Honda is no stranger to electrified vehicles. After all, it launched one of the first mass-produced mainstream hybrid vehicles. Since then, it’s created some of the most interesting electrified vehicles on the market, ranging from super-efficient to super-fast. Here are electrified Hondas and Acuras that have come around since the dawn of the new millennium.
Insight (2000)
The original Insight debuted with Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. A 13-hp electric motor worked with a 67-hp 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine for a combined 73 hp and 91 lb-ft of torque. Along with a CVT, it had the distinction of offering an optional five-speed manual transmission. With the manual, the Insight got an impressive EPA rating of 49/61/53 mpg city/highway/combined.
Electrified Hondas: Civic Hybrid (2002 to 2005)
The first Civic Hybrid advanced the IMA hybrid system. This time it came paired with a 1.3-liter four-cylinder for a combined output of 93 hp and 116 lb-ft of torque. Like the first Insight, the transmission choices were either a CVT or a five-speed manual. In terms of fuel economy, the EPA rated the Civic Hybrid at 40/43/41 mpg with the CVT or 38/45/41 mpg with the stick.
Civic Hybrid (2006)
Honda reintroduced the Civic Hybrid as part of the eighth-generation lineup, featuring an improved IMA hybrid system. This time, it had a combined output of 110 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. As for fuel economy ratings, this generation got 40/45/42 mpg from the EPA.
Accord V6 Hybrid (2005 to 2007)
Although hybrids were synonymous with efficiency, the first iteration of the Accord Hybrid added performance to its portfolio. Instead of pairing the IMA system to a small engine, this Accord coupled it to a 3.0-liter V6. As a result, it made 253 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful Accord at that time.
Electrified Hondas: Insight (2010 to 2014)
The second-generation Insight followed in the footsteps of its predecessor and the last two generations of Civic Hybrid. It used a small 1.3-liter four-cylinder and paired it with an electric motor. In terms of efficiency, the EPA rated it at 40/43/41 mpg regardless of transmission.
FCX Clarity (2008, 2009, and 2011)
The FCX Clarity marked Honda’s first production fuel cell vehicle and government-certified hydrogen-powered vehicle. Unlike its hybrids, the FCX Clarity used a hydrogen fuel cell stack to generate electricity and power an electric motor. On a full tank, the FCX Clarity had a driving range of around 240 miles.
Electrified Hondas: CR-Z (2011 to 2016)
Among electrified Hondas, the CR-Z stood out as a modern interpretation of the iconic CR-X. Unlike the latter, the CR-Z had Honda’s IMA hybrid system, pairing a 1.5-liter four-cylinder to an electric motor. In its early days, it made 128 hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. Eventually, it gained a slight bump to 130 hp and up to 140 lb-ft thanks to an upgraded electric motor. However, that only applied to models equipped with the six-speed manual. In terms of efficiency, the EPA rated the CR-Z at 31/38/34 mpg with the stick or 36/39/37 mpg with the CVT.
Civic Hybrid (2012 to 2015)
The third iteration of the Civic Hybrid arrived for the ninth generation, still using the IMA system. However, it no longer offered a manual transmission. In terms of efficiency, it remained nearly identical at 44 mpg across the board.
Electrified Hondas: Fit EV (2013 to 2015)
The Honda Fit EV arrived as a lease-only model for Oregon and California. Essentially a compliance vehicle, it had 123 hp and 189 lb-ft on tap. Its 20-kWh battery gave it an EPA driving range rating of 82 miles.
Acura ILX Hybrid (2013 to 2014)
The ILX Hybrid marked the first electrified Acura model. However, it used a nearly identical setup to the ninth-generation Civic Hybrid and was rated at 39/38/38 mpg. Acura quietly discontinued the model after the 2014 model year, but it wasn’t done with electrified powertrains.
Accord Hybrid (2014 to 2017)
The Accord Hybrid returned in 2014 and marked the first use of the two-motor hybrid system. Unlike the outgoing IMA, this setup pairs a gas engine with two electric motors and a traction battery. It also does away with a traditional transmission in favor of direct drive through a lockup clutch.
Electrified Hondas: Accord PHEV (2014)
Yup, a plug-in Hybrid Accord existed. It took the same two-motor hybrid system from the standard car and added a larger 6.7-kWh battery. As a result, it can drive in full electric mode for 13 miles, all while retaining the ability to drive long distances thanks to its gas engine.
Acura RLX Hybrid (2014 to 2020)
Acura introduced a new performance-focused hybrid system with the RLX. It paired a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, a 1.3-kWh lithium-ion battery, and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. This gave the car 377 hp and 341 lb-ft of torque, plus torque vectoring capabilities that helped sharpen its handling.
Electrified Hondas: Acura NSX (2016 to 2022)
The NSX served as the pinnacle of electrified Hondas when the second generation debuted. It used a similar setup to the RLX Hybrid, only this time with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 and a nine-speed dual-clutch automatic. Due to its mid-engine layout, it featured two electric motors up front, one for each wheel. The result? 573 hp and 476 lb-ft of torque on the standard model or 600 hp and 492 lb-ft in the 2022 NSX Type S.
Clarity (2017 to 2021)
Honda brought back the Clarity name for a second generation, looking like a futuristic space-age sedan. The kicker? It came in three flavors: plug-in hybrid, all-electric, or a fuel cell sedan.
Electrified Hondas: Insight (2019 to 2022)
The Insight returned for its third generation for the 2019 model year. Essentially a tenth-generation Civic sedan with revised front and rear fascias, the EPA rated the Insight up to 55/49/52 mpg ratings. It also featured a variation of the two-motor hybrid system with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder. Total system output is 151 hp and 197 lb-ft of torque.
Acura MDX Hybrid (2017 to 2020)
The MDX Hybrid arrived as part of the third-generation model’s 2017 refresh. It took the RLX’s hybrid system and paired it to a smaller 3.0-liter V6, resulting in 321hp and 289 lb-ft. This gave the MDX much more verve on the road, all while getting 26/27/27 mpg.
Electrified Hondas: Accord Hybrid (2018 to 2022)
The tenth-generation Accord debuted an updated two-motor hybrid system. This generation also featured enhanced handling thanks to the Touring trim’s adaptive dampers, complementing its responsive handling.
CR-V Hybrid (2020 to 2022)
Honda’s two-motor hybrid system found its way into an SUV when it became available on the fifth-generation CR-V. Unlike its compz
