First Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid

One week.

Nearly 1,000 kilometres.

A fuel economy average of 5.8 L/100 km.

This is the summary of my time with the 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid, a car that, for roughly $6,000 more than a base gas-powered Accord, will burn about 2.5 litres less per 100 kilometres of combined city and highway driving.

But does the improved mileage make the fuel-sipping sedan worth a look?

Well that all depends on how much driving you do—and where you do it.

Like most other vehicles that are motivated by a combination of internal combustion and electricity, and specifically those with continuously-variable transmissions, the Accord Hybrid burns more fuel on the highway than it does around town.

It’s in the city that this Accord really shines, sipping as little as 4.7 L/100 km while remaining about as quiet as a church mouse under electric power.

And with room for four adults, it’s a no-brainer for a city driver looking to save at the pumps.

Speaking of which, I didn't have to stop at many gas pumps in the Accord Hybrid.

It's no secret that the fuel economy numbers that appear on a car's window sticker versus what drivers see in real world driving often varies, even with Natural Resources Canada’s new test methods for the 2015 model year.

And while that’s the case in the Accord Hybrid—numbers from Honda claim a combined 5 L/100 km—the 5.8 L/100 km I saw was still impressive considering the amount of driving I did on major highways, where speed is determined more by the flow of traffic than the signs on the shoulder.

Sticking to secondary highways for a few hundred kilometres with a little bit of city driving thrown in the mix saw a return of a combined 5.3 L/100 km—bang-on the highway consumption rating provided by Honda.

It was the 600-kilometre roundtrip journey between Toronto and Kingston, Ont., that added half-a-litre to my week’s average, leaving me with a still-impressive 5.8 L/100 km.

By comparison, that’s still less than the rating of an Accord sedan with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder under the hood—6.5 L/100 km—but those drivers that rely on the highway for commuting may want to stick to internal combustion in spite of the favourable fuel economy.

Acceleration in the hybrid car can be pretty abysmal without truly mashing the skinny pedal, and, like most hybrids on the market, the switch from electric drive to gas power and back is clunky and more noticeable on the highway, while power lag can be a touch annoying when passing.

Chalk it up to the car's combined output of 196 horsepower, the bulk of which comes from its 2.0-litre Atkinson Cycle inline four-cylinder, which makes a peak of 141 horsepower at 6,200 rpm.

And with only 122 lb.-ft. of torque on tap, moving the 3,600-lb. sedan from a standstill can be quite the task for the tiny powerplant.

Despite the shortcomings, the Accord Hybrid is a nice driver, with its reactive dampers absorbing road imperfections with ease.

Likewise, the brakes will stop on a dime, though their regenerative capability makes them a little tricky to get used to, and the car a bit jerky until you do.

Honda knows that hybrids are a tough sell regardless of the impressive fuel economy, and has responded with a well-equipped base car to entice buyers.

The base Accord Hybrid gets standard features like Honda’s LaneWatch, proximity key entry and a push-button start, which only enter the fray on comparably priced gas-powered Accord trims.

Step up to the Touring model and its $36,000 price tag, and the Accord Hybrid is decked out about as well as its top-of-the-line V6-powered sibling, with safety features like lane departure warning and forward collision warning, and amenities like heated front and rear leather seats, a power moonroof, and a satellite navigation system with voice recognition.

While not overly complicated, the system, which runs through HondaLink, proved a touch finicky, particularly on the road when trying to change destinations on the fly.

The sedan’s cargo volume also comes up a little short, with its trunk, at 360 litres in the base trim and 350 litres in Touring garb, about 90 litres smaller than comparable gas-powered models thanks to its battery pack.

Regardless, the Accord Hybrid is a well-rounded package that offers a whole lot of economy and comfort for a relatively small premium over its gas-powered sibling.

Hybrids are still a tough sell in the marketplace, but this car should make it a little easier.

Base price: $29,990

As tested: $37,964.75