I recently bought the 2021 version of this car. Coming from owning a Mercedes Benz C class (c450) and E class (E300) for my last two cars, this design has become a breath of fresh air for me. For someone never owning a hybrid before, I’m super impressed. I’m more excited about this car than I was stepping into the ones mentioned above. I believe Hondas decision with putting on 19inch rims was smart (marketing wise). I feel like they wanted to appeal to a more sporty based driver that likes the look of a more sporty car, but also wishes he didn’t have to spend so much money at the tank for that look. The rims alone on this 2021 Hybrid is what drew me to this Honda. Anything smaller and less appealing most likely would have had me back leasing another Mercedes or for this time around another Audi... ultimately missing out on owning a car that I could eventually have no payments on and that will drive for decades to come (something you just can’t get with high end luxury cars). This design is everything to me. I hated the rear tail lights, but have now come to like them (not love). As someone who was never overly concerned with gas when buying a vehicle... getting anything above 20mpg in the city for me has been a amazing. For anyone thinking of moving from a higher end luxury/sportier car to this, I would say without any hesitation... it’s not a step down but a step up! Better insurance costs... better fuel costs... and your excise tax bill will no longer stab you in the heart when it comes. A proud Honda owner here! No more leasing and driving around in cars that depreciate, cost so much to own and maintain, and in the end must be returned because the only way they were affordable (for some) was by leasing them. This car is a major go!
Bruh, I really need the confirmation I have tried EV before and I gotta say. I simple dont like one pedal operation, it just not me This Honda Hybrid system, from what im getting: 1. Ev only 2. Engine fed electric motor 3. Engine drive the wheel when clutch is closed What I need to know, from point 1 - 3.. There is no point when this system feels like CVT/Automatic Tranny yeah? All point will feel like one pedal operation yes?
@@davidjones3520 I did get the maintenance rolled into the lease both times. However, when I had a flat tire or anything outside of that maintenance package it was ridiculously expensive. Hopefully this doesn’t come off as bragging, but a good friend of the family works for Honda and I get all the maintenance done through him. If he didn’t work for them, I’m sure I would still be smiling at how much lower the cost would be. I’m still in love with this car 14 months later. Especially with the rising gas prices. Such a smarter buy. If in time finances get better I’ll be looking for an all electric car, preferably a luxury-super-fast one :)
@@DavidMatthews84 I am actually going to check some numbers on 2022 version of this one. For lease I wanted to be around 450 too. Any advice you got for me?
I own the 2019 Accord Hybrid EX-L. I agree with Alex on all points--this is a very accurate review. The 17" wheels have a noticeably softer ride AND more fuel efficient; many Accord Hybrid owners in the forums have noticed this as well, and the 17" wheels are generally preferred. I get 49 MPG on flat highways at 65 MPH. Shorter in town trips are noticeably worse--mid 30's in the winter--but the serial hybrid driving dynamics are fantastic, with very linear EV-ish and smoother acceleration than the competition. It is a trade-off I'm more than happy to make, as this car drives better than the competition. Good job, Alex!
Agree. I own a 2018 Hybrid EX-L and the 17" wheels get pretty good mileage, best when driving in the city and on country roads about 60 MPH, in which case you can get 50MPG. Any situation when the demand is increased has a relatively bigger impact on mileage compared to other hybrids because it keeps the engine on more frequently - this includes higher speeds, winter conditions, and increased rolling resistance and wind resistance. The Touring grade got the big 19" wheels for 21M likely for marketability purposes, and this is a big hit to mileage. I myself fitted aftermarket 19" wheels with 245 width tires to my Accord and it has a drastic MPG impact of about -5 MPG compared to the 17", but I wanted the increased grip levels. I think the Accord Hybrid is an excellent car, but don't get the 19" wheels if you value fuel economy.
Goes without saying, but the stock tires are absolutely terrible on even the smallest amounts of snow. I always wind up getting a set of snows for all my vehicles anyway, but I was surprised at how bad the all season/hybrid low rolling resistance tires were in cold weather with 1-2 inches of snow on the road.
We own a 19 Accord Touring hybrid. The reviewers that don’t like how it sounds don’t understand how it is working. As your earlier video basically explained, when it is accelerating it is basically an electric car (whose electricity is being generated by the onboard gas engine/generator combo). I think it is a clever system and enjoy driving it. We have a manual NC Miata when we want are more traditional driving experience 😊
I just bought a 2018 Accord Touring hybrid (which are out there, just coming off leases, mine had 29,000 miles), which has only been tweaked slightly for 2021. I have only put a couple hundred miles on it so far, but am easily getting 41mpg combined in San Diego, which has been cool and rainy lately. Milage aside, what Alex says about it driving and having starting torque like an electric is true, it is so smooth and quiet and powerful. In Eco and regular mode, can barely hear when the engine does kick on, only in sport does it rev (nicely, I would say). Hit sport to merge onto the freeway, and you get a sudden super-charge, then back to eco and near-silent cruising. I'll take a knock on the mileage for the luxury, the way it drives and feels, and the fact that I bought it used balances my environmental impact. I expect to keep this car until I join the full electric world, once the infrastructure and battery issues are ironed out.
