Honda redesigned the Accord midsize sedan in 2023. In the process, the automaker added a standard hybrid powertrain to all versions except the base LX and step-up EX trim levels. Those two models are the most affordable Accords, and they continue with a gas-only turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. So, if you’re shopping for the most affordable Accord you can buy, that’s the engine you’ll get.
Honda hasn’t made any changes to the 2024 Accord. Since JD Power previously reviewed the 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid, this review focuses on the Accord EX model’s gas-only powertrain and how it potentially impacts the sedan’s overall consumer appeal.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
The Honda Accord competes in the Midsize Car market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, Honda Accord owners rated their cars in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you’ll find their preferences, from what they like most about the Accord to what they like least:
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the Accord ranks 5th out of seven Midsize Car models.
In the following sections, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Honda Accord EX equipped with standard equipment and no options. The test vehicle’s price was $31,005, including the $1,095 destination charge.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Serving as a workhorse in the Honda lineup, the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine in the Accord LX and EX generates 192 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. It uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) to power the car’s front wheels, and the EPA says it should get 32 mpg in combined driving.
Compare that to the hybrid powertrain in the Accord Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring. The Honda Two-Motor Hybrid system uses a gas-fueled, Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. One electric motor propels the car, and the other serves as an integrated generator/starter, recharging the hybrid system’s battery. The gas engine can also directly power the vehicle’s wheels when necessary.
Honda says the Accord’s Two-Motor Hybrid powertrain makes 204 total system horsepower, and the electric motor supplies 247 lb-ft of torque as soon as the driver steps on the accelerator pedal. Official fuel economy ratings are 48 mpg in combined driving with EX-L trim, while the Sport, Sport-L, and Touring all return 44 mpg due to their larger wheels and tires.
There aren’t any direct-match trim levels between gas-only and hybrid Accords. So, figuring out the premium you’ll pay for the hybrid isn’t easy. The best I can do is compare the EX turbo with the Sport hybrid.
The Accord Sport costs $2,985 more than the Accord EX. But you get more than just the hybrid powertrain. The Sport also comes with these upgrades (and a downgrade):
Is that, plus a 12 mpg increase in fuel economy, worth the added money? Only you can decide. Just remember that the EX has heated front seats, and the Sport doesn’t.
In my opinion, the Sport is worth the upgrade for its sporty look, better infotainment system, and superior fuel economy. But, if you disagree and just want a simple family car with a few nice features, the Accord EX perfectly serves that purpose.
Compared to the entry-level Accord LX, the EX has:
These upgrades make the car more attractive, comfortable, safe, and enjoyable. They represent good value in exchange for the $2,015 premium you’ll pay for the Accord EX.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Car and Driver magazine has named the Honda Accord to its list of the 10 Best Cars for 26 years in a row. That says something about how much fun this family-sized four-door can be to drive, and the Accord EX reflects it, though perhaps not to the extent of a hybrid version.
Admittedly, the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and CVT aren’t thrilling. However, they are up to motivating the Accord EX, which tips the scales at 3,280 pounds. Peak torque is available across a broad rev range from 1,700 rpm to 5,000 rpm, and the CVT’s programmed ratios help you to surf that wave of power under acceleration. Most of the time, the CVT won’t annoy you with groaning and droning. Occasionally, it will.
On my evaluation loop, the Accord EX returned 28.7 mpg. Compare that figure to my 37.4-mpg result with the Sport Hybrid on the same route. So, while EPA estimates suggest you’ll see a 12-mpg improvement by getting the Sport, in the real world (and based on my testing), the difference is only 8.7 mpg.
Honda fits the Accord EX with 17-inch wheels and 225/50 all-season tires, but this doesn’t impede the fun factor because Honda has this sedan’s ride and handling tuned nearly to perfection. The steering feel and response are crisp, the brakes are resistant to fade, and the suspension supplies a supple ride and confident handling. Add what seems like nearly unobstructed outward visibility, and the smooth, obedient, and trustworthy Accord is a delight to hustle.
These traits are evident no matter the environment: city, highway, coastal road, and twisty two-lane. The Honda Accord is simply a capable, communicative, and confidence-inspiring car.
During the past half-decade, the Midsize Car segment has shrunk. Only seven models remain, listed here in alphabetical order:
In 2023, the first year following its redesign, the Accord ranked lower than all but the Chevy and Subaru.
According to a 2023 JD Power APEAL Study weighted gap analysis comparing the Accord with its rivals, the car’s top three weaknesses were:
I agree that the latest Accord isn’t as attractive as the previous Accord. In 2023, Honda replaced the old model’s taut, athletic bodywork with a slab-sided design featuring simple, technical details. The controversial chrome brow was gone, but otherwise, the new Accord lost its sense of style.
Getting the vehicle set up could be challenging, particularly concerning the digital instrumentation and its different display settings because the steering wheel controls aren’t always intuitive. As for the infotainment system, I don’t find it particularly difficult to use. However, I prefer the larger 12.3-inch display in the hybrid models (and its wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto).
The Accord sits low to the ground, and if you don’t position the driver’s seat higher, it can be challenging to enter and exit the car gracefully. The LX has a manual seat-height adjuster, and all other trim levels offer a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. So don’t be shy about raising that seat for easier entry and exit. Unfortunately, Honda doesn’t see fit to offer any seat height adjustment for the front passenger.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
In the Midsize Car segment, every model offers something appealing, even the aged Chevy Malibu. Without having driven the refreshed 2024 Hyundai Sonata, I can tell you the Accord is my favorite Midsize Car for many reasons.
Since I like to drive, and the Accord rewards people like me, that’s one reason. The Accord is also safe, comfortable, and roomy for rear passengers. Plus, it offers the largest trunk in its segment. I like how the Accord Sport Hybrid is affordable and effortlessly efficient, even if it misses its official EPA rating. Lastly, I like how the Accord offers just enough technology to be current without adding features that few people need or use.
Overall, the 2024 Honda Accord is a thoughtfully engineered and planned automobile. It isn’t perfect (or much to look at), but compared to other choices in the segment, it’s the one I would buy.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran digital automotive journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new- and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals.
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