2018 / 2019 Honda Accord Hybrid - The Family Fuel Sipper
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Date: 2019-05-30
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Comments and reviews: 10
Andrew Bilello
A few things to consider between the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid: Both 2018 models have full trunks as the batteries have moved under the rear passenger seats. The Accord has 17cf of trunk space, the Camry has 15cf. The Camry comes in 3 trims, with the lowest trim LE getting an updated Li-ion battery pack and smaller wheels that gives it the best mpgs among any Camry/Accord hybrid trim. However, the SE and XLE trims come with an older NiMH battery system and bigger rims, giving it the worst mpgs of any Camry/Accordy hybrid trim. The Accord comes in 4 trims for the hybrid version, all receiving the same Li-ion battery and same wheel size which essentially keeps mpgs the same across all trims (EPA 47 mpg. If you are looking for a non-taxi version (i. e leather or sport cloth interior, premium sound, moonroof, media/navigation) my pick is the Accord hybrid due to the mpg bump compared to similar Camry trims. Also, as mentioned by another post, the Accord gets CarPlay/Android Auto which although Ive never used these systems, I would much prefer to have a phone based map system to a factory navigation system that easily gets outdated and can sometimes cost money to keep updated. Plus Apple has announced the new iOS coming out soon will expand the apps to Google Maps and Waze, another big plus. The hybrid systems themselves are very different, with the Toyota a more conventional one where the engine powers the wheels and helps recharge the batteries. The Honda one seems unique in that the engine is only there to charge the batteries, unless you are at a certain speed where it can engage itself into the drive system at highway speeds when you need a little extra oomph. In essence, the Accord is similar to a less powerful Tesla if the Tesla had a generator because the Honda gets a powerful 180 hp, 200 ft-lb torque electric motor whereas the Toyota is somewhere in the double digits in performance acting more as a boost to the engine. That means no gear changes in the Accord, just a uniform and smooth acceleration from the electric motor, with the engine coming on to charge the batteries (some people find this experience strange because the engine might kick on when you are not asking for power as it doesnt directly drive the vehicle. Lots of standard safety features for both cars, although the Honda has more features. Both cars got perfect crash test ratings, where the Camry got a + rating due to the top trimmed XLEs better headlights, but otherwise all things are equal. Based on several auto articles and youTube videos, it seems to be a unanimous consensus that the Accord is more fun to drive, has a nicer interior, and better features. Exterior looks for both have their pros and cons to me. I believe the base model Accord hybrid starts at a lower price, but the Touring trim is the most expensive although my mom went with the EX-L trim which seems to have everything you would really ever want and still comes in less than the Camry top trim XLE. An added driving dynamic feature on the Accord which I really found amusing was the addition of the flappy paddle regenerative braking selectors on the steering wheel which as a manual driver, I enjoy having some input into driving a car. They are not necessary and my mom will probably never use them, but you can use these paddles to increase and decrease the regenerative braking while coasting, which allows you to dedicated almost all of your braking into regen for the batteries and prevents you from having to use the brake pedal except to come to a complete stop or emergency situations. It defaults to mild regen on coasting, but the most aggressive regen will bring you from 50mph to a crawl within a couple hundred yards. Note, both cars regen the batteries when using the normal brake pedal also, but you do lose some efficiency if you brake hard. Also, the Accord hybrid is faster off the line than the Camry hybrid, with 0-60 around 7. 0s vs mid 7s in the Camry. The Accord hybrid is actually faster than the 4 cylinder non-hybrid Accord. Usually Toyota offers better deals and interest rates than Honda. We got the EX-L for 29, 000 (MSRPd at 34, 000 with dealer packages. As for real world MPGs, my moms 15 mile commute to work every day on 50-60mph roads (not interstate) with some traffic lights, shes frequently texted me about how she topped 60MPG on her commute. Personally driving the car on a couple of road trips I was able to consistently keep it in the 50s.
