2005 Honda Accord Hybrid

Like teeth on a lion, hybrids and Honda go together. Or maybe it’s the whole fuel efficiency thing – imports, the Japanese in particular, just seem to do it better than domestic automakers. That may well be true. But not all the time. Unfortunately for Ford, GM and the rest, perception is reality -- and the reality of the situation is that imports are making the largest gains when it comes to hybrid vehicles and the gas-sipping mojo these cars provide. It's simple: more cars with a leaf embossed onto the nameplate are Toyotas and Hondas, a sign that the “hybrid war” is quickly turning into an exclusive, two-person street fight.

If so, Honda may have just scored a left hook to Toyota’s chin with the new V6 Honda Accord hybrid. While Toyota delays the launch of its Lexus RX hybrid SUV, Honda now has its hybrid technology available in three vehicles: the Insight, the Civic, and, due December 3 at dealerships nationwide, the Accord. According to Honda, the hybrid Accord will deliver more power and torque than the existing Accord, with the fuel economy of the four-cylinder Civic. It’s mean, green and will likely cost a slightly large hill of beans more than the current Accord: the street says there’s a premium price of $5,000.