The advent of direct fuel injection and other technological innovations has closed the gap between hybrids and conventional gasoline-powered cars. Honda still believes that there’s an advantage to electric engine assist though, and proves it with the 2014 Accord Hybrid. Just going into production in Ohio, the new Accord Hybrid sports a city fuel economy rating of 50 miles per gallon, and backs that up with 47mpg on the highway.
For a car this size, that’s stunning. Honda claims a diesel-like 673-mile fuel range as well. The Accord Hybrid features a two-motor hybrid system that provides a wider range of electric-only cruising and a smaller engine–the Accord Hybrid is powered by a 2.0 liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder.
All of the goodness of the current Accord is also a part of the package, from the quiet, comfortable cabin and excellent road manners to the luxury-car amenities including a blind spot display, lane departure warning and cloud-based infotainment connectivity.
The new Accord Hybrid goes on sale alongside the conventional Accord and Accord plug-in hybrid this October.