2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

Name: 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 20995 USD

Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Sedan Exterior Shown

Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Sedan Exterior

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$20,995 - $26,998

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Honda Accord Hybrid model years

2014

Honda Accord Hybrid for Sale

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byTravis Langness^{Reviews Editor
Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.}

Pros

Suite of newly available tech and safety features
Cabin has plenty of room for adults
High fuel economy
No loss of cargo space over traditional Accord

Cons

The powertrain makes irritating noises at low and high speeds
Low seating position slightly hampers entry and exit
The throttle can be touchy at high speeds
Braking distances in panic stops are unusually long

What’s new

The Honda Accord Hybrid is fully redesigned for 2018.

Vehicle overview

The Honda Accord Hybrid has been a class leader for some time thanks to its excellent fuel economy, roomy interior, and above-average handling and acceleration. For 2018, the Accord Hybrid gets even better. Like the regular Accord, it's fully redesigned and has even more interior space, plus a sharp, new look and new technology and safety features.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$83/mo

$170/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Now standard safety features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning add quite a bit of value to the base Accord Hybrid. The new Accord Hybrid also gets an upgrade to cargo capacity thanks to a repackaged hybrid battery. Previously, the Accord Hybrid's battery pack kept you from folding down the rear seat, but no more. The Hybrid now gets the same 60/40-split folding rear seat and the same cargo space as the standard Accord: 16.7 cubic feet.

Underneath the hood, the 2018 Accord Hybrid has the same powertrain as last year's model: a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to a pair of electric motors. The hybrid system has lost a step in the changeover, even if it is a tiny one, going from an EPA-estimated 48 mpg combined in 2017 to 47 mpg combined this year. Still, it's an impressive number for a car this size.

In short, one of the best hybrid sedans just got better. If you're looking for a practical hybrid with enough space in the back seat for adults, the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid should be at the top of your list.

Notably, we picked the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid as one of Edmunds' Best Hybrid Cars for this year.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.8 / 10

The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid is a great choice for a hybrid sedan. It has a whole new look this year, plus more interior space and more standard safety features. Factor in the car's great fuel economy and pleasing performance and you have a family sedan that does just about everything well.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Honda Accord Hybrid Touring (2.0L 4-cyl hybrid).

Scorecard

Overall	7.8 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	9.0
Technology	8.0

Driving

7.5

The Accord Hybrid accelerates well around city streets but lacks merging power at freeway speeds. The braking feels natural in typical driving, but the Hybrid took longer than average to stop in our testing. Power delivery is immediate, but there's also a surginess in certain cruising conditions.

Acceleration

8.0

The hybrid powertrain feels torquey and strong off the line, but power is less abundant at highway speeds. As you ask for more power, the engine's steady, strained growl makes max acceleration unpleasant. We clocked the Hybrid's 0-60 mph run at 7.2 seconds, which is quick for its class.

Braking

5.5

The transition between regenerative and standard braking is smooth, and the pedal feels natural to use in typical driving. In emergency stops, the pedal travels to the floor and is devoid of feedback. This hybrid required 135 feet to stop from 60 mph, 13 feet more than the standard Accord, and poor overall.

Steering

7.0

The steering is accurate, but while it makes the Accord easy to point, it's also a bit artificial. There's a lack of feedback from the front wheels, and resistance doesn't noticeably build through turns — it's either there or it isn't. There's also a little vagueness in where the true on-center is.

Handling

8.0

The Accord Hybrid's added weight and eco-minded tires limit the car's capabilities compared to the non-hybrid version, but not enough to bother most drivers. Body roll is still well-controlled, and the car feels confident on its feet. Only near its limits will the differences become noticeable.

Drivability

7.5

There's a surginess to the powertrain that makes steady-state cruising a bit annoying, requiring more throttle adjustment than feels natural. Luckily, adaptive cruise solves that issue. Otherwise, the lack of any need to shift makes the hybrid drive smoothly at all times.

Comfort

7.5

The Accord Hybrid offers decent overall comfort. It insulates against traffic noise particularly well, though there are a number of unpleasant drivetrain noises. The ride is smooth albeit a bit bouncy over bigger bumps. The seats are accommodating, even if the cushions feel a little flat.

Seat comfort

7.5

Overall seat comfort is good, with well-placed headrests and nice back support, especially with the adjustable lumbar. The leather-wrapped seat cushions don't feel as if they offer a lot of padding, so finding the right adjustment is important to staying comfortable on longer drives.

