New Review. Fusion Hy vs Accord Hy

[higheroctave32]

I sense a bit of Honda bias b.s. here.

I really do not care for the stacked blocks looks of the Accord interior. It looks like it was designed with Legos.

 

http://www.autoguide.com/car-comparisons/2015-honda-accord-hybrid-vs-ford-fusion-hybrid-4123.html

Edited September 10, 2014 by higheroctave32

[corncobs]

I'm with you on the center stack way too much stuff going on. The Fusion center has clean lines and everything is where it should be.

 

Also the noise complain I don't quite get. So far every reviewer has said that the driving noise is much louder in the Honda. I even believe to remember that HB drive one and said the same thing.

[acdii]

Well considering the author admitted to LOVING the Honda, that is will be skewed.

[djminfll]

I'm not just saying this because I love my FFH, but I don't just prefer the interior of the Fusion over the Accord, I totally DISLIKE the interior of the Accord. The double stack coupled with the hideous steering wheel would be enough for me to pass on the Accord if I was in the market again. I also don't understand the benefit of the camera in the side mirror. I prefer to have the blindspot monitoring light on the FFH. In 30K miles worth of driving, it hasn't let me down yet. Not once have I made a lane change when the light is not on and found someone in my blindspot. I think I would find having to use the mirror AND the camera very distracting. And it's not available on the driver's side mirror - do they at least have blindspot monitoring on that mirror as well? I will say, the fuel economy of the Accord is impressive, but all in all, if I had to make the decision again today, I'd still choose the FFH.

[Texasota]

I’m not at all seeing the bias here. They point out the strong points and weak points of both cars and it seemed like a reasonably fair and honest assessment of each car to me. I know I am going to get blasted here for this again - but whenever there is some constructive criticism of our FFH do we have to scream bias?

 

Okay, fire away.

[GrySql]

I agree with you, it is unreasonable to own a car that has been to the Service Dept as many times as mine has (again yesterday) and for me to still love it. We're crazy. LOL!

Edited September 11, 2014 by GrySql

[hybridbear]

I drove the Honda and found its engine noise to be louder only because the ICE is completely disconnected to the wheels. Thus, even if I reached a cruising speed and let off the gas the ICE might continue roaring away to charge the depleted battery pack. I also did not like the camera in the right mirror. It was terribly distracting because it comes on anytime you use the turn signal, including every right turn. It means that while stopped at a red light waiting to turn right you cannot use that screen to adjust the radio, etc. I also disagree with his comments about the interior. I found the Honda interior to be lower quality than the Fusion interior. Every time I get in the Fusion I am still amazed by the interior quality for the price.

 

I do think that the Honda can achieve better MPG than the Fusion though.

[GrySql]

Story time..

Honda makes good things, my oldest daughter was at one time the number two Ad/Market Mgr for Honda Watercraft & Motorcycles.

She worked at Honda's one square mile USA Headquarters in Torrance, CA, I've been there many times.

I've also been inside Honda's super secure desert test facility in the Mojave Desert, it has a big oval test track, lots of buildings that I walked through and armed security, I was escorted everywhere we went.

My daughter was told at the beginning of her employment that Honda was not a 'car company' it was an Engineering Company.

 

The Torrance facility is run by Honda executives cycled in every few years from Japan to get their corporate international exposure, Bushido style.

This method caused much rancor and confusion in her department because every new top exec had to make an impact to get his 'creds'.

I have owned many a Honda product and most are better than average but just having the Honda logo on a product does not make it superior, they make mistakes.

From my view this is caused by the aforementioned executive dynasty style of leadership, it was so hard for my daughter to work there when every two years the whole direction of what she was doing would change.

Then there was the fact she was a woman, she would never get promoted past a certain level, not in that company. She finally realized that subtle fact and quit.

 

The point of my story is that while I admire most everything Honda makes, they have flaws in some of there engineering/production/marketing/executive interface, too many 'yes men' in the mix and 'engineering' trumps all.

Design has to follow engineering's lead.

