2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

Name: 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review
Brand: Honda
Price: 20770 USD

Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Sedan Exterior Shown

Honda Accord Hybrid Touring Sedan Exterior

+233

The Accord Hybrid is nearly everything you like about the regular Accord, just with great gas mileage. The braking performance is less impressive, and there's some unpleasant powertrain noise during hard acceleration and normal operation. But otherwise this is a very appealing hybrid midsize sedan.

Used Accord Hybrid for sale

$20,770 - $29,998

13 listings

See Cars for Online Purchase See All for Sale

Appraise This Car

Honda Accord Hybrid model years

Honda Accord Hybrid for Sale

See Edmunds pricing data

Has Your Car's Value Changed?

Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.

See pricing history

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

byCameron Rogers^{Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).}

Pros

The cabin has plenty of room for adults
High fuel economy
No loss of cargo space over the 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 for the class

What's new

New audible exterior alert chimes when vehicle is in EV mode
Part of the 10th Accord generation introduced for 2018

Overview

Though small hatchbacks like the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Ioniq ultimately use less fuel, the latest midsize sedan hybrids aren't far behind. On top of that, they're more stylish and enjoyable to drive. A great example is the 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$92/mo

$181/mo

Avg. Midsize Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The EPA estimates you'll get 48 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is excellent for a midsize hybrid. The Accord Hybrid also provides quick acceleration and just as much trunk space as the standard Honda Accord. Overall, the Accord Hybrid will appeal to a broad set of buyers looking for a comfortable sedan with great fuel economy.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Accord Hybrid drive? The Accord Hybrid is a surprisingly solid performer overall. It accelerates well at low speeds, posting a relatively sprightly 0-60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. Like most of its rivals, the Accord runs out of breath at higher speed, such as when you need to make a pass on the highway.

Body roll is well controlled, making the Accord Hybrid feel stable in moderate-speed cornering. That said, this might have been due in part to our Touring tester's unique adaptive suspension dampers. The brakes, however, are a major letdown. The pedal feels natural, and the handoff from regenerative to friction brakes is seamless. But distances we recorded in our panic-stop testing were much longer than those for rivals and closer to what we see from full-size pickup trucks.

Comfort

7.5/10

How comfortable is the Accord Hybrid? Though the Accord Hybrid offers decent overall comfort, every positive aspect is counteracted by a negative one. It rides smoothly over busy pavement, but the hybrid's added weight introduces more bounciness over larger bumps. Seat comfort is good, with well-placed headrests and nice back support. Unfortunately, the leather-trimmed seat cushions don't feel like they offer much padding.

The climate system is a high point, featuring easily understood labels and controls. The temperature knob lights change colors as you adjust up or down, which is a fun touch. Its competence is contrasted against the noisy drivetrain. At freeway speeds the gas engine, constantly emits an unpleasant sound.

Interior

8.0/10

How’s the interior? The Accord's interior is tremendously roomy. Legroom is abundant all around, and only very tall rear passengers will run out of headroom. The area for the driver is more compromised, as the wide center console will have taller drivers hitting their knees against hard plastic trim. The low seating position makes it a challenge to get in and out of both rows.

On the bright side, outward visibility is excellent in all directions, virtually eliminating blind spots. We're fans of the Accord's infotainment system and easy-to-reach controls. The confusing steering wheel buttons are the only blemish in this regard.

Technology

8.0/10

How’s the tech? Honda's infotainment system is integrated nicely with the gauge cluster screen and head-up display. The touchscreen's graphics are clean and easy to read, and the nav system works well. The sound quality of the Accord Hybrid's optional upgraded audio system is unremarkable.

Active safety features are the name of the game these days. Good thing most of the Accord's work well, though they can be sensitive and prone to false alerts. Most are standard too, with blind-spot monitoring the only standout that is optional. Voice commands require exact syntax to work. We generally relied on manual controls.

Storage

9.0/10

How’s the storage? The Accord offers about as much utility as possible for a sedan. The 16.7 cubic feet of storage gives it the largest trunk in the class. There's also numerous cubbies inside for stashing small items. The center bin under the armrest 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 cupholders are large and have anti-tip measures.

Given the vast amount of rear-seat room, there's no issue for car seats either. Car seat anchors are located under clearly marked flaps and close to the surface with no seating material impinging on access.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The EPA-estimated 48 mpg combined is quite good, and we easily averaged 46 mpg on our 115-mile mixed-driving test route. It's worth noting that at freeway speeds, the car relies mostly on the gas engine, so driving over about 65 mph starts to noticeably hurt efficiency.

