The redesigned Accord Hybrid is a sensible midsized sedan that’s roomy, fuel-efficient, and blessed with super-easy controls. The hybrid version scored better in our testing than the conventional Accord, aided by its superior fuel economy and much more pleasant power delivery. We think it’s one of the best cars on the market.
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric drive combine to make an ample 204 horsepower. We enjoy the way Honda’s two-motor hybrid system mimics the upshifts of a regular automatic transmission, rather than allowing the engine revs to soar during acceleration as with the continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) found in many hybrids—including the CVT in the regular Accord. The hybrid version switches seamlessly back and forth between electric and gas propulsion, and the powertrain is both more responsive yet also more refined than the regular Accord’s turbocharged four-cylinder. By our numbers, outright acceleration is identical between the two, both registering 0 to 60 mph in 8 seconds flat.