_OTOMACHI_
Toyota Crown
After decades of absence from North America, the Toyota Crown nameplate has returned to our shores. Although it's a replacement for the discontinued Avalon, this is no traditional sedan. Instead, the 2023 Crown straddles the line between car and SUV, perhaps with the intent to broaden its appeal to shoppers outside the shrinking full-size-sedan segment. Either way, the Crown's mix of high driving position and three-box styling taps a niche vacated by raised sedans of yesteryear such as the Subaru Legacy SUS and the Volvo S60 Cross Country. Although a plug-in hybrid and an EV variant were both rumored, the 2023 Crown launches with a pair of conventional hybrid powertrains. The entry-level arrangement is a familiar one, pairing a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with three electric motors and a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The most expensive Platinum model gets an exclusive Hybrid Max powertrain that sees a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor on the rear axle combine for 340 horsepower. The Crown's distinctive look and oddball body style are complemented by what looks to be a spacious cabin outfitted with premium features. Toyota is equipping all Crown models with a generous amount of standard driver-assistance systems and infotainment tech. The EPA estimates that the Crown with the base hybrid powertrain will be capable of returning up to 42 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The Platinum model's more powerful Hybrid Max powertrain is claimed to deliver around 29 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. As soon as we can, we'll take the Crown on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route and report its test results here. For more information about the Crown's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.
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Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is treated to an evolutionary redesign for the 2023 model year. It grows a bit in length, boosts its standard safety equipment roster, and doubles down on a hybrid powertrain. Notably, the standard safety features add active systems to help avoid a collision and equipment to better protect front and rear occupants. Numerous detail improvements throughout should add further appeal, such as larger screens, new seat designs, and revised suspension and steering tuning.
There are six trims to choose from, stepping up from the modestly equipped LX to a well-dressed Touring that aims to rival luxury-branded offerings. The top four trims come strictly as a hybrid. This 11th-generation Accord goes on sale in January 2023, about a month after the new Honda Pilot arrives at dealerships. It will again be built in Ohio. The engines tell an interesting story with the new Accord. The base engine is essentially a carryover, with a few tweaks and the same 192 horsepower. That is a strong place to start a midsized sedan lineup. The outgoing Accord had a good balance of performance and fuel economy from its 1.5-liter turbo engine, with a 7.7 second 0-60 mph time and 31 mpg overall.
Honda has not released fuel economy estimates, but it says revisions to that powerplant have enhanced refinement and responsiveness. The redesigned CR-V hybrid lost 1 mpg in the EPA combined rating, underscoring that you can’t assume an improvement with each generation.The only other engine is a 204-hp four-cylinder hybrid. This engine replaces that option and the uplevel 252-hp turbo four-cylinder. You might lament the absence of a more potent engine, especially if you recall the previous V6 or consider that some rivals have options that approach 300 hp. However, the real takeaway here is that hybrids are becoming mainstream.
Honda is putting the 1.5-liter turbo in just the two lowest trims (LX and EX), whereas the other four trims (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring) get the hybrid.
In the Accord, the hybrid isn’t just a choice for select buyers, it is a core offering and likely the most appealing configuration. The company expects fully half of sales will be Accord hybrids. We look forward to testing it to see how that hybrid balances power and efficiency.
source: [ Ссылка ]
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