I’ve heard those touring rims/tires have a huge impact on the MPG. The lower trims with the smaller and more narrow rims/tires are much more efficient.
That’s exactly what it is. Tourings with the 19s are rated at 44/41/43 city/highway/combined vs 48/48/48 for the lower trims which all ride on 17s. You pay a big mileage penalty to ride on 19s. The 18-20 Tourings also got 48 MPG across the board because they used to roll on 17s.
Just be aware that Alex gets the details about power a little sideways. These details *affect* conventional cars, with one power plant, but without the complications of a hybrid that has two. Understanding them in detail has never been critical. Alex incorrectly applies that common misunderstanding of conventional cars' power to this one. By "power plant," I mean a device that converts stored energy into power that can be used for *everything* the car needs. The conventional car has an ICE that converts gasoline into mechanical power. The ratings you see for such cars is the how much power the ICE produces at the crankshaft; that is, before it is split between the transmission, the alternator, the fuel pump, various compressors and fans, etc. It is also before any losses in those devices, mainly the transmission. The amount of power that can be sent from the transmission to the wheels has never been available. There is no easy way to say how much, because it depends on too many other factors. But a common estimate I've seen is that it is at most 85% of the ICE's power. All hybrids have two power plants, and the electric motor is *_not_* one of them. Other hybrids combine their power in some very complicated ways, but the Accord's is simple: Its two power plants are the ICE-driven generator, and the battery. There is another device called the Power Control Unit (PCU) that mixes them. Its rated output is 212 HP of electrical power. The reason I said that the electric motor is not a power plant, is because it doesn't "produce" any power. Its job is to convert some of the power, produced by those two power plants, into mechanical power to be sent to the wheels. So it is analogous to the transmission in a conventional car in every way except the form of the power that it takes as an input. Its 181 HP rating is analogous to the power figure I said is unavailable in conventional cars. And to achieve that power output, it needs the PCU to produce 181/0.85=212 HP. My point is that 212 HP is the requirement that engineers used to design the PCU, not a limitation on what the two power plants can produce. That's why the Clarity (which has a smaller ICE, a larger battery, but the same PCU) has the exact same 212 HP rating. That's why every Honda iMMD hybrid (CR-V, Insight, Fit/Jazz) has a motor rated at 85% of the PCU's power rating. In every video where he mentions the power of an iMMD hybrid, Alex points out that the power to the wheels is different than the total combined power. What he gets "sideways," is that this is true of every other car he has ever reviewed. But these are the only ones where he has been told both numbers.
I don't have a Honda accord hybrid but I do have a cr-v hybrid and honestly it is a let down when it comes to cold weather. Once it gets below 45 degrees it dips down to 25-29 mpg. If it is in the 20s and doing 75 I only managed 21-23 mpg. I also have a sonata hybrid and that has been consistently 40+ mpg down to 10 degrees
@@mrTopherB13 no problem we thought there was something wrong with it and had honda check it out to make sure and everything checked out fine. So on a 65-70 degree day we ran it down the highway here for about 50 miles at 75-80 and it was doing 31-33mpg. I just can't figure out why it does so bad when it is cooler out compared to the sonata. I have also driven both the sonata and cr-v to Colorado and back to Arkansas and like I said at 75 the cr-v did 21mpg at the lowest and 27mpg at the highest. The sonata I ran at 77 and averaged 40-45mpg and it was roughly the same temperature on both trips
I just purchased a 2022 Accord Hybrid Sport, my 1st non-domestic car in 30 years. My work car is a 2021 Ford Escape PHEV. I find the Honda to be far superior in MPG along with acceleration to the Ford, and you don't have to plug it in. I had a 2021 standard Accord for a long-term rental. I find this new version to be much quieter and better acceleration than the less insulated non-hybrid model. I feel this is an outstanding all-around car with great gas milage and really fun to drive. I am 6'-2" and the front and rear comfort can't be matched for this price point or many others. As comparison my other 2 cars are a 2019 Ram Limited and a 2021 Dodge Challenger RT. Both are great cars in their own respects but the Honda is my winner for best all around car
I wish they would take the Clarity's PHEV system and just make an Accord PHEV. Even if EV range was down from the Clarity, the better rear end styling, additional luxury features (e.g. HUD, heated steering wheel) and updated infotainment would be a good trade-off for that reduction in range.
The Clarity sells so few units I think you're right, add the PHEV to Accord and kill Clarity, and I'm a Clarity owner. Might make it too expensive though. Word on the street is Honda loses money on every Clarity they sell. Last month (Feb.) only 420 were sold in the entire U.S..
@@markmiller3279 they would probably have to utilize the room under the load floor where the spare tire well is currently. It wouldn’t be an as-is thing.
The Clarity was primarily designed to be hydrogen fuel cell powered and is still available that way. The Accord would probably be severely challenged to house a 17 kWh battery.
I understand that it's for weight savings and efficiency, but I will always be disappointed when a car company deletes the spare tire. Credit where it's due, though: I appreciate the continuing presence of the spare tire well.
As long as you can still mount a spare, it doesn't really bother me. I just wish Honda weren't so stupid about the parts for the spare. You almost have to argue with the parts people to get the ordered.
