If you are in the market for a new Honda Accord, you have the choice of a hybrid powertrain or a traditional gasoline engine. But is it time for Honda to dump pure gasoline and go all-in on hybrids with its popular midsize sedan? Honda began producing an Accord Hybrid in 2005, although that early option only lasted for three years. After this first generation, there was a long pause until you would again see the Honda Accord Hybrid for sale. The second generation of the Honda Accord Hybrid started production in 2014, and it has been a growing part of the Accord family ever since. It is now perceived as a well-established model in the Honda hybrid lineup and accounts for roughly half of Accord sales.
However, Honda has always ensured that the Accord was also available as a traditional gasoline model. There are many loyal Honda Accord customers who are used to its long-established (since 1976) gas models. Compounding the issue was the fact that early hybrids were noted to be underpowered and sluggish. Today, improvements in tech have reversed this. Honda’s current hybrids actually offer more power than their gasoline-powered counterparts. Switching to an all-hybrid version in any particular model had obvious risks. However, as the history of the hybrid concept shows, fortune favors the bold, and it may be time for the Accord to drop the traditional gasoline engine.
The Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Story
The idea of building a hybrid gasoline-electric vehicle for the masses has had a long and winding road to success. It actually dates back much further than you might think, with several early hybrids appearing at the end of the 1800s. As concept vehicles, they were fascinating, but a combination of cheap gasoline and lagging battery technology kept the hybrid as just that—a great concept. The first successful mass production of hybrids is attributed to the Japanese car company Toyota, which introduced its groundbreaking Prius in 1997.
The success of the Pruis and its almost cult-like popularity among environmentally conscious consumers, both in the United States and around the world, pretty much opened the floodgates for mass production of hybrid models by most auto manufacturers. In the United States, the first hybrid to hit the market was actually the Honda Insight in 2000, which was soon followed by the Toyota Prius in 2001. The Honda Insight remained the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the United States for over a decade, but production halted in 2006. The aluminum body that kept the car’s curb weight low was more fuel-efficient but proved to be too expensive to manufacture. To mitigate the phase-out of the Insight, Honda rolled out hybrid versions of its popular Accord and Civic models. Since then, the Honda lineup has steadily increased its hybrid offerings.
Hybrid models are now an important part of any brand’s lineup. Automakers are increasingly being encouraged by consumers, the scientific community, and government agencies to produce low-emission vehicles. Hybrid vehicles play an important role in this goal of reducing vehicle emissions. Hybrid models gained boosts in sales in the United States thanks to generous tax credits, as well as incentives like the use of commuter lanes. So, the idea of going all-hybrid for a particular model definitely has merit.
The Incentive for Car Manufacturers to Produce Hybrids Is $$$
This pressure to reduce emissions is driving a new sense of urgency to convert to an electrified fleet for all auto manufacturers. The United States government is set to impose billions of dollars in non-compliance regulatory fines as part of its 2027 emission standards initiative. This means car manufacturers that are not willing to provide more hybrid options will likely pay the price.
Toyota has already heeded this call to action by making a host of models hybrid-only. Currently, its hybrid-only lineup includes the Camry, Crown, Land Cruiser, and Sienna, as well as the Prius, and there are rumors that other popular Toyota models will soon be following. If Toyota is going all-in on hybrids, other manufacturers are likely to follow suit. Toyota’s “go hybrid” approach, while risky, has paid off in terms of increased revenue and market share. Toyota has raised its profit forecast by 50% this year, closely matching its plans to sell 46% more hybrids, making 2024 one of the most profitable years on record for the manufacturer.
Reliance on fossil fuels as the primary source of energy for vehicles is just not a sustainable situation. In terms of global health, overall supply, and environmental impact, “all gas” is not the way forward. The hybrid model seems to be the logical path toward zero emissions as we further advance the technology to produce fully electric vehicles. The current hybrid offerings on the market are proving to be just as powerful and reliable as their gasoline-only predecessors. Recent trends also show the difference in sticker price is narrowing between the often more expensive hybrid model and traditional gas models. Considering the fuel price savings over the life of a hybrid, this makes the hybrid a much more cost-effective option as well.
Not a Question of If, But When the Accord Goes All-In on Hybrid
Considering Toyota’s willingness to go all-hybrid on its midsize sedan, it might be time for Honda to take the hint and do the same. The Honda Accord might be the vehicle of choice for sedan shoppers if Honda is willing to make the leap. Doing so might see an initial drop in sales volume as loyal Accord gas model customers gather online in forum debates and protests. But once the dust settles, I think it would be the right decision for the folks at Honda.
As a point of reference, consider the 2025 Honda Accord lineup and compare its gas and hybrid versions. Jumping from a traditional gasoline engine to a hybrid powertrain costs about $3,000—but the hybrid is also simply a better-equipped vehicle. It comes with a much larger infotainment screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, leather interior details, and larger wheels, in addition to its hybrid powertrain. If those features were taken away in a future base model hybrid, the price difference would be even smaller.
There is, of course, some added expense from having two electric motors on top of the four-cylinder engine and updates to the drivetrain to accommodate the hybrid setup. However, these changes give the Accord Hybrid an output of 204 hp, while the base Accord offers just 192 hp. The 2025 Accord Hybrid also archives an EPA-estimated 51 MPG in the city and 44 MPG on the highway, while the gas model is rated for 29 MPG in the city and 37 MPG on the highway. If you’re a city driver, wow, that’s quite the fuel savings at the pump.
As the price difference shrinks between hybrid and traditional gasoline vehicles, I believe many will just say, “Why not just go with the hybrid?” When it reaches that point of indifference, I believe Honda will reach the point where it has nothing to lose in dropping the pure gasoline engine from the Accord lineup. I guess only time will tell, along with near future consumer buying habits in terms of being more “green” conscious.
