Honda's flagship saloon makes a comeback into the Indian market today. The Accord, that was discontinued a couple of years ago is back in a Hybrid avatar. Unlike previous Accords that were assembled in India, this generation is a CBU (completely built unit), that retails for Rs 37 lakh, (ex-showroom, Delhi).


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Here are the highlights:


The Looks


The latest generation of the executive sedan is unmistakably Accord. The familiar friendly face now gets all-LED headlamps along with daytime running lamps. Notably, the newer Accord isn't as long or wide as its predecessor, but it is slightly taller. Other notable design elements include some lovely looking 19-inch alloy wheels and all-LED tail lamps. Since this is a hybrid, there are traces of the colour blue in the lamps and around the grille.


The Cabin


The interiors are as plush as ever, dressed in beige-black theme. Needless to say, it is loaded with tech. It gets not one but two screens on the centre console. The top screen functions as the multi-information display and the navigation, whereas the lower one handles infotainment duty. Honda have also equipped the Accord with blind spot detection, which means a camera mounted under the left wing mirror springs to life the moment you indicate left.


Other goodies include leather upholstery, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control and electrically adjustable front seats. Notably, the co-passenger seat can be moved forward or reclined from the rear, by using buttons mounted on the shoulder of the seat.


The Drive


The big Honda is powered by a 2.0-litre petrol motor paired with a 1.35kW electric powerhouse that belts out 215PS of power. The Accord gets three drive modes, namely EV, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive. Transmission duties are handled by an e-CVT gearbox, and ARAI certified fuel economy is rated at 23.1kmpl. We've already taken the Accord for a spin, follow this link for a full-blown review.


The Rivals


The D2 segment has been witnessing a slump of late, with SUVs heavily eating into their share. The Accord has just two rivals to take on - the Skoda Superb and the Toyota Camry.


Notably, other than the Honda, both cars are locally assembled, giving them an edge in pricing.


Source: CarDekho.com