Test drive: 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

There are worse things to be called than "boring". The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid V-6 is the first gas-electric hybrid that I've found to be boring. The whiz-bang technology has ceased to amaze me. The 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid V-6 is ready to be judged as an ordinary vehicle. For the $29,990 base price ($30,505 as tested), you get an Accord Sedan that behaves like an Accord Sedan, and will probably continue to behave like an Accord Sedan for all 3 years/36,000 miles of the basic warranty. Yawn.

First Glance

There’s little indication on the outside of the Accord Hybrid that there’s anything unusual going on under the hood. Small chrome letters spell out HYBRID on the right rear of the car, just beneath ACCORD. The four door version of the car is unassuming and stately, the very Platonic ideal of a mid-size sedan. Paint quality and finish are beyond reproach, and the spacing between body panels is uniform and clean. There’s nothing exciting about the styling of this car, but there’s nothing offensive about it either. The doors, hood and trunk all have a solid feel, and closing them offers a satisfying KA-CHUNK, far from the Hondas of old. Here in Los Angeles, it’s hard to throw a rock in traffic without hitting an Accord of some vintage. I tried an experiment while driving on the freeway. How long would my Accord be the only one in view? The answer, over the one hour of my experiment, was never. There was always at least one other Accord within my sight. Perhaps that’s why the Accord feels so generic to me, even though I’ve never owned one.

In the Driver's Seat

The generic feel continued inside the car. As I slid in behind the wheel of the Accord Hybrid, I was struck by the understated elegance of the interior. The eight-way power heated leather seats are supportive and amply sized. In contrast to some other recent cars I’ve tested, Honda has paid close attention to the details. The instrument panel is large, clear and well lit. A few subtle special gauges indicate when the electric motor is operating, when the batteries are charging and the state of charge. A small display gives real-time gas mileage figures with dual trip meters. A 100 watt, 6 speaker, 6 disc in dash CD changer with AM/FM/satellite radio sits prominently in the middle of a dash noteworthy for its use of unoccupied space. Without the optional navigation system installed, there’s a six inch square of empty space in the center cluster just below the climate controls, covered by a substantial brushed-aluminum-look door. In the space where an ashtray might have been, a cover opens to reveal a rubberized coin tray. Nice touches. Yet the Accord interior hits the same notes in me as Kenny G’s music -- it’s beautifully crafted, skillfully executed, yet completely without soul or humanity, and not to my taste.

On the Road

Driving the Accord Hybrid was an odd experience. The hybrid motor in the Accord is part of a set-up that Honda calls IMA or Integrated Motor Assist. The electric motor kicks in to help the gasoline motor perform more efficiently under high demand situations, like merging onto the freeway, giving the driver access to more power without sacrificing fuel economy. The Auto Stop feature kicks in at stoplights, completely shutting down the gasoline engine to conserve fuel. These are the same technologies used in the Civic Hyrbid, but with a substantially larger gasoline engine. The Accord Hybrid gets a 3.0 liter V6 just like the Accord LX V6, with the same 240 hp/212 lb-ft output. Add another 15 hp/20 lb-ft from the electric motor, and this Accord Hybrid rips. Jumping onto the freeway can be a hoot, and handling around the bends is assured and stable. Traction control, ABS and Honda’s electronic brake distribution system (EBD) keep the fun in check. At speed on the interstate, the Accord has a bit of a jittery feeling, a twitchy throttle reminiscent of the early days of electronic cruise control. I had a hard time maintaining a constant speed, and found the Accord less than confidence-inspiring in the long haul.

Journey's End

The big question with the 2005 Accord V-6 Hybrid hangs over my head -- how was the mileage? The EPA rates the vehicle at 29 mpg city/37 mpg highway, significantly better than the 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway of the conventional, gas only Accord V-6. Your mileage, as they say, may vary. Mine sure did. According to the Accord’s real-time mileage calculator, I got just over 23 miles to the gallon during my week with the Honda. To be fair to the Accord, my heavy right foot rarely delivers EPA estimates, and I would not consider my mileage to be typical. But that’s the fact, Jack. The Hybrid costs about $3,000 more than the gas-only Accord EX V-6 with similar levels of equipment. Is the Accord Hybrid the car for the driver who wants to have it all: performance, luxury and fuel economy? I’d be sure to check out the other mid-size offerings in the price range before buying, like the Toyota Camry, the Pontiac G6 and the Nissan Maxima. In a very competitive field, a serious test-drive is in order before you make any decisions. You should also do some serious math to figure out if $3,000 worth of technology will pay off for you. The Accord’s jittery freeway manners would keep me looking further.