If there was not a FFH available I would gravitate towards a Honda because of their superior attention to engineering, but Toyota is pretty good at that too, with better marketing.

 

As it is, my FFH will suffice for a long time and I will admire the technological achievements of the other car companies.

When I think there is an all around better car than my FFH, I'll go test drive one - if HB or B25Nut doesn't beat me to it.

[acdii]

I drove the Honda and found its engine noise to be louder only because the ICE is completely disconnected to the wheels. Thus, even if I reached a cruising speed and let off the gas the ICE might continue roaring away to charge the depleted battery pack. I also did not like the camera in the right mirror. It was terribly distracting because it comes on anytime you use the turn signal, including every right turn. It means that while stopped at a red light waiting to turn right you cannot use that screen to adjust the radio, etc. I also disagree with his comments about the interior. I found the Honda interior to be lower quality than the Fusion interior. Every time I get in the Fusion I am still amazed by the interior quality for the price.

 

I do think that the Honda can achieve better MPG than the Fusion though.

This is where the bias shows in that article. Just because she likes buttons, that makes the Honda better? I think the material quality is top notch in the Fusion, I found no quality issues on the interior in either of mine, exterior there were a few, but have since been taken care of. I also don't care for the block look of the Accord interior.

 

Besides, a few MPG in the upper 40 range equates to very little difference in fuel used.

[Texasota]

Just because she likes buttons, that makes the Honda better?

 

To some it may and others not.

 

But expressing a like/dislike/preference for a particular feature, attribute or design point is part of what writing a car review is all about. I appreciate hearing these different points of view and observations and I don't get my hackles up and conclude that the writer must be biased because they made critical comments about the FFH or the HAH. Consider the points they made (or dismiss them) and use it to help form your own judgment and decision. I thought this was a useful and good review. They complemented and criticized both cars.

[djminfll]

I will say that my FFH has been in for service more than I would like, but absolutely none of it has been anything major - it has been mostly annoying inconsistencies, likely due to "first year model glitches". I've had more than my share of trouble with the MFT steering wheel button malfunctioning, and the hinge on the fuel door needed to be replaced, but mechanically, the Fusion has been one of the best cars I have ever owned.

However, I previously owned a 2006 Honda Accord that had major malfunctions over the 2 years I had it. The transmission and brakes gave me repeated trouble, the seals around the window wore out and caused major wind noise and eventually water leaks. And my old boss owned a 2007 Accord, and it was repeatedly in the shop for major things as well.

As for Toyota, I just find them too totally BLAND to ever consider one. To me, they have excitement of a Lexus without the luxury or cache. My dad drives a Prius, and whenever I see him and we go out, he has us take his car, but he makes me drive. There is no way I would EVER include the Prius on my short list of cars to buy.

So I'm willing to put up with some minor inconvenient quality issues. I bet if I waited and bought a 2014 or 2015 I would have much less problems.

[Sleddog]

I read the article and then threw up in my mouth a little. Obviously a bias review. But then again, opinions are like brain cells, everybody's get at least one. For most people anyway.

[Tutone56]

I agree with what others have said. I drove the Honda and the FFH. The accord's engine seemed much louder than the FFH. Sounded like it was roaring to life. I also think the FFH's interior is built well and the layout makes sense. Easy choice for me.

[machoman1337]

Been in a regular gas-only Accord (2014). Looks nice on the outside but I find the inside to be kinda cluttered, reminds me of an Acura MDX my dad used to have, though nowhere near as messy in terms of buttons.

 

I also find the two-LCD setup to be rather... jarring? Not sure what word I should use. Basically, I prefer the Fusion's cockpit any day of the week :P

 

One thing I will admit is that if you're going for the lowest possible trim level, the Accord has the advantage in that a rear-view camera is standard, whereas getting it in a Fusion requires at least 2 grand of options to be checked off first. If I were on a tighter budget and didn't care about hybrids, I might choose the Accord just for that. I know how to back up without parking aids (otherwise I'd never dare to drive a rental car), but I prefer to have them regardless.

 

The Accord also has superior rear seat legroom, though the Fusion also does a decent job (at the very least, much better than a 2013 Malibu I once rented).