Ride comfort

8.0

Adjusting for the extra weight of the hybrid system has altered the car's ride a bit. On the positive side, the added weight makes the Hybrid ride smoother over busy pavement. The downside is that there's more pronounced bounciness over larger bumps.

Noise & vibration

6.0

At low speed, there are some high-pitched noises from the drivetrain that make their way into the cabin. Unless you're very sensitive, though, they're not loud enough to be troublesome. At freeway speeds, the gas engine emits a constant unpleasant note, although it's also not particularly loud.

Climate control

8.0

All climate settings can be adjusted with straightforward and clearly labeled manual controls, and the system regulates cabin temperature easily. The temperature knob lights change colors as you adjust up or down, which is a fun touch. Seat cooling in the Touring trim is only moderately effective.

Interior

8.0

Some small points aside, the interior of the Accord offers modern design, quality soft-touch materials, lots of room, and a user-friendly infotainment system and control layout. But taller drivers will want to test the seating position since their knees may rub on a piece of hard plastic trim.

Ease of use

7.5

This infotainment system is clean, crisp and user-friendly, and basic functions are easy to navigate thanks to physical buttons. Most controls are easy to find and recognize. However, the media and information-display controls on the wheel aren't intuitively laid out and take getting used to.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

The doorsills are high and wide, creating a noticeable stepover, but otherwise access is easy. The rear doors open wide, and access is good even in tight spaces. The low seats mean you have further to stand up than with competitors, and taller passengers will have to duck while exiting the back seat.

Driving position

7.0

You can sit low, ensconced in the car, making it feel sportier and more luxurious. There's plenty of adjustability for those who want to sit closer, higher or more upright. Taller drivers will wish for more steering wheel telescope and may find their right knee bumps against some hard plastic trim.

Roominess

8.5

The interior feels large, which makes sense because, by EPA interior-volume measurements, this is a full-size car. Long-legged drivers may feel cramped by the kneeroom, but otherwise the cabin feels airy and open. Rear legroom is excellent, though taller passengers will run out of headroom.

Visibility

9.0

Forward visibility is excellent, and well-placed windows in the rear roof pillars mean there's an excellent rear three-quarter view. The view out the large rear window is good on the road, though the high decklid means you'll rely on the camera when reversing in tight spaces. We found no serious blind spots.

Quality

8.0

The Accord's interior design is modern and upscale. The touchpoints are covered in soft-touch materials and the fit tolerances are tight. Only a few of the textured surfaces reveal themselves to be somewhat tacky-feeling hard plastics. We had some glitches in our tire-pressure monitoring system and in the infotainment system.

Utility

9.0

The Accord offers about as much utility as is possible for a sedan, with best-in-class trunk volume, plenty of spots for small items in the cabin, and generally more space than you'll know what to do with.

Small-item storage

8.5

The center-console armrest bin is generously sized, and the front charging ports and wireless charging pad (if equipped) are in a cubby with room for more than one phone. The door pockets have space for water bottles, while the cupholders are large and have an anti-tip design. Only the glovebox is a little shallow.

Cargo space

9.5

The Accord's trunk is absolutely huge. In fact, at 16.7 cubic feet, it's the biggest trunk in the segment (at least for now). The opening is wide, if a little foreshortened, but it's easy to maneuver objects in and out. The 60/40-split folding rear seats open up even more room for long objects.

Child safety seat accommodation

9.0

LATCH anchors are located under clearly marked flaps and are close to the surface with no seating material impinging on access. Considering how large the rear seat is, even bulky car seats shouldn't pose a problem. The new, lower roofline might require more bending over to situate seats and kids.

Technology

8.0

Honda's new infotainment system is a huge step up from the last generation, and it's integrated nicely with the gauge-cluster screen and head-up display. A lot of active safety and driver aids come standard, and they work well. Voice commands fall short, and we generally relied on manual controls.

Audio & navigation

8.0

The premium audio system in our tester can produce a lot of volume without distortion, but sound quality is unexceptional for an upgraded system. The navigation system has a robust feature set that's easy to operate, the graphics are clean, and instructions easy to follow.

Smartphone integration

9.0

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay work well and are integrated with the infotainment system, so smartphone navigation appears in the head-up display and music appears in the media screen. The near-field Bluetooth pairing is a neat trick, but setting up a standard connection is easy enough that it's mostly a novelty.

Driver aids

8.0

Only blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert aren't standard on lower trims. Otherwise, you get a lot of aids. Adaptive cruise mostly works well, but sometimes picks up adjacent lanes in curves. Forward collision alert doesn't deliver false alerts but is very sensitive.

