Never mind the EVs, check out this hybrid
Sedan is as smooth as a Mercedes, as well put together as an Acura, as efficient as a Prius. If you don’t want to get an electric vehicle yet, try this
The Accord hybrid is as smooth as a Mercedes, as well put together as an Acura and as efficient as a Prius. Throw it hard into a corner and it plays along, delivering a surprisingly fun and dynamic driving experience. It exhibits terrific road composure and returns just enough steering feedback to have you asking for more. The Accord may have some of its mojo of the years, but it’s still a Honda at heart. This sedan can do no wrong.
I hear it all the time: “What do you think of the new (insert model name here) electric vehicle?”
Indeed, the times are changing. No matter your opinion about EVs, people seem genuinely annoyed from filling up a gas tank. That, or they want to do something about climate change. Or both.
But why should you be in such a hurry to buy an EV?
That’s what Honda would like to know.
It’s employing a laid-back attitude to reducing its carbon footprint. Honda would rather see its customers transition smoothly into the EV revolution by embracing its tried and proven hybrid technology. It’s not an entirely bad strategy, as some consumers are worried about going fully electric for a range of reasons, some more founded than others.
The 2024 Honda Accord hybrid remains a highly relevant choice. It banks on a nameplate that’s made a reputation for being indestructible and cheap to own.
Except now it’s dressed up in a longer, more refined, and considerably more mature package, and powered by an even more efficient hybrid engine.
The Accord hybrid doesn’t reinvent the wheel. Underneath its long, flat hood sits the same twolitre, hybrid, four-cylinder as before, except it’s now equipped with direct injection for improved fuel economy and performance. Two electric motors, one that acts as a generator to power the accessories, the other bolted onto the continuously variable transmission (CVT), help it sip less fuel. When everything is working in tandem, the Accord puts down a darn respectable 204 horsepower and 247 poundsfeet of torque (motive force). It’ll also consume no more than six litres/100 km. That’s in the worst case. If you watch what you’re doing, a consumption average of five litres/100 km is possible.
There’s nothing new about this car, but it boasts the excellent engineering brilliance we expect from this nameplate. There’s a sense of lightness in the way the Accord drives, and it provides impressive visibility all around and class-leading ergonomics. Everything, from switches to digital menus, is where you’d expect it to be. Nothing feels in your way or bothersome. Driving a Honda Accord hybrid makes you forget about the stresses of your daily life.
Gone are the true, sporty versions of this car. Honda killed off the Civic Type R-derived, turbocharged, two-litre engine for the Accord, and focuses solely on the 1.5-turbo as the base, internal combustion engine (ICE) option. The 10-speed automatic transmission was also deleted, while the six-speed manual gearbox is a thing of the past. What gives, Honda?
To that, Honda Canada answers that nobody was buying those anyway, so it’s just a question of answering demand. It’s the same story for the absence of all-wheel drive. While the Accord’s main rivals, such as the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Subaru Legacy, all come with it, Honda stays to true to frontwheel drive. Nobody has every complained, says the carmaker’s representative.
It’s fair to say that the Accord is no longer the sales juggernaut it once was. There was a time, not that long ago, when the big H would ship close to 400,000 units in Canada and the U.S. alone. That number has since been sliced in half as families flock towards SUVs, from cars.
But, if you like sedans and are not yet ready to take the full plunge into EVs, you should know that the 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid is still a darn good car.