Honda deals up Insight, Accord Euro, Odyssey

HONDA Australia has further sweetened its offers on the slow-selling Insight hybrid, Accord Euro sedan and Odyssey people-mover as part of its Annual Clearance campaign, the struggling Japanese brand’s latest attempt to reverse a near-25 per cent sales slump this year.

Buyers of all three models will receive $500 worth of free accessories, a five-year/140,000km Honda Warranty Plus and five years premium roadside assistanceThe enticements apply to the Insight hybrid hatch, the $29,990 list price of which became a drive-away price in August after failing to match sales expectations since being launched here late last year.

Also included is the newly upgraded Accord Euro mid-sizer, which is now priced from $32,990 drive-away (normally $30,340 plus on-road costs) and has experienced a 15 per cent sales slide to September this year.

Finally, the Odyssey seven-seater, which is eight per cent down year-to-date, is also now effectively about $2000 cheaper at $39,990 drive-away (normally $39,100 plus on-road costs), without accounting for the free accessories and five-year warranty.

“Honda customers are assured that when they purchase a Honda, they are receiving a quality product and more value for their money with the annual clearance offer,” said Honda Australia director and general manager of sales and marketing, Stephen Collins.

Honda’s latest model sharpening follows price cuts of up to $9000 on the Civic Si hatchback since March, as well as savings of up to $2000 across the facelifted Jazz hatch range, $3400 on the soon-to-be-replaced CR-V crossover line-up and $3570 for the Odyssey since June 1.

Despite also being facelifted earlier this year, sales of Accord large sedan are down some 47 per cent in 2011, making it the worst showroom performer of Honda’s clean-sweep of slower sellers this year.

The new Insight, meantime, has averaged less than 55 sales per month this year (well below Honda’s 200/month forecast), although the popularity of Toyota’s iconic Prius hybrid has also waned - by almost 60 per cent - this year, with just 556 new Australian homes found compared to the Insight’s 489.

Honda hopes the belated release of its all-new CR-Z hybrid coupe, new petrol and hybrid Civic sedan, new CR-V soft-roader and, possibly, the Jazz hybrid in Australia next year will help return sales the following year to around 60,000 – about double the number it appears likely to sell this year.