There was a time in my life, before I had a car of my own, that all I dreamed of driving was a Honda Accord. It was the cool, import car to own and to boot it was known for reliability and an awesome resale value. It wasn’t always the flashiest car on the sedan block but you saw enough of them on the road to solidify its popularity.
But that was then. Now, fast forward nearly twenty years and when most people mention cool and sedan in the same sentence, it could be a reference to a slew of cars from a wide variety of manufacturers. Personally, I evolved past the allure of the Honda Accord years ago, not satisfied with the lack of innovation when it comes to style. Sure, Accords were still reliable vehicles but the alternatives were just too attractive. That is until now.
When I found out I would be spending a week with the 2021 Honda Accord TRG, I knew I’d be in for a comfortable, confident ride but I wasn’t expected to be excited. Thankfully I was surprised to find that not only was I wrong but my admiration for the Accord was somewhat restored. But, I’m not that geeky teenager anymore – I’m a father of two that is painfully aware more and more every day that a sedan has its limitations. For this Dad Driver, the evolution of the Accord had to offer more than did all those years ago. Like say, a kick ass hybrid engine?
What This Dad Digs about the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid TRG
The Star of the Show – Let’s dive right into the main event: this Accord’s Hyrbrid drive. Spoiler alert: it’s fantastic and in most common driving situations it delivers on some solid mileage.Its the work of a two-motor hybrid system that produces 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The 2.0-liter 4 cylinder gas engine does the majority of the heavy lifting while the lithium-ion battery helps out where it can mainly in propulsion. This combined system allows the Accord an impressive 44 miles to the gallon in the city and 41 miles on the highway. When dropping off two children at two different day care locations on a daily basis eats up a lot of gas, these types of fuel economy numbers send goosebumps down my arm.
Best part is, the drive doesn’t suffer. The 2021 Accord hybrid is more peppy then a hybrid should be, with the same solid handling prowess I’ve come to expect from Honda. Acceleration was on point, allowing for unpredictable city maneuvering and it wasn’t until I hit speeds of higher than 70 did I hear the engine whine a tad. There is a great mixture of fun and confidence in this Accord that made me fall in love with the drive all over again.
Fast Stylings – When the 10th generation of the Honda Accord landed in 2017, it brought with it some much needed styling upgrades to bring up to par with what other sedans on the market are offering. The Accord has always been “handsome” but handsome doesn’t always cut it anymore. Sometimes you gotta wow them and that’s exactly what this Accord does.
It is long, aerodynamic, and every bit an Accord, albeit an evolved one. I love the fastback style rear end, the speedy design lines that filter through the body, and the sloping hood that exaggerates a new grill. Also new for 2021 are the aggressively cool, slender LED headlights and 19 inch alloy wheels that are only available on the Sport and Touring trims. From all angles, this modern Accord is refreshingly bold but tips its hat in subtle ways to the subdued Accords of the past.
A mixed bag Interior – While the cabin of the 2021 Accord is roomy and quiet, it’s a bit busy and falls a bit behind on style. Still, I dig it because it remains true to the simplicity of the Accord brand while adding just the right amount of new tech. For instance, this year the Accord comes with a larger infotainment screen and new modern features like Apple Carplay, Android auto, and a rear seat reminder system – a must have for any parent. The screen itself is still a fingerprint magnet but I’m pleased Honda still includesphysical buttons on the side.
The front of the cabin is filled with mature designs – a little too mature actually – and there is plenty of room throughout. As with any sedan of this size, there is limited amount of legroom in the rear seat but I didn’t have a problem climbing in and out. My daughters car seats fit just fine, as well.
A brief word about the 4 button gear shift controls in the center console. I’ve seen a lot of hate around this design online and while I agree there is a learning curve to this type of input, once you’ve become accustomed to it, it becomes second nature.
Coming Out Safely On Top – To top it off, the 2021 Accord earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHAS and a five-star NHTSA rating. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. Dad Drivers can rest easy – The Accord can get you and your family where you need to go, safely.
What Gets a Downvote from this Dad
Honestly, there isn’t much that discouraged my time with the 2021 and for the most part, any drawback was mitigated once I cranked the engine and hit the road. Sure, increased space in the center console and a bit more leg room in the back seat would have been solid but even with my wife in the passenger seat and two kids in the back, I rarely noticed a lack of space.
I mentioned a bit of an engine whine when hitting speeds of 75 miles per hour or higher. While I noticed this, I doubt most drives will. I drive enough cars to know that this Hybrid Honda has its performance limitations but I never felt the need to test those limits. While this Accord is definitely sexier than years past, it’s still all business. Fun business, but business. That means as a parent in need of a sedan, the 2021 Accord holds its own.
@philmguy Sometimes, Dads know exactly what to say. #DadDrivers #Cars #Honda ♬ original sound – philmguy
My father drives a Honda Accord. Has for nearly ten years now. His Accord is beginning to show its age but despite some leaky oil engine work it required in the past few years, its been a confident choice for my dad. In fact he’s determined to buy a new one soon. So imagine his eyes widened when I pulled this 2021 Accord in his driveway, one beautiful Sunday afternoon. “I believe this Accord looks dadgum good” were his exact words. And I have to agree with him. It does look good. But it also drives dadgum good too.
Phillip is a filmmaker, an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and craft beer aficionado. He writes about cars, car tech, and various other cool Dad things. He lives, works and plays in Dallas, Texas.
