Honda Accord Hybrid

Is the Honda Accord Hybrid a Good Car?

The Honda Accord Hybrid is one of the best hybrids on the market. First and foremost, its fuel economy estimates (49 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway) are among the best of all hybrids. In addition, the Accord Hybrid has a well-appointed cabin, a smooth ride, and outstanding crash test scores and reliability ratings. There is very little not to like about this car.

Should I Buy the Honda Accord Hybrid?

In terms of price, the Accord Hybrid is up there. Its starting price of $29,605 is significantly higher than its hybrid rivals. However, you get much more for your money with an Accord Hybrid compared to many other midsize hybrids. For example, keyless entry with push-button and remote start, power seats, and a full driver assistance suite all come standard in the base trim. Many of these features are expensive options in rival vehicles, driving their prices closer to – and sometimes above – the price of the base Accord Hybrid.

There aren't many notable add-ons or option packages with the Accord Hybrid. If you want more features, you'll have to step up to one of the two higher trims. A top-of-the-line Accord Hybrid Touring is nearly $36,000. Alternatively, a loaded top-tier Toyota Prius Four Touring is priced more than $4,000 below that. However, you’ll make other sacrifices with a Prius, like the loss of leather upholstery and passenger space.

The Accord Hybrid may have a higher starting price than rival vehicles, but it also has a much higher value.

Compare the Accord Hybrid and Prius »

We Did the Research for You: 31 Pieces of Data Analyzed

Our team is here to help you decide if your next new car purchase should be the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid. To achieve this, we’ve analyzed 31 pieces of research about the Accord Hybrid. This includes crash test scores and reliability ratings, as well as opinions from professional automotive journalists. We did the research, found the relevant information, and then organized it into one comprehensive review. Here you can easily learn about the Accord Hybrid and how it compares to other cars in its class, and then decide if it is the right car for you.

Redesigned for 2014, the Accord Hybrid carries forward to 2017 with slight updates that boost its fuel economy and power, as well as changes to its standard equipment list. Otherwise, it remains largely unchanged from the 2015 model (the Accord Hybrid skipped the 2016 model year). As a result, this overview uses applicable research and reviews from the 2014 through 2017 model years.

 Why You Can Trust Us

At U.S. News & World Report, we’ve been ranking and reviewing cars for close to a decade. Our staff has 75 years of combined experience in the automotive industry, and our goal is to help you make one of the biggest purchase decisions in your life with ease and confidence. You should also know that we do not accept expensive gifts or trips, and the advertising on our site is handled by a third party.

How Much Does the Honda Accord Hybrid Cost?

The Honda Accord Hybrid starts at $29,605. The midlevel EX-L trim starts at $32,905 and the top-tier Touring trim starts at $35,955.

The Accord Hybrid is equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 212 horsepower. The engine and motor are paired with an electronic continuously variable (automatic) transmission. For more information on CVTs, check out What Is a CVT Transmission? For more information on hybrid engines, read How Does a Hybrid Car Work?

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

Honda Accord Hybrid Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Honda Accord Hybrid or Honda Accord?

If you’re considering the Accord Hybrid solely to save on fuel, think about the cost. It’s true that the Accord Hybrid’s 49 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway fuel economy is the best in its class. The best you’ll get from the nonhybrid Honda Accord is 27 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. However, a base Accord Hybrid starts at $29,605. A base Accord with an automatic transmission starts at $23,255, a difference of $6,350. To break even on the hybrid, you would have to drive it for 14 years.

There’s more to the story, however. A base Accord is not comparably equipped to a base Accord Hybrid. A base hybrid has standard keyless entry with push-button and remote start, Honda LaneWatch, power seats, HomeLink, and the HondaSensing driver assistance suite. To get all of these with the nonhybrid Accord, you will have to start with the Accord EX and add an automatic transmission and HondaSensing. That will cost you a total of $27,630, just $1,975 less than the Accord Hybrid. Drive the hybrid for four years, and you’ll recoup the price you paid for the hybrid powertrain.

If you can only afford the base Accord model, then the Accord Hybrid isn't for you. But if you were going to step up in trim level anyway, get the Accord Hybrid instead. The fuel economy boost is more than worth the extra cash up front.   