I ordered a donut tire for my wife's Bolt. She doesn't need to be trying to fix a flat by the side of the road. Hopefully she will never use it. I am not a fan of filling a tire with synthetic booger as a means of repair.
no its not for either of those, it's for $$$, in almost all cases. to save on production, thats at least $200 off of production. The 30 pounds is not going to make a difference in the mpg. Then they will gladly sell you the spare tire kit for $500, yea what used to be free. Having said that you may never use your spare, but I consider that one of the biggest safety features of any car, along with brakes. If you only use it once in your life, it has paid for itself, and may save your life. But what do I know, I still like analogue gauges, volume/tune knobs, ac buttons, aux input, and sdcards on phones. even my laptop, has upgradeable memory and ssds, and I drive a manual. I guess I am a relic of the past, I even enjoy live music, and homecooked meals from scratch.
@@Tigerex966 You forgot " a girlfriend/wife that is natural beauty not the one with a boob and butt job. I am only 30 years old and i am just like you prefer Analog over Digital, real over fake, old school over new school.
The only reason you're not getting near the advertised mpg is either very short trips or you're driving too fast- this is a driver behavior issue, not a problem with the vehicle. Most likely you've got a heavy foot and aren't looking for the sweet spot in the rpm band and driving in the right lane on the highway. It's not just a hybrid thing either- with all cars you see people claim that the average MPG is false when its very plainly their own driving habits that bring their numbers down. Yes, my F150 is capable of getting 18 city and 21 highway but the way I personally drive it, I get 15.5. That doesn't mean Ford is lying, because I can in fact hit those numbers if I am very gentle and conscientious with it... I just don't care enough about the difference.
My ‘18 Hybrid Touring produced similar mpgs until I learned how to drive it. It has averaged 46 mpg over its lifetime, but in the city it averages over 50. I’m sure yours will too once you’ve learned it’s sweet spots.
@@NBAThrowback00 Touring will have bigger wheels, slow speed auto break when parking and adaptive suspension system. These are 3 big differences to me.
@@TerrySitu The Touring trim also has cooled front seating that none of the others have which a major feature for me in the Summer. Too bad that can't be had on the EX-L.
The 2018 Touring model that I have, the differences are heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, heads-up display (which is awesome), 17" wheels, and probably a couple other things. I don't think the earlier models had the bigger wheels, started with 2021.
I have a 2018 2.0T with a 6M and its the most amazing car that I have ever had. It has so much power and you can do burnouts without even trying with how much power it has.
The increased noise is mainly due to the 19" wheels with wider tires which also DECIMATE the ride... not the road getting worse over time. I drove a 19" and 17" back to back the other day, both properly inflated. The 19" touring was so bad I wondered how Honda ever authorized its release.
The real competitor for the Accord Hybrid is the 1.5T Accord, which is rated for, and achieves, about the same mpg you saw in the real world from the Hybrid, with a considerable discount in upfront cost.
This is very true. I owned the 1.5 Accord for about a year and when I got to about 20,000 miles on the clock I was getting 42-44 MPG highway miles. The 19” wheels don’t make much sense on the hybrid.
@@chrissimmons9969 Even the Malibu 1.5t is quicker than the Accord 1.5t in Motor Trend handling test: "The Malibu lapped our figure-eight course in 27.4 seconds averaging 0.63 g through the process and managed 0.84 g average during lateral acceleration tests" 2018 Accord 1.5t only registered a lateral grip of 0.81g versus 0.78 and a figure-eight time of 27.7 seconds at 0.61g A Malibu 1.5T can be had for US$13,000 good luck finding Japanese competition that inexpensive.
As a reference I own a 2017 accord hybrid with 111,000 miles on it. I average 37mpg. I recently had a 2019 accord 1.5t as a rental for 3 months when my car was in the body shop. I got 30mpg over the 3 months.
@@normt430 I should have mentioned that I tend to drive aggressively. Also, the mpg of the hybrid increases in the warmer weather. The prefer the hybrid over the 1.5T. The hybrid is just more responsive and has more power.
My wife drives the 2021 Accord touring hybrid ,with swapped 17” wheels and get an average 40 mpg . The 19 were rougher riding , 17 improved the ride, most definitely. We stayed with the widest 17 to keep the good handling and braking. Also added a space saver spare . She hated the Clarity looks, inside and out. Please Honda , make a phev Accord .Update May 22,2021.I have had the new Koenig wheels and Bridgestone quiettrack Turanza 235/50R17 now for four months, 5k miles with Mpg at 37 over those months, 60/40 city/hwy driving I can get 43 if I slow down, but it’s a lot of fun driving in sport mode and getting the adaptive suspension to help me corner fast.Love the traction feel of wider tires, even with the loss of mpg. So its, mpg :Massive Performace Grip for me, Not Mpg that matters most.
A PHEV needs a MUCH bigger battery and electric motor(s), and that usually requires planning for that from the start. That's an advantage Toyota has - they plan for hybrids from the start, including possibly Prime PHEV models. I doubt this Accord could be retrofitted with such a system. That may happen on the next generation.
Great analysis - agree with Alex here that Clarity is a compelling choice. I live in California and I received $9,800 in rebates (Federal $7,500 + California $1,500 + PG&E $800), making my out-the-door price less than the price of the base model Civic. Only caution here is small 7 gallon tank (still have ~330+ miles range) where you'll have to make frequent stops for a long~~ trip.