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A few things to consider between the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Toyota Camry Hybrid: Both 2018 models have full trunks as the batteries have moved under the rear passenger seats. The Accord has 17cf of trunk space, the Camry has 15cf. The Camry comes in 3 trims, with the lowest trim LE getting an updated Li-ion battery pack and smaller wheels that gives it the best mpgs among any Camry/Accord hybrid trim. However, the SE and XLE trims come with an older NiMH battery system and bigger rims, giving it the worst mpgs of any Camry/Accordy hybrid trim. The Accord comes in 4 trims for the hybrid version, all receiving the same Li-ion battery and same wheel size which essentially keeps mpgs the same across all trims (EPA 47 mpg. If you are looking for a non-taxi version (i. e leather or sport cloth interior, premium sound, moonroof, media/navigation) my pick is the Accord hybrid due to the mpg bump compared to similar Camry trims. Also, as mentioned by another post, the Accord gets CarPlay/Android Auto which although Ive never used these systems, I would much prefer to have a phone based map system to a factory navigation system that easily gets outdated and can sometimes cost money to keep updated. Plus Apple has announced the new iOS coming out soon will expand the apps to Google Maps and Waze, another big plus. The hybrid systems themselves are very different, with the Toyota a more conventional one where the engine powers the wheels and helps recharge the batteries. The Honda one seems unique in that the engine is only there to charge the batteries, unless you are at a certain speed where it can engage itself into the drive system at highway speeds when you need a little extra oomph. In essence, the Accord is similar to a less powerful Tesla if the Tesla had a generator because the Honda gets a powerful 180 hp, 200 ft-lb torque electric motor whereas the Toyota is somewhere in the double digits in performance acting more as a boost to the engine. That means no gear changes in the Accord, just a uniform and smooth acceleration from the electric motor, with the engine coming on to charge the batteries (some people find this experience strange because the engine might kick on when you are not asking for power as it doesnt directly drive the vehicle. Lots of standard safety features for both cars, although the Honda has more features. Both cars got perfect crash test ratings, where the Camry got a + rating due to the top trimmed XLEs better headlights, but otherwise all things are equal. Based on several auto articles and youTube videos, it seems to be a unanimous consensus that the Accord is more fun to drive, has a nicer interior, and better features. Exterior looks for both have their pros and cons to me. I believe the base model Accord hybrid starts at a lower price, but the Touring trim is the most expensive although my mom went with the EX-L trim which seems to have everything you would really ever want and still comes in less than the Camry top trim XLE. An added driving dynamic feature on the Accord which I really found amusing was the addition of the flappy paddle regenerative braking selectors on the steering wheel which as a manual driver, I enjoy having some input into driving a car. They are not necessary and my mom will probably never use them, but you can use these paddles to increase and decrease the regenerative braking while coasting, which allows you to dedicated almost all of your braking into regen for the batteries and prevents you from having to use the brake pedal except to come to a complete stop or emergency situations. It defaults to mild regen on coasting, but the most aggressive regen will bring you from 50mph to a crawl within a couple hundred yards. Note, both cars regen the batteries when using the normal brake pedal also, but you do lose some efficiency if you brake hard. Also, the Accord hybrid is faster off the line than the Camry hybrid, with 0-60 around 7. 0s vs mid 7s in the Camry. The Accord hybrid is actually faster than the 4 cylinder non-hybrid Accord. Usually Toyota offers better deals and interest rates than Honda. We got the EX-L for 29, 000 (MSRPd at 34, 000 with dealer packages. As for real world MPGs, my moms 15 mile commute to work every day on 50-60mph roads (not interstate) with some traffic lights, shes frequently texted me about how she topped 60MPG on her commute. Personally driving the car on a couple of road trips I was able to consistently keep it in the 50s.
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lenny DJ wannabe
Alex - you say at about 8 mins through the video that you can put a spare tire from a regular Honda in the hybrid. For the 2018 Accord Hybrid, you are correct in that it fits as a dealer tried it for me, however when I tried to get a dealer to actually put it in I was told Honda does not support putting a spare tire in and you can do it only at your own discretion (its not available as an accessory. I have no idea what do at at your own discretion means to warranty and it is unclear whether this will change for the 2019 model. The bottom line though is I wont buy a car without a spare tire - spray can glue plus inflator wont fix tire if damage on sidewall or more than small puncture and glue can damage TPMS sensors. You need to contact Honda company headquarters and get an answer for us in plain English and in writing and post their official written response here - ie. yes you can or no you cant. Without the ability to get a spare tire (even as an accessory, I think that tips the scale for the better car to the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which I believe comes with a spare tire standard (readers double check as things can change. See how you feel when you are halfway into a trip on a holiday with no tire stores open and you get a flat that cant be repaired. Roadside assistance may or may not come in several hours and then can tow you to a hotel where you can wait a couple of days for one to open In the meantime, I think you need to correct your video until you get Honda to give you their official written position on this. And I would suggest in your reviews that you deduct points for cars without spare tires.
