After a seven-year hiatus, the Honda Accord Hybrid was reintroduced for the 2014 model year and has no major changes for 2015.

The hybrid trim further adds to the versatility of the already iconic sedan, a perennial top-10 seller for decades.

The Weekly Driver Test Drive

The 2015 Honda Accord is available in three trims in gas and hybrid offerings. My weekly driver was the hybrid with the Touring trim. It’s chocked-packed with features. It includes all of the equipment of the hybrid EX and EX-L models.

The EX trim equipment: 17-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless ignition and entry, an 8-inch video display, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, and Lane Watch blind-spot display. It’s a visual of the car’s right side exterior view that appears in the central display when the right turn signal is engaged.

 

And there’s cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar) and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack, iPod/USB audio interface and Pandora functionality.

The EX-L trim equipment: adds: a sunroof, leather upholstery, forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems, a more sophisticated rearview camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver memory settings, heated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat and a premium seven-speaker sound system with its own 6-inch touchscreen display, satellite radio and smartphone app integration (HondaLink).

And the top-line Touring transitions the Accord into a near-luxury sedan with LED headlights, adaptive cruise control and a navigation system with voice recognition.

The 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid seats five, has front-wheel drive in all trim. It’s powered a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor are standard, which are paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Throughout its long tenure, the Honda Accord has always been a decathlete of the automotive industry. It’s not the fastest, best-equipped, most spacious and nor is it the leader in any specific category. But it does everything well. And, of course, it’s the leader for durability, resale value, comfort and mpg — and that’s what sets the Honda Accord apart from its rivals.

The Hybrid trim is also arguably the industry’s best example of a hybrid without having to compromise acceleration, attractiveness or cargo space.

The 2015 Accord Hybrid in the EX and Touring models also have one terrific feature, LaneWatch. It’s a safety addition that views where the driver can’t. A small camera positioned under the passenger side mirror displays in the navigation screen what’s in the blind spot. It can be adjusted to stay on or automatically engage when the right-hand turn signal is likewise engaged.

Likes:

Impressive fuel economy.
Well-constructed, attractive interior.
All-around passenger room.
Lane Watch.

Dislikes:

No V6 hybrid available.

Facts & Figures: 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid

Acceleration: 0-60 mph, 7.5 seconds.
Airbags: 6.
Fuel economy: 50 mpg (city), 45 mpg (highway), 47 mpg (combined), six-speed continuously variable transmission.
Horsepower: 196.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price: $35,055.00.
Manufacturer’s Web site: www.honda.com.
Price As Tested: $35,8450.00.
Warranty: Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000 miles; Powertrain, 5 years/60,000 miles; Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles; hybrid component: 8 years/80,000 miles.

What Others Say:

“With the 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid, you give up virtually nothing in return for its outstanding fuel economy rating of 47 mpg. The Accord Hybrid doesn’t even cost that much more than the gasoline-only model.” — Edmunds.com.

“Simple operation, great reliability and high resale value are obvious attractors to the Accord. But you may be surprised at the extent of its lineup, which ranges from an economical sedan to a V6-powered coupe or a hybrid rated up to 50 mpg. It’s hard to go wrong in any of them.” — Kelley Blue Book.

“The Accord Hybrid sets a new benchmark as a total package, although we will be driving the 2015 Camry Hybrid next week, and we’ll see how much nicer Toyota made that refreshed car.” — Hybridcars.com.

The Weekly Driver’s Final Words:

“The Honda Accord is a standard bearer in the automotive industry. The hybrid model takes a car great and makes its better with superior gas mileage and no compromises. The real question is why it ever left the marketplace.”