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2024 Honda Accord hybrid offers classy design, delivers smooth ride Featured

Posted On Wednesday, 24 January 2024 23:18 Written by
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The Honda Accord hybrid got a redesign for 2023 that has carried into the new model year. The Honda Accord hybrid got a redesign for 2023 that has carried into the new model year. Photo courtesy of Honda

The number of sedans for sale continues to dwindle, and within that group is an even rarer type of vehicle, the hybrid sedan.

In the realm of nonluxury cars, just a few car makes continue to produce a hybrid sedan for buyers who aren’t quite ready for a leap to EVs but don’t want an ICE vehicle.

I recently tested a 2024 Honda Accord hybrid, one of the leaders in this category. The Accord hybrid underwent a major redesign in 2023 that carries over into the new model year.

Read on for a full report on how the 2024 Accord hybrid holds up against its key midsize hybrid sedan competitors — including the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Hyundai Sonata hybrid.


LOOKS

The new exterior design of the Accord hybrid is quite elegant — with long and swooping headlights, an understated grille, and sharp wheel designs. It's got a long hood, a roomy trunk and smooth-flowing shape.

I would call it classy, but not flashy.

The top trim level Accord Touring I tested featured leather-trimmed seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, a power moonroof with tilt, LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels (base model has 17 inch wheels), heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and heated power door mirrors with turn indicators.

The trunk features a solid 16.7 cubic feet of storage space, and the rear seats also fold down. For climate, you get a dual-zone automatic climate control setup with air filtration, and rear console vents.

There are quality materials used on the seating, though it’s not approaching luxury level. I found that the seats can become a bit uncomfortable on longer drives.

On the plus side, there are attractive criss-cross designs on the dashboard and throughout the interior. The vehicle offers generous head and leg room for all five passengers in front and rear, and the sunroof comes in handy on warm days.

An attractive digital instrument cluster conveys information to the driver, alongside a large 12.3-inch center touchscreen.


HOW’S THE RIDE?

Four of the six trim levels of the 2024 Accord get a hybrid motor, and the two lowest trims (LX and EX) are fully ICE models.

Those who opt for the hybrid powertrain (the better choice) will get a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with total output of 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired with two electric motors.

LX and EX trim models get the nonhybrid engine — a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 192 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque.

All models of 2024 Accord feature front-wheel drive, as all-wheel drive is not offered. Multiple drive modes are offered, including Econ, Normal, Sport and Individual.

The 0-to-60 time in the Accord hybrid is less than 7 seconds, which is not great but quicker than rival hybrid sedans.

The Accord hybrid handles corners well, and delivers a truly smooth and quiet ride. In fact, it was so quiet I would occasionally forget to turn off the vehicle when exiting.

I would not describe the Accord hybrid as sporty, but using the Sport drive mode does boost your ride quality to some degree and helps with overtaking.


TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY

The center of the tech setup in the Accord hybrid is a large, 12.3-inch, rectangular infotainment screen. And you also get a digital gauge cluster in front of the driver.

A simple design is used on the menus, and it’s not very cutting-edge in its design, but it’s all about the simplicity. The screen is a breeze to master and user-friendly at its core. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also offered for phone mirroring if you prefer that look over the vehicle’s tech setup.

Google services are integrated into the Accord’s tech setup —  everything from Google Maps to Google Assistant to Play Store for apps.

The 12-speaker Bose Premium Audio setup was impressive, coming through crisp and clear. And a wireless phone charger is featured. All Accord hybrid models are Wi-Fi capable.

Moving onto safety, the Accord hybrid is a vehicle that does all it can to keep you safe.

A Multi-View Rear Camera is an extremely helpful safety feature that will keep you out of trouble, and other strong safety features include a Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, customizable Head-Up Display and even a Driver Attention Monitor to let you know if you’re not keeping your eyes on the road properly.

Much of the safety resolves around the Honda Sensing suite of driving aids, including a lane keeping system, adaptive cruise control, and front collision warning with automatic braking,

There’s a basic self-driving system that is easily activated via a button on the steering wheel, which worked effectively in my testing. The Accord remains a top safety pick in 2024.

Other safety features on the Accord hybrid include a full complement of airbags throughout the vehicle, anti-lock brakes, and tire pressure monitoring, plus a LATCH system for child seats.


MPG

In terms of fuel economy, the official numbers on the 2024 Accord hybrid are 46 city/41 highway/44 combined. In my real-world testing, I averaged 38 mpg in the Accord hybrid, which was a bit lower than I expected to achieve but still strong in the grand scheme of fuel mileage.

However, when compared directly to both the Toyota Camry hybrid and Hyundai Sonata hybrid, the Accord hybrid is the weakest of the three models in terms of overall fuel economy.

That’s an important factor many buyers will keep in mind when making a decision, unless they are Honda loyalists through and through.

If you choose the Accord’s lower trim levels, you’ll get the nonhybrid version of the 2024 Accord, which clocks in at 29 city/37 highway/32 combined.


PRICE

The 2024 Accord Touring hybrid I tested was at the top of the trim levels for the Accord, and priced just under $40,000; The base, nonhybrid Accord LX model comes in closer to $29K, so there’s a wide price range on the Accord lineup.

Trims offered are: LX, EX, Sport hybrid, EX-L hybrid, Sport-L hybrid, and Touring hybrid.

Compared to key rivals, these prices are nearly identical. So the choice of which hybrid sedan you take home likely won’t come based on the price tag.

The warranty coverage is decent, but less than what Hyundai offers. It includes an overall warranty covering 3 years or 36,000 miles, powertrain warranty covering 5 years or 60,000 miles, and two years/24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.


BOTTOM LINE

The 2024 Honda Accord hybrid features plenty of room, a strong design, respectable ride quality and decent fuel mileage — making it an excellent overall package.

It’s not meant for sedan buyers seeking a flashy ride, but the 2024 Accord hybrid is practical for family use and a strong hybrid sedan offering from a longtime segment leader. 

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AutoTechReviews.com can be found on Twitter @AutoTechReview, or stay updated at the AutoTechReviews Facebook page. Follow AutoTechReviews on Instagram at @Autotechreviews. Matt Myftiu can be found on Twitter @MattMyftiu 



Additional Info

  • Vehicle: 2024 Honda Accord hybrid
  • Price as tested: $38,540  
  • Best feature: Sharp design, smooth ride, roomy interior
  • Rating: 4 out of five stars    
  • Who will want this vehicle?: Hybrid buyers seeking an attractive, famiily-friendly sedan
Matt M. Myftiu

Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.

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