Skip to main content

Honda’s Accord Hybrid is back with better gas mileage, more tech

After a one-year hiatus, the Honda Accord Hybrid is back with better fuel economy and technology borrowed from the rest of the recently revised Accord lineup. It will also be more widely available than the previous Accord Hybrid, which was well received but was never made available in large numbers.

The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid will achieve 48 mpg combined (49 mpg city, 47 mpg highway), according (pun not intended) to its maker. Honda says these figures are based on a new, more stringent testing regime the EPA will introduce for the 2017 model year. Based on the new rules, the 2017 model boasts increases of 1 mpg combined, 1 mpg city, and 2 mpg highway over the previous Accord Hybrid.

Recommended Videos

That efficiency is made possible by an updated version of Honda’s novel hybrid powertrain, which doesn’t use a conventional transmission. In “Hybrid Drive” mode, the 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine powers an electric motor/generator to recharge the battery pack, while a second motor actually drives the wheels. The engine can also connect to the drive motor in “Engine Drive” mode to help drive the wheels directly, and there’s an “EV Drive” mode that allows all-electric driving for very short distances.

Total system output is 212 horsepower, an increase of 16 hp over the last Accord Hybrid. A more compact lithium-ion battery pack also yields extra trunk space, now up to 13.5 cubic feet. The Accord Hybrid gets some of the styling changes the rest of the Accord lineup received for 2016, including a new grille. Hybrid-specific elements include model-specific wheels, a slightly different hood, and blue-tinted LED lighting.

On the inside, the Accord Hybrid gets an extra dose of tech. Like other Accord models, it’s now available with a Display Audio system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, plus a wide-angle rearview camera, remote engine start, and the Honda Sensing suite of safety features. This bundles automatic braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, and forward collision warning.

The last Accord Hybrid suffered from production bottlenecks, but Honda is increasing production capacity for what it hopes will be increased sales. It wants to double sales from the car’s previous best of just 14,000 units in 2014. The 2017 Accord Hybrid should arrive in showrooms soon, with pricing to be announced at a later date.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
The best gas mileage SUVs
2019 nissan kicks review feat

With diesel-powered models largely out of the picture, the most fuel-efficient new SUVs available in the U.S. are all hybrids. Electrified technology remains expensive, though, so it's not an option that suits every budget. Luckily, there are some SUVs, such as the affordable and unique 2020 Nissan Kicks, that return excellent fuel economy without needing to carry around a bulky battery pack.
The best mileage overall: 2020 Nissan Kicks
The Nissan Kicks gets 33 mpg combined. Image used with permission by copyright holder

What’s its mileage: 33 mpg combined, 31 mpg city, 36 mpg highway.

Read more
2020 Toyota Camry vs. 2020 Honda Accord
2020 Toyota Camry

The decades-old Toyota Camry versus Honda Accord rivalry is alive and well in 2020. Both sedans are increasingly overshadowed by the crossovers they share showroom space with, but they remain wildly popular and are common sights all across America. In 2019, the Camry was America's eighth-bestselling car (336,978 units), and the Accord fell to the 11th spot (267,567 units). Here's how these two sedans compare on paper, and how they're different.
Tech features

1.
2020 Toyota Camry TRD
2.
2020 Honda Accord

Read more
Archer’s flying taxis head to LA for the 2028 Olympics
archer air taxi la28 inglewood aerial a final

Remember the buzz about flying taxis zipping through Paris for the 2024 Olympics? That sci-fi fantasy never got off the ground —Germany’s Volocopter dream was denied certification, leaving fans staring at the same old ground traffic. But now, the skies are opening again for a second shot at glory—this time over Los Angeles.
Archer Aviation, the California-based electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company, has been named the exclusive air taxi provider for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Archer’s Midnight aircraft, a piloted electric air taxi designed to carry four passengers, will be whisking around VIPs, fans, and stakeholders between venues and key locations like LAX, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and even Orange County. Think 10-20 minute flights that skip the infamous LA gridlock and land you right where the action is—on the roof, basically.
“We want to transform the way people get around Los Angeles and leave a legacy that shapes the future of transportation in America. There’s no better time to do that than during the LA28 Games,” said Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer Aviation.
And Midnight isn’t just a pretty rotor. It’s a whisper-quiet, emission-light aircraft with 12 rotors and a redundant, airline-level safety design.
What’s more, Archer and LA28 are working together to electrify vertiport hubs around the city—think futuristic sky stations—to serve not only Games-time needs but also to plant seeds for a post-Olympic air mobility network.
The air mobility market has been fast developing over the past few years, featuring the likes of Hyundai partnership with China’s XPeng HT Aero and Toyota's backing of Joby Aviation, a U.S. venture. Joby bought Uber Elevate in 2020, hoping to someday pair its air taxis with Uber’s ride-hailing app.
Archer, for its part, has been busy building a strategic partnership with United Airlines, which has already placed orders for the aircraft and is helping with logistics to integrate air taxis into airport-to-downtown travel. More than a demo for the cameras, the LA28 partnership will showcase urban air travel for real-world daily use, starting with one of the most high-profile events on Earth.
After raising false hopes in Paris, the air taxi dream is aiming for liftoff in LA—and this time, it might just stick the landing.

Read more