There has been a particularly notable absence from the Honda Australia range since the start of 2015. The hybrid pioneer, which introduced the then-radical Insight in 2001, has been without a petrol-electric option since February of this year.
That’s because it axed no fewer than four different hybrid models over a 12-month period starting with the second-generation, Prius-fighting Insight in early 2013, culminating with the demise of the expensive and unloved Civic Hybrid, Jazz Hybrid and CR-Z shortly after.
For a company that had such strong leverage in this largely untapped eco market, being without any petrol-electric car may just have seemed a little galling. It’s with no small amount of celebration, then, that the company returned to the fray this week with the Accord Sport Hybrid.
Based on the familiar Accord and likewise made in Thailand, the Accord Sport Hybrid comes into the line-up as the new range-topper, with a rather eye-opening $58,990 plus on-road costs starting price â€" $7000 more than the former flagship V6L.
Reflecting this, Honda is making clear its aspirations for this car to be a premium contender, a la the now discontinued Legend. In fact, the company calls the $57,000 Lexus IS300h â€" rather than the Toyota Camry Hybrid â€" the car’s chief rival. Ambitious. You can even get the Lexus ES300h for $60,500, which is roomier still.Â
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