Which Is Better: Honda Accord Hybrid or Toyota Camry Hybrid?

The base Toyota Camry Hybrid is considerably less expensive than the base Honda Accord Hybrid, but you also get less for your money.

For starters, the Camry Hybrid has lower fuel economy estimates than the Accord Hybrid. The base Camry Hybrid gets 42 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway, while the Accord Hybrid gets a class-leading 49 mpg in the city and 47 on the highway. If you climb trim levels in the Honda, the fuel economy numbers don’t change. But buy a higher Camry Hybrid trim level, and fuel economy drops to 40/37 mpg city/highway.

The Accord Hybrid also comes standard with a full suite of driver assistance features, including a rearview camera, pre-collision braking, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The only such feature the Camry Hybrid comes with is a rearview camera. You can add a number of active safety features, but you’ll have to purchase a $3,735 package.

A base Camry Hybrid starts at $26,790, which is nearly $3,000 less than a base Accord Hybrid. Equip a Camry Hybrid with the features in the base Accord Hybrid, however, and the Camry Hybrid’s cost jumps to $33,875 – $4,270 more.

With the Accord Hybrid, you get better fuel economy and more standard features, making it the better choice. 

Which Is Better: Honda Accord Hybrid or Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?

The Accord Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid are both excellent vehicles. The Accord Hybrid edges outs the Malibu Hybrid for fuel economy, but just barely. The Malibu Hybrid has a lower starting price than the Accord Hybrid, but only by $1,730. However, the Accord Hybrid has many more standard features, especially when it comes to driver assistance. The Malibu Hybrid has a full suite of driver assistance tech available, but it requires an additional $2,090. Once that is added on, the two options are priced within a few hundred dollars of each other.

The Malibu Hybrid comes in a single trim level with a few packages and accessories available, while the Accord Hybrid has multiple trim levels but very little in the way of add-ons.

Both have good crash test scores and reliability ratings. When comparably equipped, both cost about the same. A test drive should help you decide which option is right for you.

Compare the Accord Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, and Malibu Hybrid »

Accord Hybrid Interior

How Many People Does the Accord Hybrid Seat?

The Honda Accord Hybrid seats five people. The front seats are comfortable, and you'll appreciate how easy it is to find a suitable driving position. The rear seats are supportive as well, and with 39.3 inches of legroom, your tall friends should be plenty comfortable in the back.

Both the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Accord Hybrid have a middle hump in the floor in the back, so whoever is sitting in the middle seat likely won’t be comfortable for long. Alternatively, the Toyota Camry Hybrid has a flat floor, so three people will be much more comfortable in the back.

Accord Hybrid and Car Seats

The Accord Hybrid has two full sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on the outboard rear seats. There is a single upper tether anchor on the middle seat. The upper anchors are easy to find and use, while the lower anchors are recessed deeply into the seats, making installation difficult. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Accord Hybrid’s LATCH system an Acceptable rating for ease of use.

Accord Hybrid Interior Quality

The Accord Hybrid features quality materials across most of the cabin, but it doesn't quite measure up to the nicest cabins in the class. Still, the interior is well-designed and on par with the cabins of most other midsize cars. The Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid both have equally attractive cabins.

Accord Hybrid Cargo Space

Cargo space in the Accord Hybrid is both good and bad, depending on how you look at it. When compared against all other midsize cars, the Accord Hybrid's trunk is on the small side. However, when only compared against other midsize hybrids (which generally have smaller trunks because of the battery housing), the Accord Hybrid’s 13.7-cubic-foot trunk is larger than those of every other hybrid competitor in its class. The Toyota Camry Hybrid has 13.1 cubic feet of trunk space, while the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid has 11.6 cubic feet. The Malibu Hybrid offers a 60/40 split folding rear bench to increase cargo capacity, but the Camry Hybrid and Accord Hybrid do not.

Accord Hybrid Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Accord Hybrid has many nice convenience items, such as dual-zone automatic climate control and push-button start. An infotainment system with an 8-inch display and Bluetooth is also standard.

