A Honda on a Diesel Diet

The diesel-powered Accord returned a remarkable 53 miles a gallon on the highway, 34 in the city and 44 in combined driving.

By LAWRENCE ULRICH
Published: May 18, 2008
HONDA has spent decades establishing a reputation for fuel efficiency. But nothing in the company’s current lineup, including its Civic Hybrid, can match the mileage of the diesel Accord that I recently tested in and around New York City. Minus its diesel powertrain, the European-market 2007 Accord that I drove is nearly identical to the car that Honda had been selling in the United States as the Acura TSX. That Accord should give a solid indication of the mileage and performance American consumers can expect when Honda offers a diesel option for the redesigned 2009 TSX.

The Accord — a demonstration car provided by Robert Bosch, the German technology company, to highlight its fuel injectors and other diesel components — returned a remarkable 53 miles a gallon on the highway, 34 in the city and 44 in combined driving. Those miles included a bumper-to-bumper crawl through Manhattan, the worst possible conditions for fuel efficiency.




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Bmw8ter - 6/3/2008 10:30:13 AM

+4 Boost

Honda diesels may become the next Toyota Hybrid, if you know what I mean.

AE86 - 6/3/2008 11:19:31 AM

+2 Boost

I hope so. Have to say I was somewhat disappointed with the Jetta diesel's EPA numbers.

Shredmo - 6/3/2008 11:43:26 AM

+3 Boost

Keep in mind, the original estimates of the Jetta were high, just as these numbers probably are.

On the other hand, most people claim much higher real world MPG on their VW diesels of various years, compared to the vehicles actual current EPA rating.

Threepoint1415926 - 6/3/2008 12:52:44 PM

+3 Boost

EPA numbers are always low for Diesels compared to real world results.

wbradd3797 - 6/3/2008 6:27:35 PM

+2 Boost

Diesels MPG gets better with age. They have a 50,000 mile break in period.

My only problem with Honda's is that they are made for 5.8 Japanese people. I'm 6.4 and very cramped in Honda's.

djrickp - 6/3/2008 10:31:22 AM

+1 Boost

After years of finding Acura boring, this has piqued my interest. If this was a RWD vehicle I'd put my deposit down immediately.

Htay7500 - 6/3/2008 11:19:58 AM

+4 Boost

bosch is a german company. and many vw diesels have achieved similar ratings to that of this euro accord. give credit where its due. honda makes good diesel tech but VW and Merc have far more experience. toyota and isuzu aren't bad but they need to catch up where vw, and merc are. that includes honda.

abcd - 6/3/2008 2:19:34 PM

+2 Boost

TurboSpyder , Bosch is providing injectors , common-rail system to honda`s diesel engine but engine wasn`t developed in offenbach , honda like other manufactures has technical center in europe to adjust car to european tastes and conditions e.g. suspension settings , diameter of cup holders ...

abcd - 6/3/2008 3:24:57 PM

0 Boost

"So what kind of adjustments did Honda's engineers at the Offenbach technical centre make to Honda's diesel?"

i don`t know maybe they were explaining how this engine works and were advertising it , i said this becouse i saw in tv some time ago program in which they explained what engineers in nissan technical center in UK do .

DieselRules - 6/4/2008 3:13:49 AM

+5 Boost

Michael Taylor: Practically all German vehicles run Bosch injection.
I drove a Benz V8 with Bosch injection that was likely built before you were born!
And if Japan is so good at diesel, why did Toyota buy several MILLION diesel engines from VW for their European cars back in the 90s ???
VW is the world's largest supplier of diesel engines, and Benz is the world's largest supplier of large diesel engines.
Toyota has great engines now (the D4D in particular) but Honda is a newcomer to this game.
You are seriously embarrassing yourself with your lack of knowledge of the automakers!

85bmw745i - 6/4/2008 3:28:33 PM

+1 Boost

Bosch is German, Bosch invented fuel injection, and Bosch injectors are on every BMW and Mercedes, and almost every other car, so shut your ignorant un-knowing mouth. You disgust me. You will stoop down to below ignorance just to get a chance to knock Germans. Whos talking smack now that you accord has a german fuel injection system for it's diesel?

85bmw745i - 6/4/2008 3:29:19 PM

+1 Boost

They already do get better economy, ever heard of the Volkswagen lupo?

sold2early - 6/3/2008 11:55:40 AM

+1 Boost

The official EPA numbers will probably be a bit lower, but will still be impressive.

Even with diesel 20-30% higher than 87, the average driver should still see a 15% or better fuel cost savings compared to the standard 4 cyl Accord.

wbradd3797 - 6/3/2008 6:30:28 PM

+1 Boost

Diesels MPG gets better with age. They have a 50,000 mile break in period.

DieselRules - 6/4/2008 3:15:41 AM

+1 Boost

My TDI only took 50,000 kms (31,000 miles) to stabilize at 53 MPG average mileage.

theoptimisticpessimist - 6/3/2008 12:55:46 PM

+1 Boost

Let the waiting list begin!

Htay7500 - 6/3/2008 2:32:47 PM

+2 Boost

I want a diesel tsx.

DieselRules - 6/4/2008 3:21:22 AM

+1 Boost

In Canada there isn't a huge spread between gas and diesel prices.
The Diesel Accord will sell like crazy here!
Funny thing is, the fuel providers are Chevron, Shell, etc.....

gregsfc - 6/8/2008 6:25:08 PM

+1 Boost

How can someone believe that Honda leads the diesel race when they will be the fifth or sixth brand name to make it to North America with fifty-state emission-compliant diesels for vehicles under 8501 GVWR?

1. VW Jetta / Jetta SportWagon TDI - August 2008
2. MB R320, ML320, GL320 BlueTec - October 2008
3. BMW 335d, Q-5qDrive35d - October 2008
4. Audi Q-7 TDI - December 2008
5. Honda, Ford, or Jeep - ???

bmwauto - 2/2/2011 12:25:07 PM

+1 Boost

Wow I am so satisfied about my HONDA cause i bought a fit and right <a href="http://www.bhpplus.co.uk/">tuning diesel</a> because i notice that the speed and the smoothness of it is really different as before, hope you can help me with or suggest the a tuning diesel that will fit to my 2010 HONDA M3 2-door .