Honda's midsize sedan clearly reflects its purpose. "Accord" means "to agree," "an agreement," or "in harmony." Few cars strike a better balance of space, reliability, value, and efficiency than the Honda Accord. To be sure, it has landed on Car and Driver magazine’s yearly 10 Best Cars list 39 times—more than any other model.
Photo: Jim Resnick
The 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid is exclusively available as a four-door sedan, offered in Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trim levels. Honda also produces the non-hybrid Accord in LX and SE trims, in addition to the hybrid versions. Prices start at just over $29,000 for the base LX non-hybrid and slightly above $40,000 for the Hybrid Touring, all inclusive of the destination charge.
For this 2025 Accord review, Honda provided an Accord Hybrid Touring with no options, although the following equipment, which is sometimes optional on other vehicles, comes standard:
The test vehicle's manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $40,495, including the $1,195 destination charge to ship the sedan from the Marysville, Ohio, assembly plant to a local dealership. This price does not reflect any current rebates or incentives.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Honda introduced the current 11th-generation Accord in 2023. Getting inside is easier for shorter drivers because the car sits relatively low to the ground, and the seats are positioned lower in the cabin. For taller individuals, it is a slightly steeper drop to get in than in most cars, but it is not impossible.
Honda utilizes soft-touch surfaces where it matters, resulting in a generally refined appearance. Honda has not gone overboard with flashy design, but the execution is clean and thoughtful. The primary and secondary controls for the transmission, climate system, windshield wipers, and lights are all conventional and logical.
Visibility and ergonomics also perform well. There is clear visibility forward from both front seats, no matter what their position, and they also provide excellent support and comfort. The physical knobs for audio volume and climate control do not require navigating digital menus either.
The Touring trim comes with additional features, including standard leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, and a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system.
The rear seats offer ample space, with decent legroom and headroom. However, very tall rear passengers may come close to the headliner due to the slightly sloping roofline. The rear air vents and USB-C ports enhance comfort and convenience on longer trips.
There is 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space—more than the 15.1 cubic feet of the rival Toyota Camry. The trunk is also quite wide, making it easier to fit larger objects. Additionally, the rear seats fold down, providing even more space for long items.
Photo: Jim Resnick
The 2025 Accord features a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in. All Hybrid Touring versions also include a head-up display showing essential data like speed, navigation instructions, and Honda Sensing status. The dashboard features digital instruments displayed on a 10.2-inch screen positioned in front of the driver, with clear and straightforward graphics.
The touchscreen infotainment system features include:
Initializing my iPhone to the Accord's system via Apple CarPlay for the first time required two attempts; although no major issues arose, a minor glitch occurred during the process. After that initial connection, later ones went smoothly.
Many automakers have adopted Google’s environment for infotainment, and my Accord Hybrid Touring's suite of Google assists performed well. Google Maps provides real-time traffic updates and acts seamlessly as built-in navigation. Google Assistant is excellent at voice recognition. Log in to your Google account to access your history of locations and destinations.
Saying "Hey, Google" activates the system, allowing you to change the temperature, select audio sources, and even send texts using your voice. For me, Google found more Jersey Mike's sandwich shops than I knew existed in the greater Phoenix area. When I told it to "set the temperature to 65 degrees," it acknowledged hearing me but did not make the change. However, when I said "change the temperature to 65 degrees," it adjusted accordingly.
The Google Play Store allows customization and app downloads, such as Spotify and Waze, which can be integrated natively into the infotainment screen. Of course, if you are more accustomed to CarPlay or Android Auto, those systems connect wirelessly or via a cable.
The Bose audio system delivers excellent sound quality through its 12 speakers. However, its Centerpoint signal processing muddies the midrange and reduces high-frequency clarity. I tested it but chose not to use it afterward.
Photo: Jim Resnick
The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with hybrid assist that powers Honda’s 2025 Accord Hybrid delivers a combined 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels; all-wheel drive is not available. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the car at 44 mpg in combined driving, but I achieved just 41.1 mpg on my combined route. This is one of the biggest differences I have observed between ratings and personal test results, although my high elevation during testing partly explains this discrepancy.
With the hybrid's electric thrust, much of that torque is available right from a dead stop, so acceleration is immediate, even if it's not muscle-car rapid. The Accord Hybrid uses a surprisingly responsive continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Shift paddles allow simulated shifts, and I made good use of downshifting in the mountains of Colorado to control the speed downhill.