I went to a dealership to look at one. I liked the size and the looks were acceptable. I asked the salesman if they had a battery capacity warranty (i.e., not a defects warranty). He didn't know, but said that he would find out. A few days later he called to tell me that it did not. I explained my lack of trust in Honda due to my experience with the Honda Civic Hybrid (there was a class action lawsuit). If consumers told the manufacturers that they would not buy these vehicles without capacity warranties, they would have to do so or not sell any. The average manufacturer is going to have a much better idea of the expected lifespan of the battery than the average consumer.
I bought 2021 Accord Hybrid touring I get 45.5 mpg for the last 2500 miles average, love it, what other car this size interior, ride, handling, and trunk size gets this real world mpg
If you drive conservatively you will get great gas mileage and less west and tear on your car. A lot of reviews are only judging the car in sport mode not eco mode.
Every time I see Alex on the trunk I think he is doing trunk measurements for the mafia, so they know which car can hold people the best. They might be criminals, but they want you to be "mostly" comfortable until you get to where you will be swimming with the fishes. So thoughtful.... :-D hehe
Most people do NOT know how to drive a hybrid. While a hybrid typically drives like a normal car, if you really want to get max fuel economy, you need to make sure it operates in EV mode as much as possible. When maintaining a constant city speed, leave the accelerator and slowly press it again, it will go in EV mode, things like that. In other words, you need to be ACTIVELY involved with your car, which is something most people don't do. I have a Camry hybrid and it is supposed to give me 51 mpg. After 6 months of ownership I am at 51.5 and that is after our WINTER months! On recent trips with the higher temps, I am easily scoring 60's on my commuting. BUT....I pay attention to my driving and I am mostly driving in the right lane. It is indeed true that larger rims affect mpg negatively. Mine has 16 inch and that's enough for me.
Indeed, most people do not know how to drive a hybrid. Including many who think they do. Some of the most common misconceptions are: (1) They gain net charge in the battery using regenerative braking. They actually use more charge getting back to the same speed (or climbing that hill), than they recovered while braking. They gain net charge by running the engine at a higher level of power that is also more efficient. (2) EV mode saves gas. The truth is that it uses the most gas; it’s just gas that you burned earlier. The extra trips though inverters, converters, and batteries all add in extra losses. I ignore any tricks to improve mileage in my 2018 Accord Touring, and drive at the average speed of the highway, in any lane. The car is "supposed" to get 47 mpg. Over the last two years, so it is representative of all seasons, I've averaged 48.2 mpg.
@@jeffjo8732 at constant low cruising speeds, EV mode makes up for the horrible inefficiency of a typical gas engine at those speeds and load levels. The internal combustion engine is horribly inefficient doing 25-35 mph because it is incurring significant pumping losses when the load is light. EV mode allows the car to shut off the gas engine, and then use it later at a more efficient load level to charge the battery.
@@aspecreviews The engine doesn't drive the wheels at those speeds. When it runs, it drives a generator at 34 HP and 40.6% thermal efficiency. Whatever electricity is needed to power the traction motor is sent there directly (this is called Hybrid Drive). The excess is stored in the battery. It suffers an additional 25% (or so) loss when it is eventually used in EV Drive. The point is that the energy used for EV Drive ends up being about as "horribly inefficient" as the driving the wheels directly, at low load. The savings come from the portion of the of the 34 HP that was used in Hybrid Drive. Forcing the car to use EV Drive changes the proportion of time it spends in either, for the worse.
@@aspecreviews Because the general public doesn't understand the concept of Conservation of Energy. It has to come from somewhere. It was an unprecedented move for them at the time. Toyota did not include the wasteful "EV mode" button in the original USA version of the Prius. They did include it in other parts of the world. And the firmware to implement it existed in all Priuses ("Prii" is not the Latin plural of "Prius"). When naive hypermilers discovered it, they invented home-brewed buttons to turn it on. So Toyota did what any unethical, market-driven corporation would do: they added it to the car sometime around 2010, and hyped it as a great mpg-saving device. So that forced other makers of hybrids to add one. Get this straight: *_all_* of the energy used to propel a (non-plug-in) hybrid comes from burning gasoline. There are four paths it can take to get to the wheels (and here, "ICE" means the internal combustion engine): Gas->ICE->Transmission->Wheels Gas->ICE->Generator->Motor->Wheels Gas->ICE->Generator->Battery->(time)->Battery->Motor->Wheels (Any above to wheels)->Regen Brakes->Battery->(time)->Battery->Motor->Wheels Every step in these paths includes some loss. The more steps in a path, the more loss. There is one efficiency factor that is missing here. An ICE is most efficient when it generates about 1/4 to 1/3 of its maximum power. This is too much for cruising, but not enough for acceleration. So, while regen braking helps a hybrid not *_waste_* energy, the main benefit of a hybrid is that it reduces the loss in the "Gas->ICE" step. After that, anything that takes the path through the battery wastes more than those that don't. Since the "EV mode" button encourages such paths, it reduces mpg.
