The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid was the gift that kept giving back in December and I took full advantage of it. But you’ll want to read on to see if this hybrid sedan is worth it (and what it offers).
Driving for Good in the Honda Accord
As part of its annual giving initiative, the Washington Automotive Press Association (WAPA), of which I am a member, raised over $9000 for a local chapter of Meals on Wheels. We all planned to gather as a group, drive an impressive line up of new vehicles to the chapter headquarters, and present the check.
Honda was one of the many generous sponsors who made it possible and I was thrilled to get behind the wheel of only the second Honda I’ve ever reviewed. After presenting the check, several of us washed up, gloved up, and masked up (of course) and took on one of the local routes to deliver meals to those in need.
It’s a humble operation and it was nice to have the opportunity to be a friendly face to those who are shut in even more than usual.
Originally, my car loan was scheduled for a Tuesday through Thursday – the day of the event. Then it was graciously extended to Monday and then Tuesday and then the snow hit and I finally returned the vehicle the following Thursday.
While my last loan was barely three days, I got to get up close and personal with the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid.
Is the Honda Accord Hybrid Worth It?
Let me save you some reading time. YES. And here’s why.
The Honda Accord has historically been a rock solid vehicle purchase. If you haven’t owned one, you probably know someone who did (in my family, it’s my husband). But sales figures have been dipping. Should you be worried?
What you’re actually seeing is a general decline in sedan sales across the board. It’s why Ford and GM have either discontinued or greatly pared down their sedan offerings. We’re living in an SUV world.
But if you’re a sedan lover, you’ll be impressed not only with the design and amenities but with the fuel economy this hybrid can give for only about $500 more than a regular gasoline engine (for the Touring trim level).
Let’s talk about the design. Because it’s been my biggest complaint with Honda for years. They offer the same bland, risk-averse Japanese designs we see with Toyota. And it was really my only complaint about the Honda Pilot.
2021 changed all that as the Honda Accord offered “updates to styling, technology, drivability and safety features.”
One of my favorite design elements are the LED headlights that offered improved lighting capabilities over previous models (available on Hybrid EX and Touring trims).
You’ll also notice that the rear has a very hatch-like or fastback look to it, more often seen on coupes. It definitely ups the sportiness factor while still offering 16.7 cubic feet in the trunk and a 60/40 split with rear folding seats.
The biggest design that everyone seemed to notice (myself included) are those wheels. This Touring trim offers 19 inch Machine-Finished Alloys with Black Inserts (vs 17 inch on other trims). This is a rarity for hybrids to actually look sporty and, coupled with the low profile tires, you could barely tell that this vehicle is fuel efficient.
The interior also offered some nice upgrades that included a mock woodgrain inlay (it’s plastic but no one needs to know!) and an 8 inch infotainment display. But it doesn’t stop there.
I brought my charging cord into the vehicle to connect my phone to Apple CarPlay only to find out it’s not needed – for connectivity OR charging. This Accord offers Qi wireless charging AND wireless Apple CarPly connectivity.
Was it perfect? Nope. The wireless CarPlay seemed to work fine but the wireless charging seemed a little cranky now and then. And I’m pretty sure that once I have this on my own personal vehicle, I’ll never go back.
I also thought I’d never get used to a push button transmission but I’m happy to say that this space-saving design has grown on me since I tried it out on the Pilot.
But How Does It Drive?
A car can look good but unless it can deliver, who cares?
I personally love the torque that you get with hybrid vehicles and the Honda Accord Hybrid didn’t disappoint. Offering a respectable 212 combined hp, it can be a little sluggish on acceleration and shifting (thanks, E-CVT). But the added 232 lb-ft of torque still makes this fun to drive, especially on curvy back roads.
Final Thoughts on the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid
I didn’t have a spec sheet on this vehicle like I normally do so I did my own build and price and ended up at $37,590. This is for the top of the line trim (Touring) with a hybrid engine. That’s about $500 more than a gas only equivalent and the gas mileage is where you make your money back.
The combined fuel economy for the hybrid is estimated to be 48 mpg vs 33 mpg for the gas only option. I didn’t observe fuel economy in that range but I did do a lot of idling, especially while doing my video review.
Please check out more details below if you want a tour of the inside, outside, under the hood, and on the road.
