In its sixth decade, the Honda Accord is part of a small fraternity of vehicles that changed the automotive industry.
Unveiled in 1976, the Accord was joined by the Toyota Camry six years later. The vehicles’ rivalry has continued since, with the carmakers’ healthy competition a constant in the always-in-flux family sedan segment.
Key Takeaways
- Six decades of evolution pay off: The 2021 Accord Hybrid continues Honda’s rivalry with Toyota Camry, now in its 10th generation with refreshed styling and a sport sedan personality.
- 212-hp hybrid system erases stodgy reputation: The combined four-cylinder gas engine and electric motor deliver adequate power while achieving an estimated 43 mpg combined.
- Manual transmission is gone: Honda joined the growing manufacturer trend of eliminating manual gearboxes, a disappointment for driving enthusiasts.
- Intelligent power switching: The powertrain automatically toggles between EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive for optimal efficiency without driver intervention.
- Sport sedan styling with 19-inch wheels: New wheels and a refreshed grille give the hybrid a more athletic presence that distances it from the utilitarian hybrid stereotype.
The Honda Civic was successful for several years when the carmaker decided it needed a more comfortable, more powerful, larger and quieter offering. The Accord and Camry were unveiled as compacts, but the segment leaders advanced to the midsize ranks where the competition now includes Kia, Hyundai, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru models.
As such, Honda and Toyota have offered new generations, tweaked trims, altered interiors and exteriors and added and dispatched models.
Since 2005, Honda has also offered a hybrid. It’s available in base, EX, EX-L and Touring trims. All choices offer a four-cylinder gas engine and a hybrid system that combine to produce 212 horsepower.
Honda Accord: Enduring Legacy
For 2021, the Honda Accord, the continuation of the vehicle’s 10th generation, a hybrid joins its stablemates. It had refreshed styling and other upgrades, including a new grille. The high-mileage sedan erases any remaining notions of hybrid stodginess.New 19-inch wheels also enhance the new look, and the hybrid is now more sport sedan than family task-master. But economy still reigns with combined city and highway 43 miles per gallon estimate. One disappointment for this year: The Accord joined the growing manufacturer trend. It’s no longer available new with a manual transmission.
The technology and efficiency of the Accord’s hybrid powertrain, according to the manufacturer, is its power delivery via automatic switching between EV Drive, Hybrid Drive and Engine Drive. The hybrid’s brake-by-wire technology offers consistent performance using regenerative braking and less brake-pedal input.
Honda has in part built its stellar reputation through the years with an impressive standard features list. Besides the healthy offering from other trims, the Hybrid Touring model further solidifies the car’s popularity.
Also included: adaptive suspension dampers, automatic wipers, head-up display, heated rear seats, a navigation system, an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot and ventilated front seats.
The Honda Accord does everything right. Acceleration to comfort, durability to resale value, design to versatility. It’s a family sedan also ideal for a solo owner. Its stodginess is gone for a modern appearance, inside and outside.
Honda has also kept up with innovation, most of which the carmaker believes should be standard, increasingly notable for 2021. An 8.0-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration are now standard on all 2021 Honda Accord and 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid models.
Apple CarPlay and Android are new this year. The feature is standard on EX-L, Touring, Hybrid EX and higher trim levels. For seamless access when connecting a smartphone, all front USB ports are now located at the front of the center console. Rear-seat passengers in Sport and Hybrid EX (and higher-level) models get 2.5-volt USB ports.
Honda safety features are top-line. A standard rear-seat reminder alerts the driver to the possible presence of passengers or items left in the rear seat. Standard rear seatbelt reminder determines whether or not belts are secured properly. Adaptive cruise control and lane-keep-assist features in the Honda Sensing system are also updated for smoother braking when following another vehicle. It also maintains a more centered lane position.
Modern-day sedans are increasingly a “forgotten” car segment, overwhelmed by the convenience of pickup trucks and SUVs. Honda Accord yearly sales in 2020 were nearly half of the car’s peak of nearly 400,000 in 2014.
The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid, fully equipped is priced at $37,830. SUVs and trucks are great. A top-notch season about $3,000 less than the country’s average price of a new car? Here’s to the Honda Accord, any model will do but particularly the Hybrid.
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What We Like
- 43 mpg combined fuel economy
- Refreshed styling with new 19-inch wheels
- Automatic EV/Hybrid/Engine drive switching
- Sport sedan feel replaces hybrid stodginess
- Multiple trim levels from base to Touring
What We Don’t
- Manual transmission no longer available
- 212 hp adequate but not thrilling
- Hybrid premium over standard Accord
- Competitive sedan segment with strong rivals
Facts & Figures: 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4-cylinder, 2.0L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel Economy | 48 city / 48 hwy / 48 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular Gasoline |
How It Compares
| Vehicle | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid | $28,265 |
| 2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | $27,750 |
| 2021 Kia K5 | $23,790 |
| 2021 Nissan Altima | $24,300 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid?
The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid achieves an estimated 43 miles per gallon combined city and highway driving, making it one of the most efficient midsize sedans available.
How much horsepower does the 2021 Accord Hybrid have?
The Accord Hybrid produces 212 horsepower from its combined four-cylinder gas engine and hybrid electric motor system. All trims share this powertrain.
What trim levels are available for the 2021 Accord Hybrid?
The 2021 Accord Hybrid is available in base, EX, EX-L, and Touring trims. The broader Accord lineup also includes SE, SEL, SEL Plus, Limited, and non-hybrid variants.
Does the 2021 Honda Accord come with a manual transmission?
No. For 2021, Honda discontinued the manual transmission option for the Accord, following a growing manufacturer trend toward automatic-only lineups.
How does the Accord Hybrid’s drive system work?
The powertrain automatically switches between three modes: EV Drive for electric-only operation, Hybrid Drive combining gas and electric power, and Engine Drive for direct gas engine power at highway speeds.
How does the 2021 Accord Hybrid compare to the Toyota Camry Hybrid?
Both are class leaders in the midsize hybrid sedan segment. The Accord offers sportier styling with its 2021 refresh and 19-inch wheels, while the Camry Hybrid has been Honda’s primary rival for nearly four decades.
Article Last Updated: March 29, 2026.
- About the Author
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.