Value

8.0/10

Is the Accord Hybrid a good value? The unpleasant powertrain noises sadly make the Accord sound a little cheap. Otherwise, this is a well-built car with a modern, upscale interior and plenty of features for the money. It also returns solid fuel economy that we've found is easy to replicate in real life.

From an ownership standpoint, Honda's warranties are average for the segment. Unlike some competitors, Honda does not offer complimentary maintenance.

Wildcard

7.0/10

For what should be a ho-hum hybrid sedan, the Accord is actually kind of fun to drive. It doesn't have a traditional transmission, so power delivery is always immediate. But the lack of feedback from the steering saps some of the fun.

The same is true of the engine note, which is honestly a real party pooper. This is a refined, upscale sedan that drives quite nicely, but any time you get on the gas there's a grating, sustained complaint from under the hood.

Which Accord Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

The EX is the sweet spot in the Accord Hybrid's lineup. Though it costs a lot more than the base model, its added safety and entertainment features — including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility — are worth the extra spend. The EX-L is also a good deal, bringing leather upholstery and an upgraded sound system, among other items.

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid models

As its name suggests, the 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid is essentially a Honda Accord driven by a hybrid powertrain. It comes in four trim levels: base, EX, EX-L and Touring. Powering every 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.

Highlighted features of the 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid include:

Base
Starts you off with:

LED headlights
Keyless entry and ignition
Dual-zone climate control
Height-adjustable driver's seat
7-inch touchscreen with single USB port

Every Accord Hybrid also features the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, which consists of:

Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Accord Hybrid and the car in front)
Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
Lane departure warning (alerts you if the Accord begins to drift out of its lane)
Lane keeping assist (automatically steers the car back into its lane if the Accord begins to drift over the lane marker)

EX
Adds to the above with:

Power-adjustable driver's seat
Heated front seats
8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Eight-speaker audio system

Additional safety features include

Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your rear blind spot)
Rear cross-traffic alert (alerts you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

EX-L
Adds to the above with:

Auto-dimming rearview mirror
Driver-seat memory settings
Power-adjustable passenger seat
Leather upholstery
10-speaker audio system

Touring
The range-topping Accord Hybrid includes the above features, plus:

Adaptive suspension dampers for a smoother ride and more controlled handling
Front and rear parking sensors
Head-up display
Ventilated front seats and heated rear seats
Integrated navigation system

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid.

5 (70%)

4 (12%)

3 (12%)

2 (3%)

1 (3%)

4.4

33 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 33 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Stunning in Elegance and Efficiency

todd wagner, 03/30/2020

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

After owning the 2020 hybrid Touring for 1,000 miles it is much better than I expected even after the test drive. It is eerily quiet in battery mode and if you work the system it can get amazingly good mpg. The response and dynamics are amazing compliant and smooth, the best of Honda. The only noise you hear are the muted road noise, which is only noticeable at high speeds or on rough …

