The 2021 Honda Accord is our top-recommended midsize sedan, and of its handful of variants, the Accord Hybrid you see right here could be our choose of the litter. Its superior gasoline financial system and agreeable drivability with out vital compromise comes at a superbly affordable value premium. As we’re reviewing the inside right here, there’s additionally nothing right here to dissuade you from hybrid possession. In contrast to the previous-generation Accord Hybrid, this new model’s trunk is uncompromised by the battery pack and similar to the one you’d get with a 1.5T or 2.0T Accord. The instrument panel will get some distinctive readouts within the Accord’s massive coloration display screen that occupies the spot usually reserved for a tach, whereas the middle console homes Honda’s unloved push-and-pull digital shifter shared with the two.0T. In any other case, every part you see on this evaluate of the inside is widespread all through the Accord line, or in some instances, the top-of-the-line Touring trim.
Now, be part of us for a deep dive into the inside’s supplies, storage, know-how, area and toddler automobile seat fitment. We’ll contact on cargo area, however our Accord Baggage Take a look at put up already lined it totally. All of it provides as much as a household sedan that lives as much as that descriptor by being fairly darn helpful for household use.
First, let’s discuss in regards to the infotainment system. The Accord and Odyssey have the great Honda infotainment system. The whole lot else has some type of earlier system that is gradual, convoluted in areas, susceptible to glitches and has minimal bodily buttons. That features the CR-V, which we reviewed right here.
Why is the Accord higher? The graphics are sharper, extra colourful, distinguish between buttons higher and are merely extra fashionable. There are ample bodily buttons, which reduces the probabilities of needing to weed again by way of menus. And whereas I am unable to rule out glitches, I’ve by no means skilled them with an Accord versus the CR-V and others.
Nonetheless, this technique is way from class main. The navigation system is rudimentary in look and performance. The touchscreen navigation system in my 2007 Acura TSX (successfully a flowery Accord) was simpler to make use of than this factor and appeared roughly equal in modernity regardless of being launched in the midst of W’s presidency. Then there’s the audio controls. Why are there solely 4 radio presets proven at a time? Why does Honda proceed to be the one automobile firm that features a satellite tv for pc radio genre-selection button (the one that claims “rock” right here). Who’re these individuals who routinely go, “You recognize, I’ve had sufficient of rock music, let’s try a jazz channel.”
Wi-fi charging reveals up beginning with the Accord EX-L or Accord Hybrid EX. There may be at all times a USB media port and a USB charge-only port. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included on each Accord, however wi-fi connectivity is featured solely on the identical higher trims that get wi-fi charging. Decrease trims get the wired selection. Though this implies you are caught with a wire in that occasion, no less than the Accord’s voluminous phone-storage bin means that you can preserve these wires from snaking throughout the console.
The identical trim ranges that get wi-fi charging additionally will get this pair of USB cost ports within the again seat.
For 2021, the Accord will get revised cruise controls (above proper). There may be now a standard cruise management icon (the little automobile with the speedometer and arrow) used to interact the system reasonably than the bizarre “Foremost” button that in all probability made sense to some engineer someplace however was completely befuddling to anybody else who really used the system. The next distance button (that pyramid of traces) is a bit of completely different, too.
The controls on the left are the identical. The House button and thumb wheel management the big digital show that seems within the left facet of each 2021 Accord’s instrument panel.
Talking of which …
The primary distinction between the Accord and Accord Hybrid interiors is seen right here with the hybrid energy gauge that replaces the tachometer. It isn’t a very helpful gauge, although contemplating Honda discontinued the guide transmission choice for ’21 and that few individuals decide to alter ratios with paddles, it is not like a tachometer is extremely helpful, both.
Within the subsequent slides, you may see that partaking the game button provides just a few pink particulars to the IP (slide 2), however that is actually it.
You may as well see a few of the menu choices you may management with that House button and thumb wheel.
Solely the Touring trim degree will get this head-up show. Its color-ish and might embrace additional readouts for the navigation system and that super-useful hybrid energy meter factor.
This is a close-up of the middle console, together with the aforementioned digital shifter. You possibly can see the buttons to interact Econ and Sport modes, the hybrid’s EV solely mode that operates at very low pace for very quick intervals of time, the digital parking brake and the Brake Maintain operate.
You may as well see the cupholder unit, which kinda appears like a Kia’s grille.
The Kia cupholder is large enough to carry a big Yeti water bottle. The entrance door bottle holder cannot, nonetheless.
This is the middle console bin. It features a little sliding tray to place no matter on, or you may take away it to suit one thing bigger like my digicam bag or a small purse.
Earlier than we transfer to inside area, let’s discuss in regards to the “wooden” trim that reveals up beginning with the EX-L trim. At first look, it appears like tasteful open pore wooden trim. It even appears that means within the above photograph. Besides it is not wooden and even an open pore plastic that mimics the anticipated tough texture. Nope, it is easy as a child’s butt. And when you discover that, you may’t ignore it. It would as effectively have “pretend!” written on it. That is unlucky contemplating the Accord’s supplies high quality is in any other case so glorious.
This is without doubt one of the causes I admire Toyota foregoing wooden trim nearly utterly in its vehicles, utilizing various trim varieties or coloration to interrupt up the acres of plastic. It is extra sincere, like sporting a $100 Timex as an alternative of a $100 pretend Rolex.
Right here is the motive force seat. It’s eight-way energy adjustable with four-way energy lumbar on all however the base trims (LX and Hybrid). Beginning with the Sport Particular Version (fuel solely) and Hybrid EX, the passenger seat is four-way adjustable and each seats are heated. Leather-based reveals up with the EX-L (therefore the L) and air flow is Touring solely.
On a private notice, I discover the Accord driving place very comfy, because the seat supplies considerable seat adjustability and wheel journey for my 6-foot-3 body.
The again seat is gigantic. Keep in mind I simply stated that I am 6-foot-3? That entrance seat is about for myself up there. That is class-leading area. The truth is, there’s a lot area between seating rows that few vehicles (or SUVs) present as a lot room to put in a rear-facing baby seat.
Right here is my Chicco KeyFit 30 toddler automobile seat positioned within the center and outboard positions. The driving force seat will be all the way in which again when the toddler seat is within the center, however must be moved up one or two centimeters when in an outboard place.
Sadly, not like the CR-V, the Accord doesn’t have a center decrease LATCH anchor, which means that you need to safe a automobile seat within the center utilizing the seat belt.
For the outboard seats, discovering the LATCH anchors could not be simpler. Simply pull out the big leather-based cowl and the anchors are simple to see and plug into.
The higher anchors are behind these plastic doorways. My child’s not large enough for a forward-facing or convertible automobile seat but, so I am afraid I had nothing to check these with.
Listed below are the again seat cupholders, as soon as once more, impressed by Kia. They’re all Yeti pleasant.
And at last, this is the 16.9-cubic-foot trunk. It is so gigantic, it will possibly even maintain a 38-quart cooler along with all of the above baggage. Once more, you may see extra in regards to the trunk in our Accord baggage check.
