Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan-2014

PREVIEW

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.

Unlike Honda's other hybrids such as the Civic Hybrid or Insight, the Accord Hybrid (and the related Accord Plug-In Hybrid) has an all-new hybrid system that's capable of accelerating the car using pure electric power. The new model is also very much unlike the original 2005-'07 Accord Hybrid, which accelerated quickly but had such down-to-earth fuel economy numbers that few people bought it.

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. Autoexpress 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.

This new Accord joins a small group of hybrid family sedans this year. Its closest competitor is the 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which offers virtually identical fuel economy and a quieter, comfier ride. We ranked it higher in a Hybrid Sedan Comparison Test, but the Accord Hybrid still managed to prove itself superior to the less efficient 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid. One could also consider the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid, but they don't come close to any of the aforementioned hybrids' fuel economy. If you're shopping for a hybrid sedan this year, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid certainly merits a close look.

FEATURES

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.

INTERIOR

With a few exceptions, the materials in the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid have a high-quality look and feel. The overall cockpit design is elegant, and the cabin's tight construction gives the impression of an entry-level luxury car. The dash design embraces the spirit of legibility with an effective three-tier layout. At the top is the crisp-looking 8-inch display that offers varying levels of information and, depending on the trim level, audio and navigation interfaces. Meanwhile, the main instrument displays provide enough information without being cluttered and overwhelming.

Both front and rear occupants will find plenty of legroom and shoulder room -- the sedan's backseat is arguably best-in-class with its combination of space and comfort. We're also fond of the clear outward visibility afforded by the Accord's design.

Compared with the standard Accord, the hybrid's 12.7-cubic-foot trunk is 3 cubes smaller than that in the non-hybrid Accord sedan (all those batteries need to go somewhere). Furthermore, despite that cubic feet figure being numerically on par with its hybrid sedan rivals, the Accord's trunk lacks the depth others provide and there is no pass-through or fold-down seat.

UNDER THE HOOD

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor. Together, they send a total of 196 hp and 226 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). In Autoexpress performance testing, it went from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, making it one of the quickest non-luxury hybrids on the road.

According to the EPA, you can expect fuel economy to be 47 mpg in combined driving (50 mpg city/45 mpg highway). In extensive Autoexpress fuel economy testing, the Accord Hybrid managed 43.9 mpg, which is a mathematically negligible drop from the EPA combined estimate. Significantly, it achieved 55.4 mpg in 100 miles of suburban driving during our testing.