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Honda’s 11th-generation Accord sedan is officially on sale and it’s a more exclusive model than it has ever been in the past.
Kicking off from $64,900 drive-away in the single e:HEV RS petrol-electric hybrid grade, the new Accord is $3000 more expensive than the outgoing previous-gen hybrid. Honda is not offering a petrol grade this time around.
The new model is much pricier than the highest-grade Toyota Camry Hybrid SL that starts at $51,417 before on-road costs, however Honda says the Accord is packed with standard gear. Also, the Camry is about to be replaced with a new-gen model in a couple of months and could well increase in price.
Moving further away from mainstream offerings like the Camry, Mazda6, Skoda Octavia and Hyundai Sonata N Line, the Accord is edging into premium territory now and is closer in price to the all-electric BYD Seal Premium ($58,798), as well as the Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti ($69,950), Lexus ES300h hybrid Luxury ($65,540), Volvo S60 Ultimate B5 ($69,990).
These rival’s prices do not include on-road costs, whereas the Honda’s pricing is drive-away.
Under the bonnet is the same two-motor hybrid system found in the new CR-V e:HEV RS, and that means a refined 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, two electric motors and an E-CVT driving the front wheels.
The total system output is 135kW of power and 335Nm of torque - which is more torque but the same power figure as the outgoing hybrid’s outputs of 135kW/315Nm. Fuel use is 4.3 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined cycle.
For the first time in a Honda model in Australia, the four-door, five-seat Accord includes Google built into its operating system, allowing access to Google Assistant, Google Maps, apps and services from Google Play and more.
Most of this is housed in the new larger 12.3-inch colour multimedia display - the largest ever in a Honda - which also houses audio and air-con controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.
Other new tech includes a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a redesigned 11.5-inch head-up display. An Experience Selection Dial allows you to select a driver profile depending on your mood, and that incorporates air-con, audio, and lighting.
A 12-speaker Bose audio system is standard, and the Accord benefits from over-the-air updates. Honda Connect features an app that allows users to start and even drive the car (not far, obviously), as well as controlling locking functions.
It comes with 18-inch aluminium wheels as standard and is offered in four colours only - Lunar Silver and Meteoroid Grey Metallic, and Platinum White and Crystal Black Pearlescent.
Finally, the Accord features a lengthy list of safety equipment, including auto emergency braking with nighttime pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycle detection, ‘Road Departure Mitigation System’, adaptive cruise control with low-speed following, lane keep assist, traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, cross-traffic monitor and a driver attention monitor.
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