2021- Honda Accord Hybrid TRG

2021 Honda Accord Hybrid TRG - $24.970.

By Ella Patterson

The Accord Hybrid is just like a regular Honda Accord but with a highly economical hybrid powertrain. Honda has compromised little of its already excellent Accord platform with its latest hybrid generation, which debuted for the 2018 model year. For 2021, Honda has made a variety of changes to enhance the Honda Accords appeal.

If you are a fan of more power and less gas Honda Accord is your baby. In theory, that's what the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid delivers—more horsepower and better fuel economy than the Accord sedan equipped with its non-hybrid entry-level turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine. And when the only compromise between the two is an extra $1,600, the Accord Hybrid becomes a no-brainer, provided you can resist the 252-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter engine option.

For 2021 the Accord is getting a small midcycle update that brings new technology and improvements to its performance. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto arrive for the first time in a Honda vehicle, and the hybrid system now feels more natural and stronger than before. Since the 10th-generation Accord was launched in 2017, Honda's midsize sedan has become the benchmark in the segment. Its performance and handling are unmatched, and when the benchmark gets updated, you know better things are coming.

The last few vehicles I’ve driven have all hovered in the mid-20’s for fuel efficiency, but the latest generation of engines and vehicle design can support driving a lot further per gallon of gasoline. I’ve wondered if perhaps too much of the industry’s attention focused on electric vehicles and SUVs? Our president of the USA says NOT if the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid TRG is representative. Its sporty lines, peppy drive, and smart interior design demonstrate how far Honda’s has traveled on the road to premium automaker, but the fuel efficiency is off the chain. It’s a hybrid so my expectations are higher, but the Accord is one of the few vehicles I’ve test driven in the last few months where I’m actually not going to complain that it should be more fuel-efficient.

The Accord Hybrid's styling is a little different, with the most noticeable being a restyled grille. For 2021, there are also some new and improved technology features, including wireless functionality for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Fuel economy is unchanged at an EPA-estimated 48 mpg, but Honda has made changes to make the engine quieter and smoother. So how good is the 2021 Accord Hybrid? Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth evaluation.

The biggest change is the expansion of some tech features to lower trims. The base trims for the gas and hybrid variants now get an 8.0-inch touchscreen and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—a big improvement over the 2020 model, as those features were previously reserved for EX and above models. A wireless charger makes its way into the EX and higher trims, and there are now two rear-seat USB ports.

In terms of appearance, the Accord's nose gets a slightly wider grille and new LED foglights, while EX and above trims get LED headlights and daytime running lights. The changes in the grille also improve the integration of the front radar system that's part of Honda Sensing, hiding it better. While the gas model doesn't get any mechanical changes, the Accord Hybrid's two-motor system gets a few upgrades to make the acceleration more natural while delivering a stronger response.

PHOTO CREDIT: HONDA.COM

Honda also made some changes to the steering, making it a bit stiffer to deliver more feedback and a sportier feeling behind the wheel.

Using the same powertrain as the Honda CR-V Hybrid, the Accord Hybrid's heart is a 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 engine that produces 143 hp and 129 lb-ft of torque. An electric motor produces 181 hp and 232 lb-ft, which means the Accord Hybrid makes 212 hp and 232 lb-ft combined. Unlike the CR-V Hybrid, though, (which gets standard all-wheel drive) the efficient sedan sends power to the front wheels only by way of a two-mode direct-drive transmission (depending on vehicle speed and conditions, either the main electric motor or the engine drives the wheels directly, with no variation in ratio for either).

Although that's the same recipe the 2020 Accord Hybrid used, the 2021 model feels superior. I drove a 2020 model about a year ago in Austin, and the changes Honda made to the steering and two-motor system in the 2021 model make the Accord drive better. I especially enjoyed the steering, as it feels more natural and sportier than before, and combined with the beefy steering wheel, the sensation from behind the wheel of the new Accord Hybrid is remarkable. Same case with the hybrid system—when accelerating from a stop the Accord feels stronger, more natural and refined.

There's no thrashy engine note or sense of struggle; there's always plenty of power whether you're cruising on neighborhood streets or the freeway. The coordination of the engine and electric motors is improved—you don't feel the engine's vibration when it turns on, which makes the ride more elegant and polished.

The Accord rides, and the 2021 hybrid continues to be stellar. The ride largely absorbs small bumps on the pavement and controls bigger ruts well, keeping the vibrations in the cabin to a minimum. On the twisty roads between Thousand Oaks and Camarillo in Southern California, the Accord Hybrid was planted and settled, with controlled body roll. Even with the larger 19-inch wheels, the Touring model didn't sacrifice any ride quality. Those roads also continued to prove that the hybrid is fun to drive. Press the gas pedal, and you'll get an instant response from the battery, followed by the additional power from the engine. The plethora of power combined with the well-balanced steering and suspension show why the Accord continues to be the benchmark in the segment.

We only had the chance to sample the Accord Hybrid Touring, which is the only trim that gets the adaptive suspension, but we know from past experiences that other models have an outstanding ride compared to the competition.

Regardless of the trim, all Accord Hybrids come with four driving modes—Econ, Normal, Sport, and EV. Although Econ usually sacrifices all the fun to deliver better mpg, it didn't feel like that was the case on our drive, where it continued to deliver good punch. Sport mode turns things up a notch, changing the accelerator mapping and making the steering a bit more dynamic. Depending on the charge of the battery, EV mode will give the Accord about a mile of electric range only. Given that the Accord Hybrid is not a plug-in, its EV range is diminutive.