Kelley Blue Book: The 2023 Honda Accord has a new look and a hybrid option that’s front and center

Where car companies have tended to offer V-6 engines or more powerful turbocharged 4-cylinder units in the higher trims of their midsize sedans, Honda has decided to source that extra muscle from electric motors. So, the top four 2023 Accord variants have a hybrid drivetrain.

There was a hybrid version of the previous generation, but Honda
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has made this the banner drivetrain. The company reckons that hybrids will account for about half of all new Accord sales.

For the pedantic among us, there isn’t technically a 2023 Accord Hybrid. It’s just the Accord, whose upper trims just happen to have a hybrid drivetrain.

The Accord has been a true success story for Honda. Kelley Blue Book has given it plenty of awards, like last year’s Best Buy among midsize sedans, as well as 2021, 2020, 2019, and so on. There’s also the 2022 Best 5-year Cost to Own and Best Resale Value awards for the class. The new Accord sedan looks on course to continue these winning ways.

2023 Honda Accord pricing

The 2023 Honda Accord starts at $27,295. Hybrid power is introduced at the Accord Sport level, which starts at $31,895.

2023 Honda Accord LX: $27,295

2023 Honda Accord EX: $29,610

2023 Honda Accord Sport (hybrid): $31,895

2023 Honda Accord EX-L (hybrid): $33,540

2023 Honda Accord Sport-L (hybrid): $33,875

2023 Honda Accord Touring (hybrid): $37,890

These are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and do not include the $1,095 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

For context, the Toyota
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Camry starts at $26K, the Kia K5
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 and Hyundai
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Sonata at $25K, and the Subaru
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Legacy (with all-wheel drive as standard) at $24.4K.

Before buying a new Accord midsize sedan, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay.

See: This is how the happiest car shoppers bought their vehicle

Strong resale values

The 10th-generation Accord topped the resale value tables for its class, with the Camry and K5 coming second and third. The new Accord looks likely to achieve the same results.

Check out: The cars, trucks and SUVs with the best resale value

What’s new for 2023

This is a new generation of Accord sedan, although the engine in the two lowest trims is a carryover. Everything else has been updated, however, from strengthening the body (with an eye toward future crash test standards; Honda expects to earn top safety scores with its new Accord) to updating the technology.

Driving the 2023 Honda Accord

With the same 192-horsepower turbocharged 1.5-liter engine as last year, we can assume that the 2023 Accord in LX and EX trims is pleasantly energetic, with perhaps a little more stability than before — Honda widened the track (the distance between wheels on the same axle) a touch. The company also stiffened the chassis to create a better foundation for fine-tuning the suspension.

In other words, we’ve never had any complaints about how the previous version drove, so it’s unlikely we’ll start now.

A new hybrid drivetrain goes into the four highest new Accord trims. Total system output is a punchy 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. OK, that’s nine fewer horses than before, but torque (which is perceived as thrust) is up by 15 lb-ft. Honda also says this new system is more refined and responsive at freeway speeds.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of midsize sedans and can’t wait to put the new Honda Accord through its paces.

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Premium interior

We’ve sat in the top Touring version of the 2023 Accord sedan, and it’s close to a luxury car in terms of tech and materials. One new Honda hallmark in a few of its latest vehicles is the black honeycomb-type mesh across the dashboard. Air vents are concealed behind it.

The outgoing Accord was among the class leaders for rear legroom, trunk space, and overall refinement. It’s just as roomy in this new model. An adult male of average size can sit in the back, enjoy plenty of legroom, and have an inch or two of clearance between the top of his head and the liner.

Clean and classy exterior

A slew of all-new Honda vehicles show that the company has found a fresh styling mojo, with the Accord sedan as yet another recipient. If there’s a slight Audi influence to the overall clean look, that’s quite possibly a good thing. It retains the previous generation’s sloping roof, which doesn’t affect headroom too much.

This new Accord is 2.7 inches longer than its predecessor, but the wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear axles) remains the same. No need to fret about that; the outgoing Accord had class-leading rear legroom anyway.

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Our favorite features and tech

Apple CarPlay/Android AutoSmartphone integration is standard across the 2023 Accord range. It’s wireless in the hybrid versions, but the LX and EX require a cable.

Digital instrument clusterEvery new Accord has a customizable 10.2-inch digital driver information display. Naturally, the hybrid versions can also show the driver the status of the drivetrain.

Over-the-air updatesA new feature for the Accord, this means the car can continue to improve with ongoing, seamless upgrades to its software.

Google built-inExclusive to the top Touring trim and another first for Honda, this is an advanced infotainment system bringing Google
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Maps and Google Assistant, as well as a choice of apps and entertainment through Google Play.

Wireless chargingSo wonderfully convenient, it’s a shame this isn’t in any other trims apart from the Touring model.

Head-up displayAlso exclusive to the Touring trim, a head-up display projects information onto the windshield directly in front of the driver.

Engine and transmission

The LX and EX trims are the only new Accord sedan variants that do not have a hybrid drivetrain. Instead, they employ a turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine making 192 horsepower and 192-lb-ft of torque. Considering this drivetrain is carried over from the previous generation (albeit with a few improvements in the areas of refinement and emissions), let’s assume fuel economy will be a lot like last year.

An automatic transmission sends that output to just the front wheels. All-wheel drive is not offered in any 2023 Accord.

The higher trims of the 2023 Accord, however, come with a new hybrid drivetrain consisting of two electric motors and a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder combustion engine. Combined output is 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.

We’ve included the 2022 fuel economy estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency for an idea of what the new Accord hybrid drivetrain might achieve.

1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine (LX, EX)192 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm192 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700-5,000 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy (2022 figures, for reference): 30/38 mpg

2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine + two electric motors (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, Touring)204 total horsepower247 lb-ft total torque @ 5,000-8,000 rpmEPA city/highway fuel economy (2022 figures, for reference): 44/41 mpg (Sport, Touring), 48/47 mpg (EX-L)

Read: It’s sexy, it’s fast. It’s…the new Toyota Prius?

3-Year/36,000-mile warranty

Honda’s new-vehicle warranty is for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain is covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. The hybrid battery has its own warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles. These are all typical for the class but not the best. Honda also throws in 2 years or 24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

This story originally ran on KBB.com. 

KBB’s car review methodology.