See SavageGeese review. They were pretty brutal! But to compare on fuelly the Camry is within a mpg or two, while HiHY is at 30 mpg. Meanwhile a Pacifica Hybrid S is doubling Toyota hybrid suvs and minivan. www.fuelly.com/car/chrysler/pacifica/2017/robbw/616831
Most people misunderstand what HP ratings means in a conventional car. It is usually what is called SAE Net HP. That means they take the engine out of the car, with only the devices necessary for it to run. Things like water and oil pumps. But not other devices, like alternators, power steering, and power brakes, which use some of that power. That is not the HP rating of this car, since the hybrid system can't be measured that way. Instead, the 212 HP rating means the maximum electrical power that can be produced by the engine-driven generator and the battery combined. This power is used for the same things as engine power in the conventional car. But engine power only applies at one engine speed; go faster or slower, and your power is less. There are also losses in the transmission system connecting the engine to the wheels. It is customary to estimate power at the wheels as 85% of SAE Net HP. In a 212 HP car that is - wait for it - 180.2 HP. The point is that this 212 combined HP powers, in part, a 181 HP traction motor. So it compares quite well with a 212 SAE Net HP car. AND, that 181 HP at the wheels is available at any speed (well, above about 40 mph - below that, the motor is torque-limited at 232 lb-ft.)
Our(Edmund's)2018 Honda Accord EX-L stickered for $30,865, including destination. Over the course of a year, we added 13,302 miles to our odometer. In this condition, the Edmunds TMV Calculator valued the Accord at $23,815 based on a private-party sale. That works out to 22.8% depreciation, which is slightly worse than the fleet average of 22% average. The depreciation level is even worse when you consider that the majority of our cars pass the 20,000-mile mark. Edmund's longterm Accord
@@captured_agent5714 that Edmund's vehicle they purchased and sold around 2018. Sedans were dieing which explain why the domestic brands stop selling them. And this was a newly redesigned Accord. Not even the Japanese can beat people into buying their sedans back then and today.
Came down to these 3 when I bought last summer. At the time the 2020 Camry interior was dated in which they fixed for 2021. The Honda mpg just doesn’t equate to the others. I ended up buying a 2020 Sonata Hybrid Blue for $3k off MSRP and 0% financing and didn’t need to buy an extended warranty cause the standard warranty is so long. My brother bought 2020 Accord Hybrid and wishes he bought the Sonata. I get around 47 mpg combined which is less than the EPA 52mpg.
@@mrsj1417 I’m aware that older Sonatas from 2016 both the HEV and the gas Theta II engines had problems. There are not reported problems with this gen Sonata. Recent model problems have been with the full EV Kona. I’d still buy a Sonata Hybrid over the Honda Accord and I have a Honda sitting in my driveway as well.
It's those silly 19inch Rims. What idiot in product planning said: "Let's put our least efficient rims that fit on the Accord on the hybrid, we were already losing to the Camry Hybrid on paper!" They should have kept the aerodynamic small rims. Of course maybe that wasn't such a bad choice since so many people only buy sedans for looks these days.
Engineer: "Smaller wheels will give better fuel economy, a better ride, less road noise, and better hydroplane resistance" Marketing: "Car magazines like big wheels" Executives: "Ok, I'm convinced. Let's go with the big wheels"
The advertised MPG is dependent on speed limits and climate where you live. In colder climates it performs very poorly. Downsizing tires to 17" will improve the gas mileage and comfort.
For those that worry about tbe high revving engine wearing out, this is a naturally aspirated engine, and it's not GDI. The Earthdreams technology means that there's a bit less friction compared to Honda's older engines due to use of a slightly different metal used, and yet this is port injected.
My 2021 honda insight's hybrid 2 motor system doesnt bother me at all. The gas milaege is amazing. Power is ample for my need. Price-performance with safety tech, honda hybrids are worth it.
I own a 2018 Clarity PHEV, thanks in large part to AoA; at the time I originally was looking at a Chevy Volt and the Clarity addressed my main issues with that car, which were the difficulty of finding adaptive cruise (it was only an option on the top trim on the Volt, while it's standard even on the base Clarity) and the tight interior size. I think it's a great car but one that occupies a shrinking space in the market as pure EVs with roadtrip range have become more affordable; while those cars haul around battery you're not going to use 95% of the time, they're saving the weight of the gas engine and associated components so as batteries become cheaper the PHEV edge is diminishing. The disconnect between the engine revs and throttle in Honda's series hybrid system hasn't ever bothered me much, but it's borderline infamous on the Clarity, being referred to by owners as "the angry bees." But if you run electric 99% of the time and don't let your battery get down under 25% on longer trips you'll hardly ever hear it... which means you'll probably notice it a lot more often on the Accord since its motors are going to need the gas engine boost much more frequently.
An Accord plug-in hybrid with similar numbers to the RAV4 Prime would be a real treat. I imagine it would be quicker than the 2.0T, and with decent ev range and mpg.
The Honda Accord 2.0T has an approximately 5 second zero to sixty mph time. That is one of the fastest times in the segment compared to the Kia K5 GT, Toyota Camry TRD, and Hyundai Sonata N-Line. No hybrid in this segment comes close to hitting the 5 second zero to sixty. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is nowhere near those speeds because it needs 8 seconds to sixty. Most other hybrids in this segment from Toyota and Honda hover around a similar 8 to 9 second zero to sixty time. Watch Alex on Auto’s videos on these vehicles for proper information and correct statistics in the real world, or do a search on Google for Car and Driver reviews, instead of spreading misinformation.