There’s an upgraded version of the infotainment system that includes a 7-inch touch screen (mounted below the 8-inch display, closer to the driver), navigation, voice recognition, and HondaLink smartphone connectivity. Having navigation and added connectivity options is always good, and the touch screen gives the Accord Hybrid's interior a more modern feel. However, there are no physical buttons or knobs with the upgraded system to control in-vehicle functions, which leaves the touch screen as your only option. Some functions are tedious to adjust with the touch screen, requiring several taps. Others – such as volume – are controlled with touch-based sliders, which are more difficult to operate with precision than a knob.

Other available features include entertainment options like satellite radio, HD Radio, and a seven-speaker audio system. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also available, allowing you to turn the infotainment system into an extension of your smartphone.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid offer similar standard features, though neither rely as heavily on touch controls. Both options have more conventional physical knobs and switches to control most things.

While the Malibu Hybrid offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, the Camry Hybrid does not (nor does any other Toyota). For more information, read What Is Apple CarPlay? and What Is Android Auto? Then, see the Best Cars With Apple CarPlay and Best Cars With Android Auto.

Read more about interior »

Accord Hybrid Performance

Accord Hybrid Engine: Powerful, but Loud

A 212-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor power the Accord Hybrid, and they combine to give you plenty of power for all of your regular driving needs, though the engine can get loud when pushed. The acceleration is fairly impressive, too – as long as you aren't expecting to drive like you're at the racetrack.

The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid relies on its electric motor more than rivals, giving it strong, EV-like off-the-line acceleration. Toyota has all but perfected hybrid drivetrains, and the Camry Hybrid is one of the best on the road. The switch from electric to gas is nearly imperceptible, and it doesn't suffer from the loud droning that can happen with the Accord Hybrid.

Accord Hybrid Gas Mileage: Class-Leading Fuel Efficiency

Fuel economy is the calling card of many hybrids, but the Accord Hybrid still manages to stand out for its excellent gas mileage. It earns an estimated 49 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. Those ratings are excellent for any car, and they far outpace the fuel economy of the average midsize sedan. Even among midsize hybrids, the Accord Hybrid stands above the rest in terms of fuel efficiency. The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid comes closest, with estimates of 49 mpg in the city and 43 on the highway. The base Toyota Camry Hybrid gets 42/38 mpg city/highway, while upper trim levels have slightly lower 40/37 mpg city/highway estimates. Still, among all hybrids, the Toyota Prius reigns supreme with its estimates of 54/50 mpg city/highway.

The Accord Hybrid and Malibu Hybrid will cost you $750 per year to fill up with gasoline, while the base Camry Hybrid will tack on another $100. The Prius will cost you just $650 to fill up every year.

If you're looking to drive a little greener, consider a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle. The Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid ($35,210) gets 103 mpg-e, with 29 miles of pure electric drive time. The all-electric Chevrolet Bolt ($36,620) will carry you 238 miles before you need a charge. Both options also qualify for federal tax credits that will offset some of the initial cost. To learn more about mpg-e, read Decoding MPG-e.

Accord Hybrid Ride and Handling: Comfortable and Serene

Behind the wheel of the Accord Hybrid, you'll be treated to a serene ride that remains comfortable even when the pavement gets a little bumpy. The brakes are smooth as well, which is not always the case in hybrids because of their regenerative braking systems.

On the handling front, the Accord Hybrid is competent but not exciting. It's poised around turns and has good road grip, but it lacks the panache of sportier, nonhybrid rivals. Overall, the Accord Hybrid is focused on getting you comfortably where you need to go rather than how much fun you’ll have in the driver's seat.

Read more about performance »

Accord Hybrid Reliability

Is the Honda Accord Hybrid Reliable?

J.D. Power and Associates gives the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid a four out five predicted reliability rating, which is above average when compared to all other vehicles. Still, the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid best its predicted reliability rating, both receiving a 4.5 out of five.

Honda Accord Hybrid Warranty

The 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Unlike many rivals, the Honda does not offer a separate warranty for the hybrid components of the Accord Hybrid.

Both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid have a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid-related components.

For an even longer warranty, consider a Kia Optima Hybrid or Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Both cars come with a best-in-class five-year/60,000-mile warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Hybrid components are covered for life in the Sonata Hybrid and for 10 years/100,000 miles in the Optima Hybrid.