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Alex - you say at about 8 mins through the video that you can put a spare tire from a regular Honda in the hybrid. For the 2018 Accord Hybrid, you are correct in that it fits as a dealer tried it for me, however when I tried to get a dealer to actually put it in I was told Honda does not support putting a spare tire in and you can do it only at your own discretion (its not available as an accessory. I have no idea what do at at your own discretion means to warranty and it is unclear whether this will change for the 2019 model. The bottom line though is I wont buy a car without a spare tire - spray can glue plus inflator wont fix tire if damage on sidewall or more than small puncture and glue can damage TPMS sensors. You need to contact Honda company headquarters and get an answer for us in plain English and in writing and post their official written response here - ie. yes you can or no you cant. Without the ability to get a spare tire (even as an accessory, I think that tips the scale for the better car to the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which I believe comes with a spare tire standard (readers double check as things can change. See how you feel when you are halfway into a trip on a holiday with no tire stores open and you get a flat that cant be repaired. Roadside assistance may or may not come in several hours and then can tow you to a hotel where you can wait a couple of days for one to open In the meantime, I think you need to correct your video until you get Honda to give you their official written position on this. And I would suggest in your reviews that you deduct points for cars without spare tires.
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Mark Dc
Ive heard you make comments in your hybrid reviews about payback time, referencing the fuel savings costs versus the purchase prices of hybrid vehicles. This is a bit misleading. You should also mention and consider the total range of the fuel tank in a hybrid. That contributes to significantly noticeable time savings. And to many people, time is money. Two trips to the gas station per month, instead of three or four. Or more importantly, less stopping on a road trip. Last year I evacuated Tampa before Hurricane Irma. I was able to drive to Atlanta without stopping for fuel. This was huge because many stations had no fuel. It turned into a major safety issue. Now this isnt a big deal most of the time, but neither are things like all wheel drive or automatic emergency braking. You may only really need them once or twice a year, but they could potentially save your life, or at least save you from some harm or major inconvenience. Its not a simple mathematical formula in real life.
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Ive heard you make comments in your hybrid reviews about payback time, referencing the fuel savings costs versus the purchase prices of hybrid vehicles. This is a bit misleading. You should also mention and consider the total range of the fuel tank in a hybrid. That contributes to significantly noticeable time savings. And to many people, time is money. Two trips to the gas station per month, instead of three or four. Or more importantly, less stopping on a road trip. Last year I evacuated Tampa before Hurricane Irma. I was able to drive to Atlanta without stopping for fuel. This was huge because many stations had no fuel. It turned into a major safety issue. Now this isnt a big deal most of the time, but neither are things like all wheel drive or automatic emergency braking. You may only really need them once or twice a year, but they could potentially save your life, or at least save you from some harm or major inconvenience. Its not a simple mathematical formula in real life.
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Joseph G
No compromise hybrids is getting to be a long list I think its time to recognize that hybrid technology has matured and there are no significant compromises associated with the technology anymore. Even the 1/2 inch of rear headroom in the Camry will go away once their lithium-ion battery production meets global demand. Now I wish makers would let us customize hybrid vehicles and EVs more. Adjusting regen is a good start, but Id also like an option to eliminate creep for maximum efficiency. Im glad you plugged the Clarity, I think its a great model that Honda should push more aggressively. IMO its odd you put trunk space as a plus for the Camry and headroom as a minus when the Camry has a smaller trunk and more headroom than the Accord.
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No compromise hybrids is getting to be a long list I think its time to recognize that hybrid technology has matured and there are no significant compromises associated with the technology anymore. Even the 1/2 inch of rear headroom in the Camry will go away once their lithium-ion battery production meets global demand. Now I wish makers would let us customize hybrid vehicles and EVs more. Adjusting regen is a good start, but Id also like an option to eliminate creep for maximum efficiency. Im glad you plugged the Clarity, I think its a great model that Honda should push more aggressively. IMO its odd you put trunk space as a plus for the Camry and headroom as a minus when the Camry has a smaller trunk and more headroom than the Accord.
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Fred Wright
Please suggest to Honda to fix the problem of not being able to turn on all of the interior ceiling lights with one button from the front. For some reason this cannot not be done with the Civic or Accord. It can be done on Hondas SUVs and mini vans. Safety seat anchors are included but no ability to turn on the rear light from up front to check on young ones. This is a major mistake. Also no AUX cord connection is another major mistake. Lastly the audio system has no way to view the current folder after a track has been selected without going to the beginning audio menu. Pressing the back button when playing a track should take you to the folder the track playing was selected.
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Please suggest to Honda to fix the problem of not being able to turn on all of the interior ceiling lights with one button from the front. For some reason this cannot not be done with the Civic or Accord. It can be done on Hondas SUVs and mini vans. Safety seat anchors are included but no ability to turn on the rear light from up front to check on young ones. This is a major mistake. Also no AUX cord connection is another major mistake. Lastly the audio system has no way to view the current folder after a track has been selected without going to the beginning audio menu. Pressing the back button when playing a track should take you to the folder the track playing was selected.