@@SilverScarletSpider Speculating and hoping that Honda will make a quick plug-in hybrid Accord is misinformation how? Seems you’re the one spreading misinformation.
Even the Malibu 1.5t is quicker than the Accord 1.5t in Motor Trend handling test: "The Malibu lapped our figure-eight course in 27.4 seconds averaging 0.63 g through the process and managed 0.84 g average during lateral acceleration tests" 2018 Accord 1.5t only registered a lateral grip of 0.81g versus 0.78 and a figure-eight time of 27.7 seconds at 0.61g A Malibu 1.5T can be had for US$13,000 good luck finding Japanese competition that inexpensive.
@@normt430 no one is talking about Malibus, nor the 1.5T engine. GM’s malibu can’t hold a candle to the Accord in terms of quality, resale, and safety.
@@Ryan57Garr Malibu 2.0T 9-speed has higher 1/4 mile trap speed, quicker handling time, and 37 mpg highway in Motor Trend testing. Plus it costs less and won't depreciate as fast as a more expensive economy Accord.
I have a 2017 accord, and as far as the engine noise/throttle position thing, it's never bothered me. It tends to really only happen if I'm making it work up a hill. For fuel economy, I live in the northeastern US and while I can get an individual drive at the higher end of the EPA ratings, my general mileage for a tank of gas ranges between 41 mpg in the summer and about 34 mpg in the winter. With that said, I love this car. When my lease ran up last fall I really looked for a new car, but I couldn't find anything that newer cars could give me that my current car didn't. So ultimately, I bought it. My only real complaint would be the tires. The stock tires they put on them are garbage and were practically bald by 30k miles. Highly recommend just getting a better set of tires when you get the car and sell off the stock ones.
I own the base model hybrid and easily go over 48 mpg, pretty close to 50 mpg on eco mode driving mainly highway but real heavy traffic on street driving in Los Angeles.
I don't understand why you gave a car that gets below its EPA rating and behind the competitors fuel economy, a "B" rating? Seems very apologetic to Honda
If I had a dime for every time some guy in the internet claimed some absurd real world mpg on a car or truck, I'd... well, I'd have enough dimes to get my whole gang to Rock Ridge, and then some. That Honda hybrid engine system will deliver performance on par with sports cars 40 years ago, and fuel efficiency better than a little econo box 20 years ago. If that doesn't suit you, buy elsewhere.
Please explain why a car that gets upper 40's in mpg (49 in perfect conditions) deserves a rating below B. I was getting 50mpg in my 2017 accord hybrid with highway driving all day, excluding cold weather seasons when it dropped to upper 30s or 40. While you're at it, please be sure to list all of the cars above it that fall into the A ranking- lets see how long that list is.
The engine noise is something I got used to quickly. Most of the time when I'm not flooring the gas pedal, the car runs smooth and quiet - quieter than Toyota Hybrids. Got into a friend's NX - we did some local and highway miles only when I saw the hybrid badge did I realize it wasn't a gas model. Completely different characters of hybrid drivetrains.
Error in this video: Alex mentions several times his MPG vs the EPA rating of 48 MPG, however, he is driving 2021 Touring Trim, which is EPA rated at 43 MPG combined. Therefore, his real-world test track at which he got 40 MPG was significantly closer than he states in this video. From Honda website: "48 city/48 highway/48 combined mpg rating for Hybrid, Hybrid EX and Hybrid EX-L trims. 44 city/41 highway/43 combined mpg rating for the Hybrid Touring trim. Based on 2021 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery-pack age/condition and other factors."
I love my Mazda 6 signature. Accord was my second choice. Mazda 6 is very nice and equipped beautifully. I would love if it were 10% bigger and had a plug-in hybrid.
Even the Malibu 1.5t is quicker than the Accord 1.5t in Motor Trend handling test: "The Malibu lapped our figure-eight course in 27.4 seconds averaging 0.63 g through the process and managed 0.84 g average during lateral acceleration tests" 2018 Accord 1.5t only registered a lateral grip of 0.81g versus 0.78 and a figure-eight time of 27.7 seconds at 0.61g A Malibu 1.5T can be had for US$13,000 good luck finding Japanese competition that inexpensive.
Nobody is. I do wish they'd realize what a mistake they made with that corporate grille design, because that chrome beam has never looked good. The rest of the Accord is quite handsome (I don't mind the taillights), but that nose ruins an important view.
I have one tiny problem with this review - @2:15 the Accord is presented in the graphic as being way smaller than the avalon, and significantly smaller than the Camry. The Accord is 192.2 inches long and 73.3 wide. The Avalon is 195.9 and 72.8. The Accord is actually wider and taller than the Avalon and just 3.5 inches shorter. The interior volumes are almost identical. So ok compared to the Avalon you can argue the dimensions are a bit larger and you did mention that they were close. But when compared to the Camry the accord is larger in every dimension.
to be clear I do not think the Accord competes with the Avalon - the avalon is obviously much more luxurious. Just sayin that they’re pretty damn close in terms of dimensions - and shouldn’t appear to be in different leagues as the graphic implies
I bought a 2014 Lexus LS460F 54k mi, lower price than these premium hybrids ... I get 21.6 in fwy driving doing 80 mph. it’s a phenomenal ride.... with the gas prices rising very fast I am so thankful that I bought those oil ETFs when oil went to zero last year.
