2023 Honda Accord Hybrid

Pros

• The hybrid powertrain is impressive for its power and the little fuel it uses.
• Leg room in the back
• A big trunk can fit a lot of things inside.
• Easy to understand

Cons

• Only the top trims can get particular features that people want.
• You can’t choose to have a sports engine or all-wheel drive.

What kind of car is the Accord to drive? We put the engine and drivetrain of the Accord Sport-hybrid L to the test. It does a great job of getting good gas mileage without sacrificing performance in everyday driving. On the Invoice Pricing’ test track, it took 7 seconds for our Sport-L test vehicle to go from 0 to 60 mph. This is a second faster than most other midsize hybrid sedans and the most recent Accord we tested with the standard turbocharged engine. Even though this engine doesn’t have a traditional transmission, Honda has worked hard to make it so that the engine rpm can be changed to look like a standard automatic transmission. The Accord’s handling and steering are good in corners, but it needs to have the effortless agility of the old Accord.

How comfortable is the Accord? The Accord does an excellent job of keeping noise out of the cabin. When the car is running on electricity, the environment is much quieter. Like the seats in other Honda cars, the Accord’s driver’s seat could use more padding, but it can be changed enough to fit almost anyone. The climate control system does more than enough to heat and cool the car. Several model levels have a big problem with needing air vents in the back seats.

Our test car had wheels that were 19 inches in diameter, and the ride was great. It stayed calm during our time with it and took bumps and bruises without getting upset. The EX-L trim, which has smaller wheels, would be even better.

How does the inside look? The newest Honda Accord has a simple center stack and big, easy-to-use dials and controls. Very little time is needed to learn how to drive it, which is precisely what we look for in a car that most people will like. Wide doorways make it easy to get in and out of the vehicle, but taller passengers should be careful not to hit their heads on the sloping roof when getting into the back seat. Even though taller people in the back may bump into the ceiling, both rows have a lot of space, including a lot of legroom.

Because the windscreen pillars are thin and the back window is big, there aren’t any big blind spots for the driver. But if we raised the driver’s seat too much, it was hard to see all the gauges. This could be a problem for shorter drivers.

How good is the tech? In the test car, the touch screen was 12.3 inches. When you buy this screen, you also get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which work without wires. The Google voice assistant and service connectivity are only available on Honda’s top Touring model level. This is an unnecessary barrier because it’s a tech feature that could improve the lower-priced trims. The Sport-L test car we drove would be much better if it had an optional Bose system and Google Assistant as part of an options package.

The Honda Sense package of safety features works very well. Sometimes the lane-keeping system can be annoying, but it’s great when everything is going well.

What about putting things away? The trunk has a lot of space—16.7 cubic feet—so it can hold all your items. Everything will fit perfectly, even long things like a golf bag. Small things can be stored in the center console because it has a lot of space. Almost every place has a place for a cup, and larger water bottles with sturdy sides can fit in them.

There is room for many car seats in the back seats, and nothing is in the way of the LATCH points so that they can be seen. The only thing that might be hard to install is the low roofline.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says that the primary engine model of the Accord gets 32 mpg on the highway, and the hybrid model with 17-inch wheels gets 48 mpg. On our test route for the Accord Sport-L, which has 19-inch wheels and should get 44 mpg combined, we got 41.5 mpg. This sedan is still fuel-efficient, but it’s not as good as the EPA says or what we saw from other midsize hybrids on the same route.

Is the Honda Accord a trustworthy car? When it comes to what the Accord is worth, there are two different things that are true. On the one hand, the general quality of construction is excellent. No squeaks, rattles, gaps between panels, or materials needed improvement. This car looks like it was made to last and can handle the abuse of an average family. Still, the Sport-L test car didn’t have enough features for the price. For example, a comparable Hyundai Sonata Hybrid SEL has more features and costs less.

Even though the Accord is still Honda’s best-selling car, it seems to be somewhere other than where the company comes up with new ideas. Right now, the most important things about it are that it is well-built and has a good powertrain, neither of which is very exciting. If this car got a considerable personality boost and unique features, it might become a favorite in its class.

Our research shows that most people who want an Accord should choose the EX-L trim level in the middle. It is the only model in the series with a hybrid powertrain and smaller 17-inch wheels for a more comfortable ride. The interior is leather, and the infotainment touchscreen is more giant.

Honda Accord models

There are six different trim levels for the 2023 Accord: LX, EX, Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring. A 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine with 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque powers the LX and EX. A constantly changing transmission sends this power to the front wheels (CVT). The other models have a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated, four-cylinder hybrid engine as an option. The entire system output is 247 lb-ft of torque and 204 horsepower. It also has driven on the front wheels. Continue reading for a breakdown of the features found in each Accord trim.