Used 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid

There’s no rule stating that sensible can’t be enjoyable. On the face of it, the new Accord Hybrid is extremely sensible. It comes from a company renowned for the reliability of its vehicles, good build quality, safety, and strong resale values.

From the standpoint of living with an Accord Hybrid, there’s plenty of space for people and their stuff. And the gasoline/electric drivetrain keeps the fuel bills low.

But before anyone stifles a yawn, we’re also going to add that the 2023 Accord Hybrid is a pleasure to drive. Although it’s not going to shake up the BMW boardroom, the experience delivered by the Accord Hybrid is one of serene progress. Just the thing for a long trip or to soothe jangled nerves at the end of the working day.

There are several good reasons why we’ve given the Honda Accord so many of our awards. The main one is that we think it’s the finest midsize sedan out there.

The broader 2023 Accord range also includes a couple of combustion-only models and has its own review.

Sometimes we’ve forgotten that the 2023 Accord Hybrid is actually a hybrid. The way the drivetrain moves from electric to gasoline to a combination of the two is velvet-smooth. The brakes feel natural, despite their energy regeneration system (a compulsory factor for hybrids). And sometimes we’ve forgotten when we last went to a gas station, the fuel economy is so good.

In between those rare visits, we’ve found the ride quality to plot a pleasing course between comfort and control. It’s great to be in something that just works so well and doesn’t ask too much of you. There’s nothing out of the ordinary about the Accord Hybrid that a driver has to do or be aware of. Simply use it and look after it in the normal way.

On top of all that, the steering is easy, the cabin is quiet, and power levels are more than adequate. We’re impressed.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of midsize sedans, including this Honda Accord Hybrid.

A metal mesh across the dashboard and air vents brings a futuristic flavor to the 2023 Accord Hybrid’s cabin. Otherwise, the interior is understated yet still uses quality materials and puts them together well. The infotainment system comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen — the largest Honda has installed to date.

The driver’s seat is sufficiently comfortable and supportive for long trips. The sloping roof looks like it might not be kind to rear headroom, but we’ve sat back there and it’s fine for an adult male of average size. Rear legroom, already a strength of the outgoing model, expands even further from 40.4 to 40.8 inches. Cargo space remains at a more-than-adequate 16.7 cubic feet.

Styling-wise, the new Accord Hybrid sedan doesn’t go out on such a limb as the Kia K5 (for example), yet it also avoids the character-free zone of some previous-generation Accords. We think Honda has pitched the look perfectly, with a fine balance of freshness and decorum.

Infotainment system
The new Accord Hybrid’s infotainment system improves over the outgoing setup by being quicker and more intuitive. The top Touring trim includes Google Assistant and Google Maps, so things like setting the cabin temperature and putting a destination into the navigation can all be done with voice commands. It’s also capable of over-the-air updates.

Digital driver information display
Every new Accord Hybrid midsize sedan comes with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster whose graphics are just as crisp and easy on the eye as the infotainment touchscreen.

HondaLink
This standard set of connected services includes remote start/lock/unlock, stolen vehicle tracking, and automatic crash notification.

Lane Keeping Assist
We’ve not always been fans of cars trying to tell us how to drive, but the standard Lane Keeping Assist function in the new Accord Hybrid comes in smoothly and subtly.

Hybrid drivetrain
There was a hybrid variant of the previous-generation Accord, but Honda has put a lot of engineering effort into this new setup to enhance refinement, fuel efficiency, and power delivery.

Head-up display
This 6-inch head-up display projects information onto the windshield so the driver can stay informed without having to look away from the road ahead. Along with wireless charging, it’s slightly disappointing that such cool technology is available only in the top Touring trim, but head-up displays used to be exclusive to luxury cars not so long ago.

A 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine is joined by two electric motors to endow the 2023 Accord Hybrid with a total of 204 horsepower. Admittedly, that’s not much more muscle than the turbo 1.5 in the lower Accord trims (developing 192 horsepower) and Honda doesn’t give a total torque figure.

However, the electric motor that helps drive the wheels develops 247 lb-ft of torque from zero to 2,000 rpm. So the Accord Hybrid has the potential for plenty of zip when moving away from a standstill. The second motor acts as a generator to keep the battery topped up.

Front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission is the sole setup for the 2023 Accord Hybrid sedan. Notice that the EX-L has the best fuel economy figures.

2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine/dual electric motors
204 total system horsepower
EPA combined city/highway fuel economy: 44 mpg (city/highway: 46/41 mpg) (Sport, Sport-L, Touring), 48 mpg (city/highway: 51/44 mpg) (EX-L)

More Accord Hybrid fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Honda’s new vehicle warranty is for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles, while the hybrid battery has a warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles. This is typical for the class. Honda also adds two years or 24,000 miles of free scheduled servicing.