2024 Honda Accord Sedan Sport Hybrid
Price: $41,800 CAD
Colour: Radiant Red Metallic
I wax lyrical quite often about the slow death of the sedan. I love a good old fashioned four-door. Growing up in the 90’s as I did these sorts of cars were everywhere. The kings of that particular hill were always the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord. Of the two, I always leaned heavier toward the Accord for no reason other than it was always available as a 2-door coupe. Since 2017 you haven’t been able to buy a coupe Accord and we’ve been forced to live with the sedan alternate. This irks me as I always loved the lines and looks of the Accord Coupe. As a sort of consolation prize Honda has matured the look of the sedan Accord to take on some coupe design features while still being a practical 4-door. I like the look of the latest Accord and it felt like a good time to check in and see what it looks like in its sports/hybrid trim.
Power & Performance
The 2024 Honda Accord is on offer with 2 powertrains. You can have the 1.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder which offers 192hp and the same in lb/ft. This is a pleasant drivetrain and will make you happy day in and day out. If you’re driving more miles and fuel economy is paramount, you should consider the hybrid drivetrain. It features a 2.0L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder mated to a hybrid system that delivers a combined 204hp and similar torque. This is the key to the magic of this particular car. The electric assist makes the Accord so nimble and responsive in city driving you can dart in and out of traffic in sport mode and leave everyone else behind.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun this car was to drive. It seems to have retained some of the spirit of the previous generations of the Accords I so loved. It was never the fastest car (although that V6 manual would sing if you asked nicely) but it was always great to drive and had it where it counts. The Accord Sport Hybrid is the same. I found myself enjoying every moment behind the wheel and never really felt like I needed any more power. It was the entire experience that makes it special.
Exterior
I owned a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe for several years. It was well into its life by the time I found it, but it still had passion in its soul. It was of course a V6 manual and I loved that car. It was such a great driving experience. I couldn’t get my then-young children in and out easily and for some reason it got stuck in the lightest of snowfalls but otherwise it was a peach, and I wept the day it left my life. The other thing of note about this car was that, even in boring and non-descript Honda grey, it was beautiful. It had a subtle trunk spoiler and featured those long lines and doors that were absolutely stunning. For me this is what made the Accord special. It was pretty. Honda hasn’t always afforded the sedan version the same privilege as the 4-door variants have sometimes been disappointments in the looks department. The 2024 Accord is a winner though and is truly beautiful to look at. It has pretty lines, looks sporty and is low enough to handle well but not look stupid trying to get over a speed bump at the Costco parking lot. Well done Honda.
Interior
The Honda Accord features the latest Honda interior we see across their range of cars. It’s nice to look at, sit in and use on a daily basis. Rear leg room is excellent and you can go golfing (if that’s your thing) as there is plenty of space in the trunk. In my world I relate everything to football and my sons equipment bag fits back there with lots of space to spare.
The best feature on the Sport Hybrid trim is the wonderful fabric upholstery. I love fabric seats and think one day sooner or later we’re going to reject all these synthetic leather seating surfaces and return to the sanity and stability of a good quality fabric textile. The seats themselves are wonderfully comfortable and cup my old bones gently as I hoon around town pretending I’m young.
Quality
Honda has had their challenges over the years with specific quality issues (paint springs to mind) but for the most part have managed to hold onto their hard earned reputation for making good cars that last. The 2024 Accord continues this pattern and contributes to the legacy as it feels like a quality car made of quality bits and pieces.
CQI – 8. Good mid-grade carpet.
Value
The 2024 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid really only competes with the Camry. There are other options like the Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima but neither of those are good enough to really compete and won’t give you the long term value of the Accord. The Camry on the other hand has a hybrid option and AWD for the same money as the Accord so it’s a strong competitor and should be considered.
Final Thoughts
The Honda Accord will forever be one of my everyman streetfighter hero cars. It might be absent a coupe version and that’s a shame but, as with all trends in the car world, it’s our fault as we vote with our dollars. Nevertheless, we are still able to purchase this sports sedan which carries the spirit of the Accord as I remember it forward into the future. It’s a great car that looks good and drives so much better than it should. What a pleasant surprise this is and privilege to be held onto.
