2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Delivers 50 MPG for under $30K

After already posting a new high-water mark for midsize sedan fuel efficiency, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid now has done the same for pricing in the segment. With an MSRP of $29,155 (exclusive of a $790 destination/handling charge), the car jumps to the top of the mainstream midsize sedan leaderboard as follows:

• 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid—$29,115; 50 mpg city/45 mpg highway/47 mpg combined
• 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid—$26,200; 47/47/47
• 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid—$26,140; 43/39/41
• 2013 Kia Optima Hybrid—$25,900; 36/40/38
• 2013 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid— $25,650; 36/40/38

On the other hand, the premium price of admission to the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid does bring a premium level of content, too. For example, standard features include a blind-spot display system that, per Honda, is completely unavailable on the Accord Hybrid’s rivals, and the starter model also comes from the factory with:

• Bluetooth HandsFreeLink technology
• A rearview camera
• LED daytime running lamps
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• An expanded-view rearview mirror
• SMS text-messaging functionality
• Alloy wheels
• A 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Premium audio features like a 160-watt AM/FM/CD sound system with USB/iPod integration and Pandora Internet radio compatibility

And for those keeping track, the factory that builds the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, as well as the traditionally engined Accord, is located at the automaker’s U.S. facility in Marysville, Ohio.

"With advanced technologies standard on every Accord Hybrid we've given customers an incredible combination of fuel efficiency, technology and value," said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales at American Honda. "The addition of the Accord Hybrid to the lineup will further advance Accord's position as America's most popular passenger car with individual buyers."

But there’s even more to the car than that ….

2014 Honda Accord Hybrid: Two More Premium Models

Now, with all those standard goodies, the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid does provide plenty of bang for your buck, but the starter model is just that. The automaker then offers two more increasingly upscale trim levels for the car, beginning with the EX-L model that opens at $31,905. In this configuration, drivers enjoy a significant seating upgrade with leather surfaces, a heated front row, a memory function for the driver’s seat, and a four-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat. Technology levels  also rise, as both the HondaLink cloud-based media and connectivity system and two further driver-assistance features—forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning—are standard on the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L, which caps its enhancements off with a one-touch power moonroof.

At the top of Honda’s hybrid hierarchy is the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring. Here, customers will find an MSRP of $34,905 that, along with the previously mentioned additions, further brings a satellite-linked navigation system (with voice command and FM traffic data), LED headlights (with blue-tinted chrome bezels), hard-disk storage (for media content), and adaptive cruise control.

The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is slated to go on sale Oct. 31, 2013—customer costumes not required.

(For more about the 2014 Honda Accord family, see: http://www.autobytel.com/honda/accord-hybrid/news/2014-honda-accord-hybrid-first-to-50-mpg-119020/.)