Motor Trend: Honda Accord Hybrid vs. Camry Hybrid

[BEI]

They like TCH much more

[

[Avalonman]

Wow...

[ECHOKnight2000]

I'd figure the Camry would win. I knew that the Accord "Hybrid" was more of a performance car with an electric engine to assist similar to the Toyota Highlander and RX350. Toyota could have easily cashed in and make a "performance Hybrid." I'm glad they didn't as I'm sure a lot of people are. I agree with Motor Trend in that Toyota will need to step up hybrid production, this is a no brainer, not only is it NOT overpriced like the Honda its an actual hybrid and most importantly its a Camry. I read in some posts people were disapointed that the base 4cly only got a modest boost, well think of it, they have the Hybrid which is around the same horsepower as the previous gen V6 Camry, at least the old 3.0Ltr. They can't crowd their options as far as engine options go, so its perfect, you have a base, the hybrid and then the top of line performance engine. Glad Motor Trend liked it, I do too!!

Avalonman, are you going to keep your Avalon and have a Camry as well? What year is your Avalon? If you have both you can be AvalonCamryMan...sweet! Which model Camry were you looking at? When you find what you want I'm sure some of us, at least me would love to hear about your buying experience as well as your review on the car and your impressions.

[Avalonman]

Originally Posted by ECHOKnight2000

Avalonman, are you going to keep your Avalon and have a Camry as well? What year is your Avalon? If you have both you can be AvalonCamryMan...sweet! Which model Camry were you looking at? When you find what you want I'm sure some of us, at least me would love to hear about your buying experience as well as your review on the car and your impressions.

Well, I gave the Avalon to a person in need of a car (my cousin) and I plan on getting the Hybrid (Atlanta Commute is Terrible!) But, It'll be a while. Right now, I am borrowing a 2002 Camry SE V6, And just hit over 500,000 miles. So, I can't do much to it.

[geo241]

We have taken delivery of our second Prius as of this past Monday evening; our 2004 fully loaded original is now residing in Cupertino as the commute vehicle for my wife's brother. Our new 2006 is an option 8, Barcelona Red with grey interior and now also has grey sheepskin covers on the front seats.

We are FIRST on the delivery list for a 2007 Camry Hybrid color to be determined but with the more beige shaded interior and probably the beige exterior, fully loaded.

Here in Sacramento, I can eagerly recommend Folsom Lake Toyota and their fleet/internet sales manager, Toby Liu. We have purchased at least 4 cars from him and sent at least another 10-15 friends there, and everyone has reported most positively. As fleet sales manager HE sets the prices and there is no shuffling back and forth to a "closer" at all.

My wife's brother has come up about 200 miles (from Oakdale) to buy his Prius and just two weeks ago, a Highlander Hybrid from Toby at Folsom Lake.

Of course, there are waits, but Toby is still selling the Prius at something like $1000 UNDER MSRP and even better "deals" on the base Highlander Hybrid, I believe.

I am not sure what he is going to be asking for a Camry Hybrid, but I suspect one should be able to negotiate that model for AT LEAST $1000 under MSRP for early orders anyway.

I am really looking forward to the Camry with the smart key, GPS and Bluetooth electronics, as I have been really spoiled by the Prius features. I am currently driving a 2004 VW Passat GLX AWD wagon, and it seems "crude" compared to the wonderful electronics in the Prius. Of course on a cold night the heated seats in the Passat are most rewarding, but that is a feature of the Camry Hybrid !!!

George
Sacramento

[aznstylez]

One thing is that the Accord Hybrid is a V6 instead of an I4 which is why the Accord only gets 34.5mpg at 70mph while the Camry gets 40mpg. Mid 20s for Accord V6 and Camry gets around 30mpg around the city. That's a big disappointment for me. If there's gonna be a V6 Camry Hybrid, it might be around $30k.

Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 7.9 0-60? A second slower than the Accord Hybrid. I might choose Toyota over the Honda but I would only choose the Honda because their mirrors fold. If Toyota had folding mirrors, I would buy them, but since they don't, it is not worth it.

Toyota Camry Hybrid isn't expected by Toyota to sell a lot, but I think the Hybrid will sell more than what they predicted.

[aznstylez]

tdt59512:
I hope you didn't expect a 6.9sec from an 4cylinder hybrid Camry that only pushes 192hp. the Camry is a heavy car also. The Accord hybrid has a V6 engine with 253hp which is why it's 0-60 is 6.9sec. I just hope that the V6 Camry comes with the hybrid also, it would be arse whooping. the thing is that it might be in the $30k though.

[xpeed]

You really shouldn't scan and paste their articles online in forums, it could cause trouble for the forum if they found it. It goes against their copyrights. But yeah, I have the magazing, and it's really a no brainer, Toyota's hybrids are much better than Hondas.

[drunken_panda]

Originally Posted by Avalonman

Well, I gave the Avalon to a person in need of a car (my cousin) and I plan on getting the Hybrid (Atlanta Commute is Terrible!) But, It'll be a while. Right now, I am borrowing a 2002 Camry SE V6, And just hit over 500,000 miles. So, I can't do much to it.

500,000 Miles? Thats a lot.

[Tideland Prius]

Hey, an 8-sec 4 cylinder hybrid that gets 40mpg ain't bad. It's a bigger car and heavier too.

[drunken_panda]

I bet they will come out with a V6. After all the Camry, Highlander, Sienna, and RX all share the same V6 and they all have Hybrids. Since they already have the battery location sorted out, it shouldnt be too bad in swapping one in.

[xpeed]

Originally Posted by drunken_panda

I bet they will come out with a V6. After all the Camry, Highlander, Sienna, and RX all share the same V6 and they all have Hybrids. Since they already have the battery location sorted out, it shouldnt be too bad in swapping one in.

The Camry Hybrid only offers I-4 with the system, having a V6 Hybrid for the Camry will be pointless since their purpose was to make a midsized sedan hybrid more fuel efficient, not performance. The Lexus can vouch for Toyota for that problem. Lexus' main point in selling their hybrids are to promote more performance. They all share the Hybrid Synergy Drive system, but Lexus uses it as their advantage for more performance and fuel economy at the same time. This includes the upcoming GS450H, LS600H, and the RX400H. As Motor Trend Magazine saids "Does Lexus need an AMG division?" Which I think using their hybrid lineup as their own AMG lineup will be a cool promotion, where you get performance and fuel economy in one package.

The Highlander is approved by the DOT as a true hybrid as well since it works similarily with the Prius system, only difference is the engine used, a V6. That's why the Highlander Hybrid is allowed to be driven in carpool lanes.

As in Honda, they only added a electric engine with their regular V6 engine, so it's like a little boost for the car, that's how Honda's IMA system works. Their hybrids uses the gas engine 90% of the time, where the electric engine is used as extra power and support, where Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses the electric engine 90% of the time, having the gas engine there as the workhorse for recharging and maximum power during high speeds and acceleration.

Even though both Honda's hybrids are recharged the same way as Toyota, (braking and stopping), Toyota's system follows the true formula as a hybrid car.

I guess the Camry Hybrid is fast enough, the 2003 Acura TL got 0-60 in 8 seconds, but compared to the Accord Hybrid, it is too slow. But I would sacrifice one second for more mpg. But I would still buy the Accord Hybrid because it has folding mirrors, since the Camry doesn't have folding mirrors, I will pass.

[Tideland Prius]

www.hybridsynergydrive.com