 

At the end of the day, I find the Accord to be a fine car, and I'd recommend that anyone shopping in this segment put it on their list of potential buys. But I'd also recommend that they put the Fusion on the list too.

 

On a side note, I've also seen the new Acura RLX and even though its underpinnings are actually different (it's a rebadged Honda Legend), it looks waaaay too much like an Accord on the outside, to the point that I question the wisdom of paying over $50k for one when you could load up an Accord with every option for $10-15k less!

Edited November 17, 2014 by machoman1337

[murphy]

After May 1, 2018 all new cars will have backup cameras.

 

http://www.cnet.com/news/u-s-requiring-back-up-cameras-in-cars-by-2018/

[hybridbear]

One thing I will admit is that if you're going for the lowest possible trim level, the Accord has the advantage in that a rear-view camera is standard, whereas getting it in a Fusion requires at least 2 grand of options to be checked off first. If I were on a tighter budget and didn't care about hybrids, I might choose the Accord just for that. I know how to back up without parking aids (otherwise I'd never dare to drive a rental car), but I prefer to have them regardless.

I think the 2015 Fusion includes the camera as standard.

[lolder]

All the 2010-12 FFH's had the camera and BLISS and CTA regardless of trim. I wouldn't have another car without the camera and CTA. Aftermarket cameras are now less than $100.

[Texasota]

I think the 2015 Fusion includes the camera as standard.

Yes, that is correct. My 2015 FFH S has the backup camera.

[acdii]

In the mirror or dash?

[machoman1337]

All the 2010-12 FFH's had the camera and BLISS and CTA regardless of trim. I wouldn't have another car without the camera and CTA. Aftermarket cameras are now less than $100.

 

Wrong, I've seen some base trims of the last gen FFH that lacked the camera. On the current gen, you need to at least spec out MFT to get the camera, but as others said it seems to be standard in 2015+ models.

Edited November 17, 2014 by machoman1337

[Texasota]

In the mirror or dash?

The video image for the backup camera is displayed in the LCD screen that is above the radio.

[machoman1337]

The video image for the backup camera is displayed in the LCD screen that is above the radio.

 

Ah, so the small colour LCD for non-MFT fusions now functions as a camera feed? Very nice.

 

Next time I rent a car, I'm asking for a Fusion :)

[Texasota]

 

Ah, so the small colour LCD for non-MFT fusions now functions as a camera feed?

Yes, it works very nice. This is my first experience with a backup camera and I glance at it every time while backing. I have to remind myself that you cannot stare at it and only it. You still have to look over your shoulder for cross traffic when backing out the driveway or similar situations.

 

Your rental will have to be a 2015 (or newer) unless the backup camera was included as optional equipment on a 2014 (or earlier).

Edited November 17, 2014 by Texasota

[machoman1337]

Yes, it works very nice. This is my first experience with a backup camera and I glance at it every time while backing. I have to remind myself that you cannot stare at it and only it. You still have to look over your shoulder for cross traffic when backing out the driveway or similar situations.

 

Your rental will have to be a 2015 (or newer) unless the backup camera was included as optional equipment on a 2014 (or earlier).

 

Awesome. I guess I can say "IN YOUR FACE, ACCORD!". Woot.

 

Now I can happily tell my friends that if they're shopping for a brand-new car in this segment on a budget, there's no more reason to rank the Accord above the Fusion.

[milleron]

I kept my 2003 Accord V6 coupe when I got my 2013 FFH. When it's been detailed, it not only drives like the day I took delivery but looks every bit as good, too. It's an utterly fantastic car. I'm a Honda fan.

But I'd never buy a '15 Accord because Honda's failure to join the 21st century in providing BLIS is inexcusable. My collision-warning system in my Fusion saved me for the first time last week, but the BLIS comes to my assistance almost daily. To my mind, it is the most significant safety feature to come along since air bags. I'll never have a car without it, and the Accord doesn't even offer it. (Please don't try to tell me that the pathetic camera in the passenger-side mirror is a valid blind-spot detection device.)