Is this the part where I'm supposed to say "wow"?
So there's now a Honda Accord hybrid car.
Which starts at $30,990 retail.
And gets 34 mpg highway/25 mpg city.
For many years I owned a 1987 Volkswagen Golf. It also got 34 mpg on the highway, but more like 28 in the city. And it wasn't a hybrid. It burned straight unleaded, no chaser.
And I bought it new for $18,858 in today's dollars.
So what, exactly, is Honda's point here?
Comments (3)
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I agree that the efficiency of the new hybrid Accord leaves something to be desired, but I think you're ignoring several important facts in your comparison.
First, the average price of a car has increased significantly since 1987, so simply translating the cost of your Golf into today's dollars doesn't tell the whole story. The average Golf today probably costs over $20,000.
Second, you're comparing a compact hatch with a mid-size sedan, so you could expect to pay more for the extra room (and safety, and features, and horsepower, etc.). It also takes a more efficient engine to propel a larger, heavier car while getting similar gas-mileage.
Third, I imagine Honda wants you to buy their hybrids not just because it will save you some gas money. You're supposed to want to hug trees and save the environment and stuff, too. Your 1987 Golf wasn't doing the environment many favors.
Personally, I'd still take the Golf. I'm a dub-lover. ;-)
Posted on April 18, 2006 10:24 AM
I was always under the impression that with hybrids the fuel mileage was better in the city as a result of less power needs thus greater use of electric fuel source in stop & go traffic. This appears not to be the case with the Accord.
I have a Mercury midsize car, v-6, that gets 21 in town and 29 on the highway (driving speed limit) and is 6 years old.
Seems like an awful lot of money for such a small car that doesn't perform well on the mileage side. I wonder though, is the EPA mileage estimate conservative?
I have a friend who's got a Volkswagen diesel car (Passat or Jetta?), '90s model, that gets 50 mpg on the highway, 30s in town. He fills it up 1.5 times a month. German technology is incredible.
Posted on April 18, 2006 11:46 AM
The Accord is not really a small car. It's Honda's midsized family car. The Taurus killer.
The thing about the hybrid Accord is that it delivers excellent performance while maintaining decent mileage and, importantly, low to zero emissions around town.
I think the performance numbers on the hybrid Accord are better than on the all gas one. Quicker and more powerful, if I recall.
Posted on April 19, 2006 2:28 AM