Voice control

6.5

Voice commands are a mixed bag. While not prone to misunderstanding, specific phrasing is required, and often multiple steps are involved. Luckily there are on-screen prompts. You can't switch to Bluetooth audio streaming with a voice command, but there are extensive USB music and navigation commands.

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid models

The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid comes in five trim levels: base, EX, EX-L, EX-L w/Navi and Touring. Powering every 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine hitched up to a pair of electric motors that are fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. Total system power is 212 horsepower.

Standard equipment for the base Hybrid includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, LED taillights, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a manually adjustable driver's seat, a 7-inch central display, active noise cancellation, Bluetooth, a rearview camera, and a four-speaker sound system with a USB port. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist are also standard.

Going with the EX gets you the above, plus a sunroof, LED foglights, heated mirrors, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, an 8-inch touchscreen with upgraded smartphone integration (via HondaLink, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), and an upgraded sound system with eight speakers, satellite and HD radio and an additional USB port. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also standard on the EX.

Move up to the EX-L for an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver memory settings, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, and a 10-speaker stereo. The EX-L w/Navi is equipped like an EX-L but with the added benefit of a navigation system.

Lastly, the Touring adds adaptive suspension dampers, LED headlights with automatic high-beam control, front and rear parking sensors, wireless smartphone charging, a driver head-up display, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid.

5 (54%)

4 (23%)

3 (15%)

2 (8%)

1 (0%)

4.2

78 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Everything you expect, and more

Jim W, 07/31/2018

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Got rid of my 8 year old Audi A4 after looking at a large potential engine repair. Looked at new Audi's, BMW's, Acura's, Toyota's, and Genesis. Liked the fit, finish, and quality of the interior of the Accord just as much as the luxury brands. Actually preferred the cockpit and control layout in the Accord compared to all of the other cars I looked at. I drove all of the variants of the … Accord, from the 1.5T and Sport Manual to the 2.0T 10A. The power of the 2.0T is great, the 1.5T is fun in the manual and adequate with the CVT ... but I had to be honest about the kind of driving I do which is a mixture of city and highway driving with a fair bit of traffic thrown in. For that, the Hybrid made a lot of sense and cut my fuel costs in half compared to the Audi. The hybrid is quiet, smooth as silk, and unless you are pushing it hard is completely unobtrusive; the shift from electric to gas power is almost imperceptible. It really is an electric car that just happens to have a gasoline generator for power with a battery to smooth things out. It is a different driving experience to be sure with the pedal being quite linear and the engine revs being somewhat disconnected from the speed of the car. Despite it being a 'hybrid' which is usually not associated with performance, if you tromp on the pedal, it will go in a hurry particularly if you have Sport mode engaged. The overall performance of the hybrid is in between that of the 1.5T and the 2.0T. Unlike a gas car, in around-town driving situations, if you need a quick burst of power, the torque is available RIGHT NOW because of the battery / electric motor; low speed pick-up is better than a gas car since there is no need for the engine to down-shift or wait for revs to build ... I really like that part. Yes, if you are going up a long steep hill, the engine will get buzzy, but that's about the only time; in normal driving situations, the engine is barely noticeable. I'm seeing mid 40's MPG around town and 48-52 MPG in mostly highway driving (55-70MPH). If you go 75MPH+ mileage will suffer, but not that much. I've averaged a bit over 47MPG for the first 2K miles, so pretty much just as advertised. Actually really like the electronics and use Apple car play pretty much every day to anticipate the urban traffic in the Baltimore/DC metro area. The adaptive cruise control works great; lane keeping assist is a bit lazy and I would not count on it in areas with substantial curves, but for keeping the car in the lane of a fairly straight highway while you fiddle with the radio or deal with a momentary distraction it works just fine. Overall my wife an I love the car and are looking forward to a long an happy relationship with our new Accord. It's the same a the regular Accord, just quieter and with better gas mileage.

Wow!!!!! ...and others said it too

Karl Zack, 06/18/2018

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I test drove Toyota and Kia Hybrids and was intrigued by the fuel economy but the style was blah. The I drove a Honda Accord Hybrid 2018 Touring and just went "WOW!!!!". First it looks nice and sleek on the outside (with out the Hybrid badge, you'd never know it was a hybrid). When you get in, your sitting in technology. All of the info that can be displayed on the windshield so your …

Five Stars? Yes.

