Car news! Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan

Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan

Full 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

What's New for 2014

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is all-new.

Introduction

Honda fully redesigned the Accord last year, improving the sedan's interior, adding the latest technology features and increasing fuel economy on four-cylinder models. But the real tweet-tastic gain in fuel economy comes out this year. Here we have the new 2014 Accord Hybrid model, and it's promising a nice, round 50 mpg in the city. You can bet the Toyota Prius just did a spit-take.

You can expect the new hybrid to be much more popular. The key is the new powertrain that pairs a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with two electric motors (one for motivation and one for recharging) and stores its electrons in a trunk-mounted lithium-ion battery pack. The combination is good for a combined 196 horsepower and an EPA-combined city and highway estimate of 47 mpg. Edmunds' own testing more or less confirmed that figure, including a whopping 55.4 mpg during our 100-mile suburban driving testing loop.

More than just the numbers, though, we've been impressed with the way the Accord Hybrid drives. Just as you'd expect from any Accord, acceleration, refinement and handling are all very good. Hills or aggressive acceleration cause the engine to make more noises than some other hybrid sedans, but in most cases, the Accord Hybrid is notably serene.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid sedan is available in three trim levels: EX, EX-L and Touring. The plug-in version of the car, the Accord Hybrid Plug-In, is reviewed separately.

The EX comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless ignition/entry, an 8-inch video display, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot display, cruise control, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, iPod/USB audio interface and Pandora functionality.

The EX-L adds a sunroof, leather upholstery, forward collision and lane-departure warning systems, a more sophisticated rearview camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver memory settings, heated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat and a premium seven-speaker sound system with a touchscreen display, satellite radio and smartphone app integration (HondaLink).

The range-topping Touring has the above equipment and tops it off with LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system with voice recognition.