With better handling and efficiency than the CR-V, the Honda Accord hybrid is a great reminder of a time when sedans ruled

Globe and Mail

20 hours ago

A once venerable breed, the sensible mid-size sedan is dwindling toward extinction.
American brands have stopped making sedans in favour of crossovers and SUVs sold to consumers as more convenient and flexible for busy families. The choice of SUV over sedan becomes even easier with the added security of all-wheel drive and a higher seating position.
SUVs are more profitable for car companies because they can make them bigger and stuff them full of options you would likely never need such as off-road packages and big wheels. In the U.S and Canada, there's a loophole in the regulations that cuts SUVs slack when it comes to fuel efficiency.
Still, there are sedans that have survived, such as the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord, considered the benchmark of the segment. For decades, these sedan brands have been the most trusted by consumers, earning the No. 1 and 2 spots for mid-size sedan sales in Canada and the U.S.
Personally, I find the Honda more enjoyable to drive. It has better steering and body control and a more comfortable ride.
The Accord added some new trims for 2025 but didn't change anything else. All Accords bound for Canada are currently assembled in Marysville, Ohio, which would make them subject to tariffs, but the prices aren't currently affected.
Base models have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but the rest of the lineup is outfitted with Honda's fourth-generation hybrid system, which mates an efficient four-cylinder engine to two electric motors. One of the motors drives the wheels directly, while the other is connected to the gas engine, working as a generator to charge the battery or supply power to the propulsion motor. The gas engine only powers the wheels during steady-state cruising at more than 100 kilometres an hour, but in most situations, the electric motor does the heavy lifting of moving the car.
The biggest advantage of this hybrid system from the driver's seat is the refinement. When the gas engine fires up, it's quiet and doesn't stay running for long. If you need full power to pass someone, both the engine and motor can team up to provide pleasingly linear acceleration and a combined 247 lb-ft of torque – and it sounds good. It's a better experience for the driver compared to the hybrid system in the Toyota Camry, which is just as efficient but lacks Honda's smoothness and responsiveness.
You can get the same powertrain in the Honda CR-V, but the efficiency takes a noticeable hit. According to Natural Resources Canada the Accord hybrid will consume an average of 5.3 litres of gasoline every 100 kilometres, while the CR-V will burn an extra litre or more to cover the same distance. In a year, that would amount to $341 saved at the pump at $1.55 per litre when driven 20,000 kilometres a year. That's not a small amount and is attributed to the Accord's lower weight and more aerodynamic profile.
I'm no stranger to the perceived convenience of an SUV. I bought my first one recently, a 10-year-old Honda CR-V. It replaced a sedan that I drove for 13 years. I figured the CR-V's extra space would be useful, but so far I haven't needed it. I like the extra height because it makes getting food from a drive-thru easier and my seven-year-old son, who sits in the back, gets a bit more leg room. Our groceries usually go on the floor behind my seat because it's easier than opening the tailgate. I find myself looking for reasons to use the 1,000-plus litres of cargo space, but so far, I haven't had any. And commuting in an SUV, which is usually done alone, is like going for a walk with an empty hiking backpack when a wallet is all you need.
The Accord is also a better handling vehicle. It's not as if the CR-V isn't well-mannered, but there's a big difference between it and the CR-V. The Accord has better steering, road feel and stability over bumps. Raising the suspension on a vehicle, and therefore its centre of gravity, hurts driving dynamics. SUVs typically have a poorer ride and tend to jiggle and shudder over uneven roads. It seems like a bad deal to have to live with a vehicle that's fundamentally worse for the few times a year when you go on a camping trip or to Ikea.
The Accord is a wonderfully refined vehicle with fantastic fuel mileage in the hybrid trim, back seats that are just as spacious as the CR-V's and a trunk big enough for any Costco run. It also has a great interior with comfortable seats, nice soft-touch materials on the dash and a good infotainment system. It's simple to use, has Google Maps built-In and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Two knocks against the Accord are its price and the absence of all-wheel drive, which you can get in a Camry. A base CR-V also starts about $2,000 less than the base Accord – a deal that's hard for most consumers to pass up. But for those who are looking for sensible and efficient transportation, the Accord has been providing it since 1977. The new one continues that tradition proudly, while also reminding drivers of a time when sedans ruled the road.
2025 Honda Accord Touring Hybrid
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