by Anthony Fongaro - Photos by Honda - 11/28/2023
Which sedan is the king of the midsize segment? If you guessed the Honda Accord, great job! The Accord has been the segment leader for years, but competition from the Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata started to increase. Honda came back with the redesigned 2024 model. For this generation, only two powertrains remain. The 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four is gone and what remains is a 1.5-liter turbo inline-four and a hybrid. Honda made a lot of changes with the Accord, so let’s see if it should still be the king.
When this 11th generation first came out, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the exterior. That changed once I saw it in the sheet metal. It’s quite sharp looking, especially with the very slanted headlights and well-proportioned grille. This Sport-L trim looked great with Radiant Red Metallic paint and 19-inch Matte Black Allow Wheels. Since this is a Sport, the side mirrors and various trim pieces and painted black! The best part of the exterior is the rear. Those oversized lights are well integrated into the design language.
Step inside, and the new Accord feels upmarket. Although the black interior was a bit dull, the vents made up for it. They span the entirety of the front with thin metal knobs. Just don’t touch them when it’s hot. A nicely weighted steering comes with physical buttons for the infotainment system and adaptive cruise control. In front of the driver is a digital display that can show navigation. The right dial stays as a speedometer, but the hybrid gauge can change to a tachometer in Sport.
A nicely-proportioned 12.3-inch infotainment system is nestled above one of the smallest volume knobs I’ve seen. As for the infotainment system, it is crisp, has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and can show the power flow of the hybrid engine. My only complaint is the low-resolution backup camera. Physical buttons for climate control are always welcomed and using them is quite simple. This is where the buttons for the heated seats are. Below are two USB-C charging ports and a wireless charging pad. Honda has finally gone away with the push-button shifters and has gone back to a traditional one.
You’ll find plenty of storage in the Accord. The door pockets are deep and there is a good amount of room in the center console. Passengers will be content with a lot of space and comfortable seats. This next interior is vastly different from the previous generation. Not only has the design changed more cohesively, but there is a generous amount of tech.
Hybrid Accords come with a 2.0-liter inline-four combined with an electric motor. This makes 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft. Combined with an eCVT and front-wheel-drive, the Accord Hybrid Sport-L sedan gets from 0-60 MPH in 6.5 seconds. As a hybrid, that’s very impressive. What helps is when you’re in Sport mode, you get a simulated gearshift. I have nothing wrong with that. The electric motor helped to get the Accord off the line and the CVT didn’t make the engine drone too much.
Although this is set up as a hybrid family sedan, there was a little athleticism in the chassis. The ride was comfortable. My favorite part of driving the Accord Hybrid is the levels of regen braking. When you get the regen to the lowest setting, it feels close to one-pedal driving. There are four drive modes including Normal, Eco, Sport, and Individual. I was mostly in Normal and switching between Eco and Sport on the highway. Fuel economy was between 38-42 MPG. This is a great engine combination, but I’d like to see AWD and possibly a hotter Accord.
Pricing for the 2024 Honda Accord starts at $29,000 for the LX and up to around $40,000 for the Touring Limited. Sport-L Hybrid models come in at around $36,000. For that price, you get heated seats, dual-zone climate control, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, and more goodies. I’d recommend this trim and this car with the red paint. Honda hit another home run with the Accord. It looks good, has great tech, and has a decently quick and frugal engine. It’s still the king.
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