About that headline. Headlines are hard.
The old phrase is "No news is good news", which means a bunch of things depending on how you look at it.
In the case of the 2025 Honda Accord, it would mean that nothing has been done to mess up arguably the best family sedan on the market today.
But "No news" isn't quite accurate here. There is a new SE trim for gasoline-powered Accord models, and all Accords, gasoline or hybrid, get rear air conditioning vents and rear USB ports. Beyond that, all Accord Hybrids get heated front seats and a wireless device charger. And the top-of-the-line Accord Hybrid Touring gets a heated steering wheel.
While Honda continues to make purely gasoline-powered Accords in two trims, LX and SE, the action is in the Honda Accord, which is available in Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring models. The 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline hybrids put out 192 horsepower, 192 pound-feet of torque and have an EPA combined city/highway fuel economy estimate of 32 mpg.
The Accord Hybrid is a two-motor system with 204 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque---the most powerful Accord currently available (the all-time peak was the 2008 V6 Accord with 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque).
The result---brisk acceleration (0 to 60 in 6.5 seconds as opposed to 7.3 for the gasoline model) and astonishingly good fuel economy (an EPA combined city/highway estimate of 44 mpg, with the Hybrid EX-L rated at 48 mpg).
The trunk is one of the biggest in the segment (competitors include the Toyota Camry Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid) at 16.7 cubic feet.
Rear seat legroom is beyond generous at 40.8 inches, rivaling larger, more luxurious sedans.
I drove the Accord Hybrid Sport L. Base price $35,375 ($36,470 with destination).
Standard at that price? Selectable drive modes, a comprehensive suite of active safety features, leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-speaker audio system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless device charger, dual-zone automatic climate control, rear vents, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory and a four-way power front passenger's seat, heated front seats, illuminated visor vanity mirrors, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback, sport pedals, floormats, a power moonroof, 19-inch alloy wheels and automatic high beams.
Extra cost options? Just the Still Night Pearl paint job at $455. You can get white, silver or black for free.
Bottom line on the window sticker, $36,925.
If you asked me anytime from 1982 on which family sedan to buy, the Honda Accord would have been the first car I mentioned. There's never been a bad one, and the 2025 Accord Hybrid is the best yet.
