For decades, the Honda Accord has been the midsize sedan benchmark. Now in its eleventh generation, the legend continues its tried-and-true formula — but is it enough to remain a popular pick over the new crossovers?
While it’s no longer the best-selling sedan in the country, and many of its rivals have gone bye-bye over the past few years, Honda hasn’t given up hope yet. For 2023, the Accord received a full redesign with new styling, new tech, and a mostly-hybrid lineup.
Inoffensive (some might say bland) styling has always been a hallmark of the Accord, and this new generation certainly follows tradition. The exterior has been simplified, smoothened, and when compared to the outgoing model, most casual observers probably wouldn’t be able to pick which one was the new one. That said, it’s still a good-looking sedan; I like the minimalist and decidedly upscale appearance, even if it is a bit boring.
Being a Sport trim level, you’ll find black accents around the exterior, as well as 19-inch alloy wheels. Full LED lights front and rear are also now standard on all models, and amber turn signals are a nice touch.
Speaking of trim levels, six are on offer this year: LX, EX, Sport, Sport-L, EX-L, and Touring. Only two drivetrain options are available; sadly gone are both the 2.0-liter turbo-four and the manual transmission. Entry level LX and EX models come standard with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 192 horsepower, while Sport and above are hybrid-only. The addition of the electric motor brings output up to 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. Both configurations are paired with CVTs and front-wheel-drive — strangely, still no all-wheel-drive option like many rivals now offer.
On the inside, the new Accord’s interior shares many of its design cues with other recently-updated Honda models. As with the Civic and CR-V, the two focal points of the front passenger area are the full-width climate vent (though it’s not actually a vent all the way across) and the large 12.3-inch touchscreen. A 10-inch digital gauge cluster display is also now standard across the lineup.
Infotainment UI is always something Honda has struggled with, but this new system is much improved. I particularly like the customizable shortcuts on the side and the satisfying click you get with every button press. Overall, it’s not perfect, but the wireless Apple CarPlay works flawlessly, and top-end trims get a fully Google-based system which should be even better.
Despite having cloth seats, the interior still feels somewhat premium up front. The steering wheel, door panels, and armrests are covered in faux leather with decorative faux stitching, and the key touch points are solid. At the current rate of the industry, bonus points should be given for the physical climate and volume controls. My only real complaints with the front passenger area are the lack of adjustability in the front seats (no four-way lumbar and the passenger seat is fully manual) and the fact that Honda continues to refuse to offer heated seats with cloth interiors.
Unfortunately, the same premium feeling cannot be attributed to the rear seat. The Accord grew 2.7 inches in overall length for 2023, but the wheelbase remained the same, so legroom does not see any increase. Comfort and headroom are acceptable, but the door panel materials are significantly cheaper, and there’s basically no amenities for back seat passengers. On this Sport model, there’s no air vents, no USB ports, and Honda even cheapened out with just one seatback storage pocket.
The trunk also remains the same size as the outgoing model. At 16.7 cubic feet, the Accord continues to offer the largest cargo area in the segment. Split-folding seat backs are standard, although it’s a two-step affair since the releases are located in the trunk.
After putting around 500 miles on the Accord, I’m impressed by its well-rounded driving abilities. On the highway, the suspension is soft and the ride is controlled. The cabin is fairly quiet; tire noise is certainly pronounced but not overwhelming. Around town, the hybrid system transitions seamlessly and quietly — you’d really never know there was a difference if you couldn’t occasionally hear the engine kicking on.
It’s also marginally quicker than most of its rivals. 0-60 mph happens in 6.8 seconds, which isn’t super quick, but is roughly a half-second ahead of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, Toyota Prius, and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The CVT transmission does a decent job of simulating gears, but still does its best chewing gum impression in eco mode. That said, I was able to achieve a solid average of 45 MPG in my 500 miles of mixed driving.
I also really enjoyed the fact you can almost one-pedal drive the Accord like a full electric car. To the untrained observer, the shift paddles on the steering wheel may seem pointless in a CVT hybrid, but once you use them you discover they actually adjust the level of energy regeneration you get. Cranked all the way up, the car won’t fully stop itself, but it will slow down pretty aggressively and you can smoothly brake to a stop once you’re just rolling. In sport mode, the car will retain its regen setting; annoyingly, it constantly resets in the other drive modes.
Handling-wise, while it’s far from my Mazda Miata, I was not unimpressed. The Accord is nowhere near as heavy as a full-EV sedan, and is even lighter than my old Audi S4 despite being a bigger car. It corners flat, and while the steering has plenty of artificial weight, it does leave something to be desired. That’s to be expected in a midsize hybrid sedan, though. In sport mode, the fake engine sound is amusing because it really just amplifies the simulated gear shifts. Luckily, it’s not overbearing like it is in some more performance-focused cars.
So, does the new Accord remain the midsize class-leader? In a dying segment, it’s certainly still a solid choice. It shines above the competition in most ways, but maybe just a little less brightly than before. Technology, driving experience, and space are far ahead of the aging Toyota Camry and Nissan Altima, but overall it doesn’t offer anything truly standout or revolutionary. Although, I suppose that’s what the Accord has always been — a simple, well-rounded, reliable choice for the masses.
After a very busy weekend with the Accord, I am a little sad to give it back. It’s a great road-trip machine, and one of the most enjoyable and fun hybrid sedans I’ve driven in recent memory. I would be perfectly content with having one as my daily driver, maybe just a higher trim level than the Sport — one with heated seats to sit behind its radar cruise control and digital gauge cluster, ya know?
| Vehicle Tested | 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid |
| Color | Platinum White Pearl / Black Cloth |
| Drivetrain | 2.0L I-4 hybrid, e-CVT, Front wheel drive |
| HP / Torque | 204 horsepower / 247 lb-ft |
| Curb Weight | 3,480 lbs (est.) |
| 0-60 mph | 6.8 seconds |
| EPA Fuel Econ | 46 city / 41 hwy / 44 combined |
| MSRP | $33,445 |
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