Accord Hybrid 2005: The Weekly Driver Review-Honda

If there are any reservations among consumers about the overall worthiness of hybrid vehicles, the 2005 Honda Accord has done its part to end the apprehension.

The Accord hybrid — which joined the Civic and Insight hybrid models this year — is a high-performance, fuel-efficient, well-designed and spacious addition to the more than two-dozen available configurations of the exceedingly popular Accord.

The hybrid shares all of the upside attributes of the gas engine Accord. But it also features a surprisingly quick 255-horsepower three-liter, V6 engine. And, of course, it offers the benefits of substantially increased gas mileage via its Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) electronic systems.

My test drive for the week was the four-door sedan that included every available Accord option, including leather seats, a navigation system and XM satellite radio. With its nicely toned silver pearl metallic exterior, perfectly complementary gray, leather interior, 16-inch alloy wheels and classic Accord body style, the hybrid is one sharp-looking sedan.

For years, Accords have received high marks in many design and functionality categories. The hybrid version only confirms the reasons for the praise. Its front and rear-seat room is plentiful and comfortable and its controls and instrumentation are attractive. The hybrid model does have 2.8 cubic feet less trunk space than other Accord sedans, but the available area is still adequate.

More impressive is the hybrid's performance. During my one-week's tenure with the car, I made many around-the-town treks in which the hybrid's quick acceleration, responsiveness and fuel-economy high ratings were readily apparent. The hybrid has a 7.5-second, 0-60 mph designation, for example. And at stop signs and stop lights, the engine's gas to electric transition idle stop function provides an appreciably quiet waiting period.

I also took the vehicle (and a friend) on a 180-mile round-trip trek from Sacramento to San Francisco, and that's where the vehicle performed particularly well.

In bumper-to-bumper traffic, while accelerating to change lanes or when reacting suddenly to an erratic driver's moves, the hybrid was in charge. It's quick, it steers with precision, and it provides a quiet, confident ride.

With its efficient, well-designed and easy-to-use navigation system and quality CD and satellite radio features, the Accord hybrid is matched well against its formidable competition, including the Chevrolet Malibu, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry.

The Accord hybrid does not come cheap, though. The fuel-efficient option adds a $3,000 premium to the Accord's high-end base price and pushes the vehicle into the $30,000 price range. Its one option package is the navigation system and that adds another $2,000.

As a result, paying more than $32,000 for a Honda Accord warrants some additional hesitancy while comparison shopping.

But if the manufacturer's estimated yearly fuel cost of $842 and the estimated mileage averages of 29 (city) and 37 (highway) are reasonably accurate, the increased purchase price should be neutralized by a potential buyer with environmental concerns and with long-term ownership plans.

2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

Safety features — Driver and front passenger dual-stage front, side and side curtain airbags; ABS brakes.

Fuel Mileage (estimates) — 29 mpg (city), 37 mpg (highway).

Warranty — Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powerpack, 8 years/100,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.

Base price — $30,140.00.

Honda

Honda Civic Hybrid 2006 (Voted Best Car of the Year, 2005)-Honda New York

Honda is a company that has build a great reputation over time for reliability and trustworthiness, and is without any question of doubt one of the most popular names on the auto market today. Because they are so popular, it’s no surprise why there are many certified used car dealers around for them too.
Honda has also joined the race to produce cars for the environmentally conscious among us or those who are just frugal about fuel. One such car that will save money on gas, even if it does cost a bit extra to purchase, is the newly revealed 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid.
The very new 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid already has a great reputation. In 2005, it was voted as Best Car of the Year by Car and Driver, and that was not the only award it received in 2005 either. The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid is a new kind of auto developed only in the past couple of years.
How it works is that it has a small internal combustion gas engine in the front of the vehicle which is smaller than other cars. The engine builds up electricity to power electric motors. These motors can accelerate the car more economically than can a regular car powered by just a gas engine. The reason is because normally, acceleration guzzles a heap of gas, but on the 2006 Honda Hybrid, the gas engine doesn't have to work so hard when gathering speed. What happens is the electric motors power the car by using the energy already stored up by the engine while breaking or at ticking over, and the result of this is that considerably less gas is used and there comes the economy.
Some of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrids can get as much as 40 to 50 miles on a gallon of fuel or more. That is more than double the mileage of many conventional cars on the roads today! And with the rising cost of petrol, although you have to pay a pretty penny for a new Honda Hybrid, this motor quickly saves you so much money in the long run
For a person like me, this is a perfect model. As a businessman who travels a lot, I can effortlessly notch up hundreds of miles in a week on my car’s odometer, and often more. In addition, traveling between the great states, I often have to drive through mountainous areas, which, for a regular car does just dreadful things for your mileage and fuel economy. Ahh, but with my 2006 Honda Hybrid, it's nothing. Those clever electric engines handle the speeding up and deceleration with hardly a noticeable increase in additional consumption. You see, what they have to use up on the climb, they simply make up for on the downhill part of the trip.
It has to be said that I love my 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid car. It's just so much better than the gas guzzler I used to have, which was a 2000 Jaguar XJR, and although it was just heaven in comfort and style, I reached a point in my life where style wasn’t the only important consideration anymore. Nowadays, I'm trying to save some money, and to think about the environment a little more.

Honda Civic and Accord-Honda New York

There are two names that define Honda cars more than any other: Civic and Accord. Sure, newer models have sprung up including the CR-V, Element, Insight, Ridgeline, Odyssey, and more. Yet, it is these two heralded models that continue to make up the backbone of the famed Japanese automaker even to this day. Let’s look at the history of the Civic and Accord and how these models have brought Honda to where it is today: a seller of vehicles espousing world class quality and affordability.
The Honda Civic has graced American roads since the early 1970s. For years it attracted quiet notice as it was truly a “mini” amongst giants. Consumers had pet names for the car including –- “pregnant roller skate” –- yet the car began to quickly attract a loyal following. Indeed, with two fuel shortages popping up in the 1970s the gas sipping Civic caught on for its economy as well as for its reliability. To this day, 30 year old plus Civics can still be seen around town as owners carefully maintain their vehicles with the highest quality Honda Civic parts. Today’s Civics, although larger than their predecessors continue to receive accolades including receiving an all around five star safety rating from the NHTSA.
In the early 1980s Honda introduced the Accord, a five passenger sedan. With the opening of Honda’s first US automotive plant in 1982, the Accord quickly established itself as a segment darling with consumers. By 2001, the Accord became the best selling car in the US, bypassing the ever popular Toyota Camry. Since then, the two cars have been the top sellers in the U.S. Well crafted Honda Accord parts are keeping even the most classic Accord on the road today. Indeed, it is this level of quality and reliability which continues to make Honda cars a world leader in value as well as dependability.
So, whether you own an older Accord or Civic or one of Honda’s many newer models you can keep your car running for years by purchasing reliable Honda Civic radiators and other parts as needed. Honda reliability and dependability are trademarks of this esteemed Japanese automaker and all of their models are certain to continue to be world class performers for many more years.
Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for Car Parts Stuff, an online supplier of high quality and well priced automobile parts.