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Emz emz
PLEASE DONT BUY THIS TRASHmy accord almost killed me, braking system failed multiple times. Honda couldnt fix the problem. It has been 2 months and they are on their 4th part replacement. In my opinion dont buy honda and especially their HYBRIDS. Im WARNING you. costumer serives is terrible, no one gets back to you, I have went back and forth with the head office and dealer ship. This is not how I imagined my new car Experience. I wish I went with the Toyota my second option at the time. Honda has no reliabilityI want to help as many people now.
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PLEASE DONT BUY THIS TRASHmy accord almost killed me, braking system failed multiple times. Honda couldnt fix the problem. It has been 2 months and they are on their 4th part replacement. In my opinion dont buy honda and especially their HYBRIDS. Im WARNING you. costumer serives is terrible, no one gets back to you, I have went back and forth with the head office and dealer ship. This is not how I imagined my new car Experience. I wish I went with the Toyota my second option at the time. Honda has no reliabilityI want to help as many people now.
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Karen Pike
I purchased my Honda Accord Hybrid 5 months. I live in Eastern Massachusetts and most of my driving is surburban, not highway. My trips are relatively short, I rarely drive more than 10 miles to a destination. I have been averaging in the hot months in the high 30s and in the Fall in the low 40s. I do have a spare tire in my trunk. I have been quite disappointed with the gas mileage. Which mode do you recommend driving in (Regular, ECON, EV or Sport? I have not used the paddles, would they help?
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I purchased my Honda Accord Hybrid 5 months. I live in Eastern Massachusetts and most of my driving is surburban, not highway. My trips are relatively short, I rarely drive more than 10 miles to a destination. I have been averaging in the hot months in the high 30s and in the Fall in the low 40s. I do have a spare tire in my trunk. I have been quite disappointed with the gas mileage. Which mode do you recommend driving in (Regular, ECON, EV or Sport? I have not used the paddles, would they help?
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jOe R
Hi Alex, awesome, thorough review as always. I drive a car with a dual-clutch transmission. In my car, the downshift paddle is on the left. I could use a downshift to engine-brake and help slow the car. IMHO having the increased regen (more slowing) done with the left paddle is intuitive for those of us with run-of-the-mill paddle shifters. (I have never noticed paddle shifters with the downshift on the right but my experience is limited) Its a small matter but I like what Honda did there. Thanks.
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Hi Alex, awesome, thorough review as always. I drive a car with a dual-clutch transmission. In my car, the downshift paddle is on the left. I could use a downshift to engine-brake and help slow the car. IMHO having the increased regen (more slowing) done with the left paddle is intuitive for those of us with run-of-the-mill paddle shifters. (I have never noticed paddle shifters with the downshift on the right but my experience is limited) Its a small matter but I like what Honda did there. Thanks.
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Isaac Kamau
What an age, If you want a spare tire youd have to purchase one from a dealer yourself. So I guess the 47 mpg was without a spare tire and hauling 5 adults. Compromise on rear headroom as well. Doesnt sound like a good deal. Okay I get it usually its only one person in a car so they still might be okay. Not for me though, that rear end is too ugly, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima or Mazda are designing better cars now. Camry got that ugly huge grille and Honda is losing touch.
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What an age, If you want a spare tire youd have to purchase one from a dealer yourself. So I guess the 47 mpg was without a spare tire and hauling 5 adults. Compromise on rear headroom as well. Doesnt sound like a good deal. Okay I get it usually its only one person in a car so they still might be okay. Not for me though, that rear end is too ugly, Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima or Mazda are designing better cars now. Camry got that ugly huge grille and Honda is losing touch.
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Adam Jordan
Since Honda refuses to offer the HUD, street sign recognition, and rear heated seats with the manual transmission, I stopped shopping for the 2. 0T Manual and started looking at the Hybrid Touring. The smaller wheels (and more sidewall, lack of DI & turbo (maintenance issues, and super smooth power delivery are just a bonus. Ive been waiting for this review (from you) for several weeks since test driving them for myself. Thanks, Alex
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Since Honda refuses to offer the HUD, street sign recognition, and rear heated seats with the manual transmission, I stopped shopping for the 2. 0T Manual and started looking at the Hybrid Touring. The smaller wheels (and more sidewall, lack of DI & turbo (maintenance issues, and super smooth power delivery are just a bonus. Ive been waiting for this review (from you) for several weeks since test driving them for myself. Thanks, Alex
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