Unless people have no tax liability or aren't able to find any models in the area, it's really hard to pass up the value of the Clarity. 2020's have $7500 off manufacturer-to-dealer, up to $7500 fed tax credit, and up to $5000 state rebates. 2021s have $5000 manufacturer-to-dealer along with the other deals. The cash off may depend on region/state, but if you're in the right places, it's hard to honestly find a cheaper net car.
With you 100%. My daughter bought an '18 three years ago and I bought a '20 last fall. I'll end up buying gas maybe once a year, outside of road trips.
I drive a lot so fuel economy is important for me. When I test drive some hybrid years ago, the Accord wins hands down. Fuel economy of a Prius with almost no compromise. I am slightly disappointed that it hasn't changed much since. I still regularly beat the EPA rating in the summer if I do the speed limit.
I have a hybrid and I noticed the same thing. Every time I turn off the car the dash will show my mpg for that journey. Going into work I gain 600ft and get ~32mpg. Going home I lose 600ft and my mpg is mid to high 40's. I flat areas I get the EPA numbers for my car 41 to 43 mpg.
This is my future car..... my wife loves her 2017 Accord Hybrid Touring and she consistently gets more (52 to 53 mpg) than the rated 48 mpg. Just leave it on ECON mode all the time abs learn how to control your foot and get beat regen for coming to stoos.
@@pdd3 The Camry's drivetrain is very closely related to that of the Prius and the driving experience has a lot of similarities. I suspect Honda is just trying to make a hybrid drivetrain that more easily fits into a car where it was an afterthought. The Toyota system has very different packaging requirements.
Re: fuel economy, I live in Texas and have a 19 hybrid ex-l, avg maybe 40 mpg with it. Definitely echoing the dip in fuel economy, but 34 mpg is way low. 90mph stretches of highway out west still net 36 mpg. I notice a huge drop above 70 mph. Tip for anyone that owns one, sport mode is essential for quick passing manuevers since it keeps the battery charged, it adds like 40 hp from having the battery available too
I certainly think the front end of the accord looks better than the rear end. I also agree about the Clarity, it's ugly but it's cheaper, it's really a pity.
Thank you for this video! I enjoy all of your reviews but wanted to thank you especially for this one. I finally have an answer to the question of why my boyfriend’s Accord Hybrid has never been able to get to the EPA rated gas mileage - he’s owned the 2019 model and then swapped it for the 2021. We live in Idaho where the main highways have a speed limit of 80 mph. He contacted the dealership several times and even wrote to the corporate office of Honda that never really gave him a very good explanation.
This is true of non-hybrid cars, too. At high speeds aerodynamic resistance is the main factor in efficiency, and it increases rapidly as vehicle speed increases. A car doing eighty will always be far less efficient than one doing sixty or seventy. For most cars the greatest highway efficiency will be around fifty mph, with mileage dropping off quickly the more you exceed that by. A car at 60 or even 75 might still be close to EPA highway ratings, but at 75 or 80 they will always be way below. Idaho having lots of mountain grades doesn't help any.
Between the 3 choices I'd still go for the Accord, due to better looks and overall driving characteristics - even if it isn't the most efficient. The lower trims without wide tires would certainly help the mpgs. The Clarity PHEV would be perfect if it wasn't for the looks...
Jesus, even huge monstrous Sienna 2021 8 passenger van gets 36MPG!!! This Accord is half the size and weight with tiny cabin for barely 5 medium people. Honda desperately needs to step up in Hybrid game.
@@normt430 No, the Pacific hybrid does not get 80 mpg. The Pacific PLUG-IN gets that, and only if you go full EV. Once the juice is up, it operates as a regular hybrid and then the mpg's is much worse than the new Sienna
Front end styling is ok.... but i never understood the strange broken up tail lamps. Also...a solid folding rear seat is kinda silly....most competition has standard 60/40 split.
I am curious to know why the fuel economy drops so much from the EX-L Hybrid version to this Touring version - wheel size alone would not - there are hundreds of vehicles that have the same fuel economy when you go up wheel sizes - does Honda program the software differently for this Touring version? It is almost like the lower versions compete directly with the Camry and Sonata hybrids while this Touring version is being marketed to compete with a more upscale segment.
Honda might be more honest than some of the other car companies in this reporting. The Gen3 Prius lost substantial fuel mileage when equipped with the 17" wheels vs. the 15" used on the base trim lines but Toyota pretended that they had no effect.
I was deciding between getting the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Toyota Camry SE Hybrid. It was close, but I decided to go with Camry because of better reported real world mpg's. I'm so glad that I did because I'm getting close to 50 mpg's overall economy and the engine is much quieter. You really can't go wrong with either vehicle however.
