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Honda considering cutting Accord hybrid production

Honda considering cutting Accord hybrid production

Posted Apr 14th 2006 5:05PM

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According to Dick Colliver, executive vice president of Honda, the automaker may dial back production of its mid-sized Accord hybrid later this year, due to slow sales. He has declined to give specific figures.

Reportedly, Colliver believes the reason for low consumer interest in the model could lie with the fact that it pairs its electric power with a larger six-cylinder powerplant. The executive believes that buyers may feel that such a package doesn't optimize fuel economy in the same way as a smaller four-cylinder hybrid might. Colliver notes that sales of the hybrid Civic remain strong as proof of this. Even the Insight, Honda's smallest hybrid, enjoyed a sales increase of 15 percent last year.

What do you think... why are consumers souring on the Accord Hybrid? Speak your mind in the 'comments.'

[Source: Associated Press via Detroit Free Press]

Category: Car Buying, Trends, Hybrid, Sedan, Green, Plants/Manufacturing, Honda

Tags: Accord, Civic, Insight, low sales

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jim

I think there are a number of reasons -

1 Lack of advertising/press - everyone I know has heard about the honda civic - when I asked about the hybid accord at a few dealerships - the salespeople knew nothing about them! They had to find out if they had any!

2 Not great MPG - while the accord hybrid isn't bad, it would have to get at least 5 more MPG for people to consider it.

3. Lack of hybrid refinement. The batteries are the older style and there is no plug-in option. If these were changed out, it might get 5-10 more MPG.

4. Price. It would have to drop about $3,000 for people to get interested - in my opinion.

5. Lack of spare tire. A lot of people don't feel comfortable driving a car without a spare - if you shred your tire - you are hosed.

6. MPG not good enough to drive in the HOV lane like the prius and civic.

Mind you - I am very interested in a car with good power like the accord but I'd really want at least 40mpg before I trade in my car for a hybrid.

July 03 2006 at 10:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

OblilbO

The purpose of the Accord Hybrid was for Honda to profit from all the Hollywood "John Travolta" hysteria that was going on around the original Toyota Prius...and to offer a premium V6 engine with the fuel economy of a 4 cyl.
Apparently, greenies don't want to settle for typical 4 cyl economy for $30K, and more importantly, people are finally sick of listening to John Travolta and his Hypocritical Hollywood Co-Horts talk about "saving the planet" while zooming across the nation every week in private jets burning up fuel and polluting the air like the rest of us only dream of.

And for eye candy...
http://www.turkishwrestling.com

May 16 2006 at 1:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

George B

The Honda Accord Hybrid is simply too expensive vs. its image value. It offers little beyond a standard somewhat ugly EX-V6 Accord to justify an Acura price. A used Acura TL is a much better, more attractive, performance car for the same money. In contrast, the Toyota Prius provides a destinct image and some advantages in urban stop-and-go traffic at a fairly affordable price.

May 12 2006 at 8:55 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

boe

I think the reason is the lack of availability. I went to several dealerships and they didn't have any and I was told you have to order them - no way for me to test drive them. I finally found one about 40 miles from my home. It felt fine to me. I did notice a chugging feeling at a stop like the brakes weren't engaged properly.

I would buy an acura TL in the fall if the new model was hybrid - same engine as the accord but included the updated navigation that the accord got but for some reason the TL didn't this year.

Of course if I'm smart, I'll wait for the new 09 models that hopefully will include the updated batteries that are doing very well in the prototype prius.

May 11 2006 at 3:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Richard

Hopefully when the Accord is redesigned in the next 2-3 years, they'll team the 4cyl with the hybrid technology. I think that's what people really want. If this was done back when the accord hybrid debuted, probably the accord would be the best selling car in the country, and not the camry. it should be interesting to see if the newly designed camry (which is either a love or hate design) still retains its crown this year.
With the accord v6 hybrid, i think honda had a good idea, in that they thought Americans would want V6 power with 4cyl gas mileage....the idea of getting something for nothing

April 27 2006 at 2:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mike Chesley

Often overlooked is the premium added to the MSRP by Honda dealers. Typically their "value added" premium brings the price before options to near $37k - well beyond the price point already calculated by Honda in the MSRP. The manufacturer and distribution channels have conflicting objectives...this is killing sales.

April 26 2006 at 5:42 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lance Funston

The comments that seem most astute here point to the poor compromise between fuel economy, cost, and performance. The Accord would have been a strong performer with a VTEC 4cyl and hybrid system and kept the car under $30K. Toyota has gotten the right balance with the Camry.

The hybrid performance Acura seems it would have been a much better bet: either the TSX or TL. Of course the real gaping hole in the product line for Honda is still a hybrid SUV (Pilot, Element or CR-V).

April 24 2006 at 4:22 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Jim

I guess I'm an unusual person. I thought the Accord Hybrid was one of the best ideas ever, although sales figures seem to indicate the public doesn't agree (or maybe doesn't know? Anyone ever seen an Accord hybrid ad?). A car which is fast (major plus, imho), and reasonably efficient (not too far off the 4 cylinder gas mileage), has ability to run off three cylinders, using the electric motor to supplement rather than engaging the other three when possible, electric A/C to keep the car cool at stop lights... really cool technology, imho. Yes, it might be nice if it could run in all electric mode, ala new Civic or prius, but that would require a pretty large motor and some hefty batteries. But it would also afford the possibility of plugging the car in to save fuel.

- Jim

April 20 2006 at 9:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

MikeW

Well somebody tell toyota that an inline 4 and IVT transmission with 2 electric motors are NOT going to fit.

Honda needs better transmissions. The 6 speed lepelletier automatics are damn small. The cutaway of the 6 speed from the ES350 show how the 6 speed automatic is smaller than the old 5 speed the ES330 used.

April 16 2006 at 10:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ted

#36 John I really doubt that Honda _could_not_ have built a 4cyl economy-oriented Accord. Sure they may have had to move stuff around, but, big deal. There's going to be a lot of changes in a hybrid version. Also "shutting off" cylinders really isn't that big of a benefit, regardless of what the Prius owners say.

#24 Rutger has a good point.

#17 David, no, the lexus hybrids will, in all likelyhood, flop pathetically. Those things don't even sell well here were everyone is nuts about hybrids

#18 Chris, who care about "true hybrid" names? It's about results, remember? Civic Hybrid is topping Prius in real-world MPG without turning off the gas engine. Ever stop to think that there could be a downside to that? Ever think that it really doesn't take much gas to hold an engine at idle?

April 16 2006 at 12:08 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply