Honda Accord Hybrid test drive.
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The curent Honda Accord generation came out in late 2022. I drove it in 2023 and have to admit I was a bit disappointed when comparing it to the previous generation. It seems I wasn’t the only one either.
Over 2 years later, I drove it again for a week and ended up with a different conclusion. Probably because I didn’t compare it to the older model…
The design has grown on me and I think it does look relly clean and modern. Much more so than its most direct competitor, the 2025 Toyota Camry. Which is basically the same design that came out in 2017 while the Accord is all-new.
The interior is very nice and the quality is much higher than the Civid Touring Hybrid I drove a few weeks ago. Everything is more solid and there is less hard plastic everywhere. Unfortunatelly, the dashboard design is a bit too similar to the cheaper Civic. Even if its quality is better.
I was also pleasantly surprised with the light grey interior. Which is so much better than the all-black color most of these cars come with.
The seats are much more comfortable than the ones on the Civic. And they are ventilated as well as heated. However, that cooling feel is never that strong.
On top of everything, the Bose sound system is excellent. A huge improvement over the past generation.
Of course the back seat is super roomy. Unlike the Civic, it still features rear air vents as well as USB-C plugs. So most of the “back seat brawls” we keep hearing about these days will be avoided.
Since it is not a proper hatchback, the trunk is not as convenient as it could have been. It is pretty large but the narrow opening will prevent you from loading very large items.
Just like I did with the Civic Hybrid, I kept the Accord Hybrid in ECO model most of the time. While the car isn’t as punchy as the Civic, there is still plenty of power, even in the ECO mode, for everyday driving.
The Accord Hybrid is rated at 51MPG City and 44HWY. My weekly drive was mostly around town and yet my average came to 46/47MPG. Which is expected from the official numbers. But much less than the 56 MPG average I got during my week with the Civic Hybrid.
It seems the regen is a bit more aggressive than in the Civic too. Which should give better results. Otherwise, the Accord is a pleasure to drive. It does have a much more upscale feel than the Civic, and a smoother ride. It is almost always extremely quiet, even when the engine is areved up a bit. The steering has a very pleasant feel and the whole thing does feel more refined than the smaller Civic.
But by how much? The Touring Civic Hybrid I test drove a few weeks ago was around $32,500. The Accord Touring Hybrid is about $7000 more. And that’s a big difference.
Of course, you get a larger, better looking car. One that is more refined with better materials inside. Basically, you do get what you pay for. Except for MPG. Around 10MPG is quite a difference.
For my taste, 47MPG in a large upscale sedan is still pretty great.
I haven’t warmed up to its design. It feels generic. While the interior is nice, its not quite nice enough. The exterior is clean and modern, but it doesn’t say Honda. It says derpy. And that front overhang is massive. MASSIVE. Its just very awkward and everytime I see one, which is extremly rare, I wonder: what made that person buy that….did they give up on life?
Everything is a matter of personal preference, but I prefer the styling of the Camry over the Accord. You see the exterior of the Accord as clean and modern, but I see it as boring and lacking character. And that the dash trim is awful in my opinion.
Design is so bland, it seems like Honda went backwards wit this design. The only reason I didn’t buy a Civic for my kid and an Accord for the wife, yes, the only reason is the passenger seat. You cannot raise it, you can only go back and forth, WHY HONDA? My back will kill me getting in and out and specially long trips. So we went a different route.
Lets be honest. Honda did not put in much effort on this, unlike the Civic. 100% dull.
Inside and out, this is the ugliest accord aside from the 8th Gen. They need to refresh asap
Honda could save this with some minor revisions to the interior and exterior. Inside, a little more variation of materials, colors, and less piano black especially on the doors and dash. The seating should be upgraded. This is supposed to be their best car. Outside, the tail lights should be revised to look less generic and more Honda-like. Use inspiration from former Accords if they can’t figure it out. And the front end needs some embellishment while keeping it simple. Fog lights, not painted tusks. A slight modification on the grill. And some painted accent in the lower bumper should do it.