Read more about reliability »

Accord Hybrid Safety

Accord Hybrid Crash Test Results

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid a perfect five-star overall rating. Both the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid and 2017 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid also receive five-star overall ratings.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does not rate non-plug-in hybrid vehicles separately from their gas-only counterparts. It uses one powertrain as representative for both model types. The IIHS designates the Accord a Top Safety Pick+. The Camry receives this accolade as well, while the Malibu is a Top Safety Pick.

Accord Hybrid Safety Features

The Accord Hybrid is packed to the gills with standard advanced safety features. Every Accord Hybrid comes with a rearview camera, pre-collision braking, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It also comes standard with a unique feature called Honda LaneWatch, which uses a camera mounted under the right sideview mirror to show you a live video of the right side of your vehicle when the right turn signal is engaged (it can also be engaged manually via a button on the end of the turn signal stalk). Upper trim levels add dynamic guidelines to the rearview camera that move as you turn the wheel, useful when backing out of a parking space. Automatic high beams and front and rear parking sensors are standard in the top trim only. Still, the Accord Hybrid has one of the most comprehensive suites of standard driver assistance features.

Both the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid come standard with a rearview camera. Additional safety features require you to climb trim levels and add expensive packages.

To learn more about advanced safety features, read 8 Safety Features You Shouldn’t Skip.

Read more about safety »

Which Honda Accord Hybrid Model Is Right for Me?

The best Honda Accord Hybrid for the money is the midlevel Accord Hybrid EX-L ($32,905). Here, you get leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a moonroof. If you live in warm weather and don't need heated seats, the base Accord Hybrid will be fine for you. However, the base trim comes with cloth upholstery with no option to upgrade.

The top-tier Accord Hybrid Touring ($35,955) adds a navigation system, but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support standard in the midrange EX-L, you can get navigation through your smartphone.

Honda Accord Hybrid

The base Accord Hybrid starts at $29,605 and comes with keyless entry with push-button start, heated sideview mirrors, dual-zone climate control, HomeLink, a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support, a four-speaker audio system, remote start, Bluetooth, USB, a rearview camera, pre-collision braking, road departure mitigation, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Honda LaneWatch. You can add an auto-dimming rearview mirror for $311. Other small interior and exterior accessories range from $12 to $290.

Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L

The EX-L starts at $32,905 and adds leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, two-position driver's seat memory, heated front seats, a seven-speaker surround sound system with subwoofer, a 7-inch touch-screen display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, satellite radio, and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines. You can add a wireless phone charger for $290. Other small interior and exterior accessories range from $12 to $290.

Honda Accord Hybrid Touring

The Touring trim ($35,955) adds LED headlamps with auto-on and auto-off, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated rear outboard seats, HD Radio, navigation, voice controls, and automatic high beams. You can add a wireless phone charger for $290. Other small interior and exterior accessories range from $12 to $290.

The nonhybrid Honda Accord starts at $22,455 and is reviewed separately. The Honda Clarity is a hydrogen fuel cell car that is only available for lease in select California markets and therefore not reviewed by U.S. News.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Honda dealer. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Honda deals page.

See 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid specs and trims »

The Final Call

The Honda Accord Hybrid is one of the best hybrid vehicles you can buy. Outstanding fuel economy, an excellent standard features list, and superb crash test scores and reliability ratings make this a great buy. Although the Accord Hybrid is one of the most expensive options in the class, many less expensive competitors can't match the fuel economy or features available in the Accord Hybrid, making it an excellent value.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "But again, stellar fuel-efficiency is only part of the equation. You can't put a dollar figure on the satisfaction granted by owning a car with potentially 700-plus miles of range and the knowledge that you can be helping reduce energy consumption without sacrificing drive quality. Through that lens, the latest Accord Hybrid feels like a successful continuation of what was already a highly laudable car." -- Kelley Blue Book
• "Stylish, efficient and comfortable, the 2017 Honda Accord does just about everything well. And although it's not really a high-performance hybrid for the masses, the 2017 Accord Hybrid's added giddy-up is certainly welcomed. If you're after an all 'rounder, the 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid should be at the top of your list." -- Left Lane News
• "Why has Honda apparently ceded the hybrid game to Toyota?" I wondered after driving this Accord Hybrid. It's really good, which … means that it doesn't feel much like a hybrid at all." -- Autoweek