Saul Weinstein, 05/07/2018

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Why five stars when not all of the areas above are five stars? Simply, it's the overall car I like so much ( so far, I have only owned and driven if a couple of days ). I drove the Camry, Fusion, and Optima hybrids. None felt as solid as the Accord, although I liked how the Optima drove. But the Accord drives even better IMHO. The CVT makes itself known on long uphill grades but is … otherwise unobtrusive and works fine. It's plenty powerful - My ride home 65 miles from the dealer includes a long 6% uphill grade. The only potential comfort issue is getting in and out of the driver's seat - It's a little bit lower than the others and there is a bit of "drop" into the seat and pull up from it. The technology is comprehensive in the Touring ( top of line ) model I bought but from what I read good throughout the line. Touring has about everything you can imagine and lots you didn't that is useful or helpful The head up display is a favorite. The navigation is quick to accept entries and find what I am looking for. My Android phone hooked right up to Bluetooth. The Android and Apple apps for use in the car are both available. The drive is quiet and comfortable. You can use the paddle shifters to decelerate and get extra energy to the battery, especially useful on long downhills although the adaptive cruise control will brake to maintain speed and thus also store energy. The front seats are heated and ventilated, the rear heated. ( No heated steering wheel except in Canada, darnit. ) The automatic high beams work nicely, as I found on a dark highway drive home. I am guessing at some of the Value items as my ownership is short term for now. I am not filing in a mileage as too few miles driven so far to make a good estimate. Just driving home from the dealer, the first 15 miles in traffic and lights, averaged 49 MPG ( city ). UPDATE: Now over 14,000 miles and counting! Rating reduced to FOUR STARS. Why? 1) I am not getting the 47 MPG / 47 MPG rated mileage, although doing better now than when new. I know, "your mileage may vary". Started out averaging 40 - 41 MPG, now averaging 43 - 44 MPG per tank fill up although that's in "Eco Mode" ( which works fine in both daily driving and trips, no drawbacks ) and usually driving conservatively to hypermiling. 2) The electronics are proving a bit wonky. The infotainment system will shut down and eventually reset ( takes a few minutes ) while driving. This is very disturbing when navigating someplace strange. It happens more on trips than local driving and is averaging two to three times a month. The adaptive cruise control does NOT hold / limit speed on downhill sections like I originally thought. You have to "do it yourself" unless someone in front of you is going slowly and setting off the radar system to brake. The ( Garmin ) navigation system is poorly configured for route selection. It has sent me on some strange, longer, and less attractive roads for no apparent reason on trips. Locally, it selects routes, then, when I use local knowledge and go a different way, the estimated driving time goes down several minutes. Since I have it set for fastest time, why does it take me a slower route when it seems to know other routes are faster? ( Note - I have NOT set it for "shortest route". ) 3) The seat ventilation doesn't provide much volume or cooling. ( This was over the long, hot summer in Southern Nevada ). I had the dealership check it out. They reported it was working the same as other examples on the lot. Which IMHO doesn't mean strongly, means this car is weak in general, not broken or malfunctioning. This is IMHO the infamous "performing as designed" excuse common to most manufacturers when they don't get it right in the first place. All of this said, I still like this car. A lot. It's pretty comfortable, performs reasonably, and economical, although IMHO not as economical as it should be. I am going in to the dealer this morning to get the recall done for the rear view camera, which seems to me to be working just fine

Best value mid size sedan

H-dub, 06/18/2018

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Some serious research went into my ultimate decision to buy this car. My previous vehicles were mostly sports sedans (BMW 3, 5 and 6 series) interlaced with a couple of Acuras. After my last appointment for routine maintenance on my 3 series cost me nearly $1,000, I decided I was done with German cars. Furthermore, I was tired of losing a significant amount in depreciation on these …

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2018 Accord Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP	$25,100
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	47 MPG
Cost to Drive	$83/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.7 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Accord Hybrid models:

Adaptive Cruise Control: Maintains a preset following distance on the freeway by monitoring the speed of the vehicle in front of you and keeping pace.
Lane Departure Mitigation: Warns the driver of lane departures when a turn signal isn't used. Can automatically steer to maintain lane position.
Forward Collision Mitigation: Monitors forward traffic, alerting driver of obstacles or stopped cars ahead. Can automatically apply the brakes in emergencies.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover5 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover9.3%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

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2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Vehicle overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.11 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Accord Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2018 Honda Accord Hybrid models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Everything you expect, and more

Wow!!!!! ...and others said it too

Five Stars? Yes.

Best value mid size sedan

2018 Accord Hybrid Highlights

Safety

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