Among the TTAC team, we’ve long joked that we could easily maintain our readership if we limited our daily coverage to one or two makes and models. While virtually everyone reading and commenting on our daily stories is an enthusiast of some persuasion, we can generally count on our readers to be pragmatic and practical when it comes to either buying a new car or recommending a new car to others. While exotic sports cars are fun to think about, most of you just need something to get back and forth every day without worry.
One of those pragmatic and practical cars that seems to be the darling of our loyal readership is in front of you today, the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid. Except for that one guy in the comments frantically mashing out the name of a certain EV maker in every statement in all caps as if afflicted with some sort of digital Tourettes’, I’ve got to believe that a solid percentage of our readership would list the Accord at the top of their most-recommended vehicles. Indeed, your author has happily owned a few Accords in his lifetime, and others around the virtual office have done so as well. Let’s see if the latest lives up to expectations.
Beyond simply stating the words “Honda Accord,” I’m sure I can light up many a driver with the simple phrase “It’s Not A Crossover.” While, yes, the tall wagon form has become the de facto standard of modern-day motoring, there are a number of drivers who prefer a lower, leaner vehicle for their everyday use. The Accord Hybrid is certain to appeal to those drivers, as it has all of the ride comfort and room you’d expect.
No, it’s not sporty. While the relatively low ride height and reasonable mass (around 3400 pounds) mean it’s a nimble touring machine, it’s hard to see a hybrid-powered Accord as a sports sedan. This is a relaxed, comfortable ride that demands nothing but the occasional fill-up. If I had to pick a car for a coast-to-coast drive, this would be it. There is room to stretch out both front and rear. The seats are basically perfect.
Yeah, the fuel economy is a big part of the appeal. You really have to try hard to send the fuel economy below 40mpg - maybe, if I were daring, I’d spend an entire week driving in reverse and see what kind of mileage I’d get? While electric vehicles may well be the way of the future, most of us aren’t there yet. An easy 500 miles between fuel stops can help drive down both costs and the expected impact on the environment today.
In this top Touring trim, you get all of the expected whistles and/or bells that Honda can throw at a vehicle. The 12.3-inch touchscreen is bright, clear, and responsive, and comes with wireless Android Auto And Apple CarPlay. The 12-speaker Bose-branded audio system sounds great. The leather seats, as noted before, were comfortable and supportive - the leather isn’t what you’d find in the highest-end luxury cars, but it feels both soft and durable.
While styling has never been the biggest highlight of any Accord, the current model you see here is a bit anonymous. It’s attractive, but perhaps a bit bland for my tastes. The fastback roofline does look a bit racy, but this will soon blend into the background and won’t turn heads. For most people looking to buy an everyday car, that’s perfectly fine.
Unfortunately, my time with the Accord Hybrid was not without incident, though it wasn’t the fault of Honda. I had a minor parking lot encounter with another driver who backed out of their parking space a bit too briskly. The rear cross-traffic alert did warn me of an approaching car and slammed on the brakes, but the other driver who hit me didn’t have such a safety aid equipped on their older crossover. The Accord sustained a bit of damage to the paint on the rear bumper, which may be slightly noticeable in the pictures.
Again, nothing to blame Honda here for, but I feel that if we’re going to call ourselves The Truth About Cars that we have to give you The Truth About What Happened When We Were Driving Said Cars. We don’t aim to test every safety system every time we drive, but when you put as many miles on our rides as we do, things do happen. They say you meet the nicest people in a Honda, but I didn’t want to meet them this way.
Many other websites and magazines have long raved about the Accord, consistently rating the car in their Top Whatever for the year. There’s a good reason for that. The 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid remains the best family sedan you can buy, which is why TTAC’s Best and Brightest continue to recommend it.
[Images: © 2023 Chris Tonn]
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