2023 Honda Accord: The Quintessential Family Sedan?
The 2023 Honda Accord is a midsize sedan that has been a popular choice for families for over 50 years. The new 2023 model year brings with it an all-new design and an emphasis on hybrid power. The Honda Accord Sport is now a hybrid-only model and is particularly noteworthy, as it offers a combination of fuel efficiency features at a price that won’t break the bank and make it an excellent choice for families.
NEED TO KNOW
- Sport trim is a hybrid-only model; the sport name implies performance that the tuning does not deliver
- 204hp hybrid powertrain with a four-mode drive system; writer left it in ECON for most of the week
- Rear door child safety seat installation is easier than most sedans but still why families choose SUVs
- 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space is adequate but not class-leading
- Starting at $31,895; tested at $33,445
We cannot talk about the newest Accord Sport without talking about its hybrid powertrain. It is powered by a 2.0L VTEC® 4-cylinder engine that works in tandem with an electric motor to produce a total of 204 horsepower. This power is sent to the wheels through an electronic continuously variable transmission. This powertrain setup provides both excellent acceleration and impressive fuel economy, with an EPA-rated 46/41/44 (city/highway/combined) mpg. The 2023 Accord also comes with a 4-mode drive system that includes Sport, ECON, and Individual modes. We left ours in ECON for the majority of our time with the vehicle. This car is definitely tuned more toward fuel economy than its “Sport” trim would fool you to believe. It is a good car, but sporty it is not.
Driving it around, Holli found the operation of the hybrid system somewhat confusing, to the point she never knew if it was running or not. Honda has taken this into consideration with a power flow meter that can be displayed on the 12.3-inch color infotainment screen or in the middle of the speedometer in the fully digital gauge cluster.
In terms of comfort and convenience features, the 2023 Accord does not disappoint. It has seating for five passengers and was plenty roomy in all outboard seats. The leather-covered seats are heated up front and a power driver’s seat has 2-person memory with an exit mode. The 12.3-inch infotainment screen includes wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, and the 8-speaker, 180-watt audio system played Tucker’s dinosaur songs very well.
The rear doors opened wide enough to easily install Tucker’s child safety seat, though installation of those seats is never great in sedans. The lower latches are hidden under a flap of the leather seat, and the inboard latch on the passenger side is also inadvertently covered by the middle seat seatbelt. The top tether must go over the fixed-in-place headrest, which will cause some nice creases in the headrest when the seat is removed. Overall, it was easy, but we know why so many families dealing with child seats opt for SUVs in the current market.
Safety features are also abundant on the 2023 Accord. It comes with a collision mitigation braking system, road departure mitigation system, blind-spot information system, and a multi-angle rearview camera. The adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping assist system with traffic jam assist, and traffic sign recognition adds an extra layer of driver convenience to this vehicle.
Finally, our 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid is competitively priced, with a starting MSRP of $31,895 and a price as tested of $33,445. This makes it an excellent value for families who want a high-quality, feature-rich vehicle that also delivers excellent fuel efficiency.
If you are looking for a family vehicle with plenty of room, lots of comfort features, updated tech, and great fuel economy in a package that won’t break the bank, skip the SUV and consider the latest big sedan from Honda.
2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid Specs:
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2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid
PROS
- 46/41/44 mpg EPA-rated fuel economy is exceptional for a large sedan
- Rear doors open wide for relatively easy child safety seat installation
- Spacious seating for five with leather-covered heated front seats and 2-person driver memory
- Writer recommends it to families wanting room, tech, and fuel economy without breaking the bank
CONS
- Sport trim name is misleading — car is tuned for fuel economy, not performance
- Holli found the hybrid system's silent operation confusing — hard to tell if it was running
- Child seat lower latches are hidden under a leather flap, and inboard latch is covered by the middle seatbelt