2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review: One-upping the Toyota Camry
Clever and competitively priced, the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring represents stellar value.
After recently spending time behind the wheel of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, it inevitably led to the question: How does the Honda Accord Hybrid stack up? Rivals since the two began duking it out in the early ‘80s, it only made sense to hop into Honda’s eco-minded mid-sizer.
This particular Accord Hybrid is a high-end Touring model, so while prices for the Hybrid start at just over $26,000, this one has a ten grand price premium and is thus loaded with every creature comfort and amenity one would hope for, with key features like heated and ventilated leather seating, a head-up display and a slick-looking infotainment system that features Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a full suite of safety tech a la Honda Sensing. Don’t forget the plethora of parking sensors and blind spot monitors, too.
All of this is a good thing because the Accord’s cabin is also a step above the competition in another way, as it offers an excellent blend of both quality materials as well as visually appealing colors and textures that would get the nod of approval from any interior designer. That it can comfortably fit four six-foot-plus adults inside with ease also helps it’s cause.
ALSO SEE: Honda Insight Hybrid vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid Comparison Test
On the road, the Accord also shines brightly. The ride quality is as supple as it’s leather-lined thrones, ironing out Los Angeles’ broken pavement with a level of composure that would make more than a few German luxury sedan owners envious. Indeed, it is also notably more quiet at freeway cruising speeds than it’s Toyota counterpart, which earns it major roadtrip brownie points.
It also hangs on in the corners pretty well, too, with the electric power steering system (something Honda has innovated with since the early ‘90s in vehicles like the NSX supercar) offering a light, but accurate understanding of what the front tires are doing. Despite those tires being of an eco-conscious all-season tires construction, the Accord Hybrid feels surefooted and agile, in a way that almost belies its green cred.
That agility is due in equal parts to the excellent ride and handling and the powertrain. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine paired with a hybrid-electric powertrain. It produces 212 horsepower, 232 lb-ft of torque, and sends power to the front wheels via a continuously variable automatic transmission. When pushed hard it accelerates with more verve and gusto than one would expect looking at it from the outside.
Not only is it the most powerful in the segment, but it’s decently powerful, in general. Hardcore Honda fans will recall that those figures aren’t too far off what the old V6-powered Accords of yore could crank out. However, there’s very little drawback to the performance, as the EPA rates the Accord Hybrid Touring at 48 MPG city, 47 MPG highway and 48 MPG combined. In the real world, DBFR saw 42.9 MPG measured at the pump. For perspective, the Camry Hybrid did 41.4 driven in a similar manner. Los Angeles roads are far more cruel than any EPA test cycle.
Indeed, there is very little to complain about with the Accord Hybrid. It’s quick, quiet, well-contented and fairly priced. That fact that it undercuts the Camry Hybrid XLE on the price tag, while offering a more luxurious ride and, seemingly, no drawbacks, makes it a clear cut winner and easy recommendation over the Toyota.
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