When you downshift in the CVT-equipped Accord, the gauge cluster indicator does not show an equivalent gear, like some shiftable CVTs do. Instead, it displays a series of arrows that go up or down. However, this is not a very clear graphic to represent the actual "gear" you are in. Numerals would be more helpful.
Heavy, repeated use of the brakes on mountain grades did not cause any worries and kept my confidence in them as high as the mountain peaks.
The suspension tuning favors handling and grip slightly above a cushy ride, and my Touring model rode on 235/40R19 Michelin tires mounted on aggressive, handsome 8.5-inch wide wheels. The steering feels responsive and worthy of a sport sedan.
The 11,300-foot Berthoud Pass in Colorado offers stunning sweeping corners and switchbacks, and the Accord Hybrid Touring handled the climb through the clouds quickly. Most CVT-backed engines tend to drone when accelerating hard or during engine braking, but the Accord Hybrid kept noise to a minimum. On more normal roads, the Accord Hybrid Touring muffles noise well, thanks in part to its dual-pane side glass.
Photo: Jim Resnick
Regardless of trim, all 2025 Accords include a version of the core Honda Sensing ADAS package, which covers the usual key functions. It is comprehensive, though higher trim Accords include some additional bonuses. All 2025 Accords come with the following features:
For the Accord Hybrid Touring, Honda Sensing also includes low-speed braking control, which can automatically brake to prevent a collision at parking lot speeds.
During my test, lane centering (Honda refers to it as "lane keeping assist") failed to function once when I engaged it. Its light was on, but it did not steer, even though the road had a very clear lane line to follow. The Accord did this only once, but it highlights the fact that, regardless of the technology on board, you must always remain vigilant.
Additionally, the Accord's lane departure warning lets you get very close to lane lines before it alerts you. Several times, I was literally on top of a few roads' lane lines before triggering a warning.
One more ADAS curiosity: Like other cars with this feature, when steering and adaptive cruise control are engaged, a visual warning appears after approximately 20-30 seconds if you release the steering wheel. It also activates an audible chime. The Honda's chime, however, is very faint. For testing purposes, if I did not retake the wheel, the system shut off. If I were incapacitated, the risk of an incident would be higher than if it continued steering but then started braking to a stop, activated the hazard lights, and called emergency services. Because of these criticisms, my overall impression of the Accord's Honda Sensing is somewhat reserved.
Regarding crash test scores, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2025 Accord five (out of five) stars for overall crashworthiness. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Accord "Top Safety Pick+", its top award.
According to the JD Power 2025 Initial Quality Study (IQS), the Nissan Altima ranks highest in the Midsize Car segment. The Chevrolet Malibu and the Hyundai Sonata rank second (in a tie).
According to the JD Power 2025 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, the Kia K5 ranks highest in the Midsize Car segment. The Hyundai Sonata is the next highest-ranked model.
Other 2025 Accord competitors include the Subaru Legacy and Toyota Camry.
The Honda Accord has long been a leader in its class and continues to set the standard for excellence. It provides great value, a history of dependability, good fuel economy (except during my high-altitude trip), ample space for passengers and cargo, and decent handling on winding roads. My experience with Honda Sensing ADAS was not the best. Still, among a field of capable midsize sedans, the Accord Hybrid Touring stands out as exceptional.
Jim Resnick is an author specializing in automotive, mobility, technology, and related topics. He has lectured at universities about the auto industry's relationship with government legislation, drawing on his experience as Technical Editor and Editor-in-Chief. Besides JDPower.com, his work has appeared in over 30 media outlets, including Wired, The New York Times, Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book, and the BBC.
The Ford Transit is the automaker’s full-size cargo and passenger van offering, designed to serve a wide range of commercial and lifestyle applications. With 37 available configurations, the platform ...See More
Read the Full Article
The Chevrolet Tahoe is a full-size, three-row SUV with a standard V8 engine and available diesel power. Built on the same platform as the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup, the Tahoe benefits from its ...See More
Read the Full Article
It is the end of the line for the Ford Escape. After 25 years as a fixture of Ford’s lineup, 2026 will be the compact SUV’s last model year.
Read the Full Article
The Colorado is Chevrolet’s midsize pickup. It ranks among the segment’s most capable trucks for payload and towing, and can be configured for both work and off-road adventures. For 2026, the ...See More
Read the Full Article