Reader Review of the Week: 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid
Not many people have purchased the Honda Accord Hybrid. In fact, the company recently said it has no plans to produce a hybrid version of the new 2008 model when it debuts this fall. For all those folks out there looking to buy a 2007 Accord, Ron from Pasadena, Calif., offers his take on the hybrid version he bought in February. As always, you can review your own car too, right here.
“In February 2007, I traded in my Audi A4 for a Honda Accord Hybrid. I was really impressed by the test drive, as the car seemed real smooth (more like a Buick than a Honda) along with 253 horses, which did a lot for this real light Honda. I drove SUVs for many years and switched to an Audi to save some money on gas and get some performance. Soon I got tired of my Audi and wanted to experience some comfort and some real good gas mileage. That's why I turned to a 253-hp hybrid.
However, initially, I got real low mileage and was really disappointed. I went on a few discussion forums and found out that the driving patterns really do make a difference in the mileage. I started driving slightly above the speed limit (70 to 75 on freeway) and got approximately 30 mpg for a while.
Overall, this car is real quick off the bat, as it has a strong engine and a real light body. Of course, it does not seem as stable as the Audi and the handling is not that great, but it is a comfortable car designed, made and put together in Japan, unlike the rest of the Hondas. I would recommend this car to friends if they can afford the price tag and don't care much for looks. If your focus is on looks rather than reliability and functionality, you can go with something like a Chrysler 300C.”
Ron, Pasadena, Calif.
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MPG is not easy to change if driving style stays the same.
I've seen someone can make a 07 Civic to have only 19mpg in 84% city and 16% highway driving. While I have constantly achieved 34mpg in 100% city driving before the break-in period is over.
The vehicle was rated 30/40 by the EPA.
But it all comes down to how the driver drives it. If you just floor it whenever the light turns green and race all the way to the red light before slowing down with heavy braking, even the best rated vehicle will give poor results.
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I'm looking at a possible purchase of a Toyota Matrix. Does anyone have experience with that model? Does it get the mileage it claims?
This is very true as I drive an 07 Accord V6 and get really good gas mileage since I have changed my driving habits going only slightly above the speed limit and not rushing from light to light while in the city has yielded me great mileage So maybe things are not as bad as we all think in the MPG world if we all just change our driving habits
Sony,
Great that you saw the same picture that I've seen.
However, if everyone is just that easily to change, I wouldn't be honked, highlight flashed, or fingered everytime I accelerate from a dead stop.
I've had my 07 Accord Hybrid for 3 months now. I average 25 mpg. I can live with that, although I thought it would be more. The service folks tell me it gets better as the engine breaks in, but I am not sure I believe them. When the car performs properly, I love the drive and the ride. But it does a couple of annoying performance things. It frequently starts from idle feeling as if it is under a load up until the time it shifts into second. It then hesitates, I get a little thud or clunk like sound, then it sort of pops and takes off into second. This happens a lot. The second thing that happens is more irregular. At highway speeds it sometimes feels as though the IMA or transmission is trying to decide what gear it wants to be in. It makes for a ride that is not smooth, and was worrisome enough for me to take it into the dealer for diagnostics and test drives. When I picked it up they told me this is normal. I found that odd, particularly in relation to the second event, because it is not something that happens all the time. If I knew then what I know now, I would not have purchased this car. I'm not sure how long I will keep it, and I pray that I didn't make a $35,000 mistake, where the value plummets.