The latest Honda Accord debuted last year, and with it comes a fresh hybrid variant tuned to provide a more spirited driving experience.
"Honda's commitment to building world-class sedans continues with the all-new, 11th-generation Accord Hybrid, which is an integral piece of our North American electrification strategy," says Steve Hui, Assistant Vice President, Honda Financial Services, in a media release. "The Accord's reputation is already solidified, but this new Accord is our best ever maintaining its class-leading attributes of sophisticated styling reliability, efficiency, performance, and connectivity."
Darpan tested the mid-range Sport grade in the stunning Radiant Red Metallic paint color (+ $300), which looks the part. It features contrasting black side mirrors, a trunk spoiler, front/rear lower bumper lips and side skirts, and 19-inch alloy wheels. The vehicle also has a 10-millimeter wider rear track, broadening the stance and increasing stability on the road. The car appears significantly longer than the outgoing version—70 millimeters, to be precise—with a longer hood and fastback-style sloping roofline.
If you’ve seen or sat in a recent Honda Civic, the interior of the Accord won’t be too much of a surprise. The signature metal mesh trim spans the entire dash length and conceals the air vents. Thankfully, designers have kept an actual gear knob in place rather than installing transmission select buttons or a rotary controller. The brand says the shifter is angled towards the driver by five degrees to accommodate the two large cupholders to the console's right.
Piano Black trim is found throughout the cabin, and nice-feeling leather covers the heated steering wheel and aforementioned knob. Attractive black cloth is upholstered on the front. Body Stabilizing Seats that are comfortable and supportive, enough so I didn’t feel too much fatigue on a four-hour trip from Kelowna to the Lower Mainland.
The hybrid utilizes a fourth-gen two-electric motor system paired with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, putting out 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. Improvements over the former setup include added direct fuel injection and linear shift control that mimics the shift feel of a conventional I.C.E. under acceleration.
Drivers can choose a Sport mode via a toggle switch on the center console, which changes throttle behavior and other dynamic settings suitable for a little fun on the backroads. They can also switch to Econ when trying to maximize fuel economy. The former even creates a subtle sporty exhaust note when you put the pedal down. Handling is sharp, especially for a big sedan, due to the Accord’s MacPherson Strut front/multi-link rear suspension. New suspension damper mount bearings and ball joints give a smoother steering response.
The Honda Sensing safety suite receives an update as well. A new camera and wide-angle radar have expanded fields of view, 90 and 120 degrees, respectively, helping the driver assistance technology better recognize objects, road markings, boundaries, and signs. Over much of the long stretches of highway throughout my 400-kilometer journey from the Okanagan, I relied on the dynamic cruise control to do much of the steering, braking, and accelerating — which it did admirably.
The 2024 Honda Accord continues to be built at the Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, where production began in the early 1980s.
Highlights:
MSRP: $31,278 (as tested)
Motor: 2.0-litre inline-four cylinder
Horsepower: 204 (net)
Torque (lb-ft): 247 (net)
Gearbox: CVT automatic
Layout: Front Engine/Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel economy: 5.5 L/100 km mixed city/highway (observed)