The good thing about Accord hybrid system is Honda could upgraded it with a larger +5 kWh battery pack and plug to qualify for the tax credit. The Acura MDX/RLX sport hybrid had an electric twin motor units (36hp/54tq for each) for awd. There isn't a physical connection from the front engine and rear wheel electric motors other than power cables. Honda could add to the Accord for a 4wd version.
In order to save weight Honda deletes the spare tire?? What a crock! Night time (or anytime) in bad weather, one of the rims is touching asphalt, and you have to call and wait on a tow truck with kids in the car. Not a wise decision for a "Family Sedan"! And that motor sounds like a Briggs & Stratton. Thanks for the review, because I am considering one of these and I'm not sure if the dealership would point out that I have to go purchase a spare tire.
It is a bit of an overlook to skip over the Mazda 6 when talking about mid size sedans , by far looks wise the mazda is more handsome and also better interior quality
Even the Malibu 1.5t is quicker than the Accord 1.5t in Motor Trend handling test: "The Malibu lapped our figure-eight course in 27.4 seconds averaging 0.63 g through the process and managed 0.84 g average during lateral acceleration tests" 2018 Accord 1.5t only registered a lateral grip of 0.81g versus 0.78 and a figure-eight time of 27.7 seconds at 0.61g A Malibu 1.5T can be had for US$13,000 good luck finding Japanese competition that inexpensive.
Excellent, thorough review with a good mix of subjective and objective descriptions. You're articulate, personable, and do a fine job, Alex. I lease a 2020 2.0 Touring Edition, and will consider a hybrid for my next lease. It is a bit disappointing to learn of the below-par mileage in the Honda. Sidebar: the 19" rims on my Accord may be the reason my mpg is down 1 in mixed driving compared to my previous Accord EX-L 2.0.
Even the Malibu 1.5t is quicker than the Accord 1.5t in Motor Trend handling test: "The Malibu lapped our figure-eight course in 27.4 seconds averaging 0.63 g through the process and managed 0.84 g average during lateral acceleration tests" 2018 Accord 1.5t only registered a lateral grip of 0.81g versus 0.78 and a figure-eight time of 27.7 seconds at 0.61g A Malibu 1.5T can be had for US$13,000 good luck finding Japanese competition that inexpensive.
If the Camry hybrid was getting almost 50 mpg on the same circuit and the Accord 34, then your B score is WAY TOO LENIENT. C- would be more like it. Also, saying the Camry gets to 60 in a "little" under 7 seconds and the Accord is a "little" over 6.5 seconds really is saying they pretty much are equal. Barametric differences between the days tested will have a lot more affect on acceleration times.
Camery definitely gives more mpg but i still got accord hybird because of its style amd the space inside the car. In the accord you have so much room but in camry its feel like you're sitting in tight space which doesn't feel good.
Their is always this discussion about one car being a little or significantly fast than another,however it is not an issue with me because we are mostly headed to the next stop light.So how fast do we really need to go.Furthermore most all cars can get up to speed on the interstate highways depending on on hard you push that accelerator. Also you can get a speeding ticket if you are not careful in mostly all cars.So I think this issue of one cars better acceleration over another is a non issue with me unless I’m at the track.
But when kia and hyundai lied by 2 mpg a few years back they get sued lol. this is more than 2 mpg off the epa estimates! same with the ford cmax that was originally 47/47 mpg but is now like 41 no lawsuit there.. hmmmm
I own a Chevy Volt. The engine doesn't always seem to match either. This has never bothered me. I just want the instant response of an electric, without the range issues.
Alex, The previous GEN of the Accord Hybrid (your 2017 Accord H review) delivered fuel eco fairly close to EPA #’s. Both use a version of the 2L Earth Dreams motor and the 181hp electric motor as drive of the 2 motor hybrid. Ideas on why they older /17 delivered real world mpg close to 50 in your testing vs the poor eco in this test? I’m shopping hybrids and a /17 is available nearby. Thanks for the review and any understanding of what’s changed to drop the actual mpg. Thanks again!
Any idea why the braking on the Honda accord hybrid feels more "natural" for a hybrid compared to the braking on Toyota hybrids? I've only driven the hybrid accord, rav4, and prius, but there was a noticeable difference to me in the way the brakes feel and engage on the Toyotas (very grabby- pushing pedal and nothing, nothing, then suddenly it starts to catch) vs the Honda Accord?
From what I've heard, it has to do with other hybrids having an actual transmission in between the wheels and the electric motor. As the car downshifts, it impacts the feel/response of the brakes. Honda's system has no actual transmission involved in the regenerative braking process (or anywhere else), so the overall feel is smoother.
I own a 2016 mazda6, and I like the look, but the hood has a very agressive look to it, and taking corners while going up or down a hill becomes a big problem because you can't see due to how big the hood is.
@@ragweedmakesmesneeze Strange, but true. So far just the Sonata gets the hybrid drivetrain. Not sure of the logic, but lately Kia and Hyundai do seem to be reducing the overlap in their models.
I wish you would’ve put the Altima on your comparison charts. It’s the 3rd best selling in the segment, and what a lot of people are cross shopping with.
As cars have become the new lunch counter for a lot of people, how long can the Accord stay in EV mode idling with heat or A/C on? Are CRV & Camry similar? Would love to see this in future hev/phev reviews