How to Gauge Your MPG in an Accord Hybrid

Tom Hockman, 11/20/2020

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

The Accord Hybrid is one of the best cars you can buy, in my opinion. In fact I love the car so much I've bought three of them over the past few years and still own two currently, one 2018 EX and a 2020 EX-L. The car is well appointed at the EX-L level with a high-end stereo, leather, memory seats, Homelink system. From my point of view, the Touring doesn't offer anything compelling over … the EX-L that makes it worth $3000 more. Mileage The biggest controversy with Accord Hybrids is disputed mileage results for different drivers. The 2017 I owned for three years would average 53 in the summer and 45 mpg in the winter months. The 2017 was of slightly smaller dimensions that probably explains the better average mileage. The 2018 gets worse mileage at around 41-44 mpg while the 2020 is averaging 47 for the first 1000 miles. I am basing these on econ mode and results from the same driver (me). Different drivers tend to have very different driving habits and can affect mpg results widely. The fact that a 2018 and 2020 Accord Hybrid tend to have a swing of 5 mpg with the same driver is odd. They both have the same mechanics under the hood. No one in the online forums has been able to explain different mpg results from the stated 47 EPA average other than pointing to different drivers' habits that can affect mpg. Another major factor in mileage results is start/stop versus cruising mpg. If your drives tend to be short trips of 1-10 miles in a mostly urban environment with traffic stops you likely won't top 40 mpg. If you have 5-20 mile trips over roads with non-stop cruising between 35-60 mph with few stops, your mileage will top 45 or possibly 50 mpg. This car gets the best mpg at around 50 mph with few stops in temperate weather of 50-70 degrees. On the freeway, when you go between 60-80 your mileage will be 40-45 mpg tops due to the gas engine running continuously to generate enough power to keep at speed. During the winter, cold weather directly impacts mpg and the hybrid will get no better than 45 mpg and possibly less than 40 mpg. Hybrid engine noise Another common complaint is the engine grind when you accelerate from a stop to get up to speed quickly. While the grind is unpleasant, if you don't floor the engine it's not that noticeable. This car's drivetrain is very peppy and you likely will never need to floor it to reach desired speed in about 10 seconds. Technically the hybrid has 212 hp, but rarely are the conditions right for that much hp and torque to be available. I won't take time to explain it here, but many car reviews online can explain why the hybrid's 212 hp isn't like a gas engine only horsepower. You should go for the 2.0 liter engine on the Sport or Touring models if you need most power. Drive The drive of the Accord is fantastic. It feels very sporty and is a true "driver's car". I enjoy driving it every time I go out, even for short trips. The car hugs the road and feels very responsive for acceleration, turns, and braking. The brakes, however, are far from best in class. The brakes do regenerate the lithium battery during stops. The back seat is very roomy for a sedan. There is no USB connectivity in the 2020 model, so go for the 2021 if you have passengers in the back who need power charging for phones. Trunk The trunk is very spacious and there is no lost space due to the hybrid battery. the only sacrifice of the hybrid model is loss of a spare tire to reduce weight. Only a fix a flat kit is offered. Value While gas is under $3 a gallon you won't save a ton of money unless you drive 15,000 miles a year or more. I would still recommend it for the gas savings and longer driving range between fill-ups (500 miles on average). The EX-L is around 30-31K and seems like a great value for all the features and accessories included. If you don't need leather, a self-dimming mirror and Homelink features, the EX has all the essential features you're likely to want, like Apple Play/Android Auto and heated seats. Overall, this car is great and there are some very nice refresh features for 2021. The 2020, though, is still great without the cosmetic and feature updates. Highly recommended. Update: Traded in 2020 Accord in March 20243 for a 2023 Accord. Somewhat regretful at selling this car but I wanted to try the newest design. Love the 2023 design and have review of it on this site.

Too many issues

Honda_Anxiety, 05/06/2022

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid EX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I was excited when I received the car new 2 1/2 years ago, but that has come to an end with the endless recalls and other issues. Now I have anxiety every time I turn on the car what is wrong this time and do I have to pay for repairs. The recalls included new DC/DC module, new tank, software updates for safety functions like brakes, warranty extension for a pending issue with the A/C …

Major upgrades from Honda

Chris, 05/31/2020

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I gave up a 2013 Honda Accord EX-L Nav for this edition and have not been let down. I love the upgrades and improvements Honda has made over the last few years. From the Honda Sensing to safety features added I have really enjoyed the time driving and look forward to the miles on the road. Very smooth and comfortable ride. Would definitely recommend to anyone searching for a new car. I …

See all 33 reviews of the Honda Accord Hybrid

Write a vehicle review

2020 Accord Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$25,470
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	48 MPG
Cost to Drive	$92/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.
Collision Mitigation Braking System: 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

People who viewed this also viewed

Honda Insight
4.8 average Rating out of 18 reviews.
Starting at $25,760

See Honda Insight Inventory

Honda CR-V Hybrid
4.2 average Rating out of 44 reviews.
Starting at $32,010

See Honda CR-V Hybrid Inventory

Honda Accord
4.4 average Rating out of 34 reviews.
Starting at $27,895

See Honda Accord Inventory

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Accord Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Stunning in Elegance and Efficiency

How to Gauge Your MPG in an Accord Hybrid

Too many issues

Major upgrades from Honda

2020 Accord Hybrid Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Honda

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Accord Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Honda Accord Hybrid models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Stunning in Elegance and Efficiency

How to Gauge Your MPG in an Accord Hybrid

Too many issues

Major upgrades from Honda

2020 Accord Hybrid Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Shop similar models

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Honda

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}