by Gabrielle DeSantis

• 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid (MSRP: $26,570 – $36,440)
• 2021 Car and Driver’s “10 Best Cars”
• Winner of KBB’s 2020 Best Buy Award
• Pro: Superior fuel efficiency and a more powerful engine for 2021
• Con: The audio system quality is lacking, even in top-trim Accord Touring  

The Honda Accord Hybrid has been a top contender in the mid-size sedan segment for the past few decades and it’s easy to see why. The Accord continues to thrive using a tried-and-true formula: it’s easy-to-drive, practical, efficient, comfortable, and stylish.

The Accord ups the ante on that formula via an increase in fuel efficiency as compared to its gas-only counterpart. For the 2021 model year, the Accord Hybrid comes in four different trims levels and now has a more powerful 2.0-liter engine and a large increase in its fuel economy ratings.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid looks grown-up

The Honda Accord has been in the U.S. for over 40 years and has evolved into a near-luxury sedan. Now in its tenth generation, the Honda Accord has a bold yet curvy stature thanks to its chiseled body lines that extend from front to rear. Upfront is a wide, chrome grille that’s accented by a pair of standard LED headlights.

There are new wheel choices for the 2021 model year; the base Hybrid, EX, and EX-L models get 17-inch wheels while the top Touring trim gets 19-inch. However, there are no notable exterior differences between the Accord Hybrid and Accord models, except for a few “Hybrid” badges on the sides and trunk of the car.

The Accord Hybrid has a spaciously handsome interior

Stepping inside the Accord Hybrid, the first thing you’ll notice is how roomy is it, especially in the rear seat area. I’m 5-feet, 8-inches tall and when sitting behind my preferred driving position, I had plenty of legroom to spare. Additionally, the leather seats in the EX-L and Touring trims make the car feel like it’s from a more upscale class.

Which 2021 Honda Accord trim is the best?

I recommend the top-level Touring trim as it has everything you could want out of an Accord Hybrid. However, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid is also available in the following trim levels: Hybrid, Hybrid EX, and Hybrid EX-L. Despite the value packaging of features that Honda likes to incorporate, the base Hybrid trim is well-equipped.

The Honda Accord Hybrid has plenty of easy-to-use features

Honda has always kept things simple as far as the technology in its cars and this new Accord is no exception. Some of Accord Hybrid’s notable standard features include remote engine start, Honda Sensing safety features, Walk Away auto-lock, dual-zone climate control, and Apple Carplay and Android Auto phone integration. There’s a standard 8-inch touchscreen up front, a multi-view rear camera outback, and an available head-up display (Touring).

The only downsides I could find in the Accord’s interior were the push-button shifter and the weak audio system. My Touring tester had 10 speakers, but the bass and clarity out of them were lacking.

The Honda Accord Hybrid handles better than you would think

Truth be told, the Honda Accord Hybrid is a large sedan, despite its mid-size designation. However, it is easy to drive on a normal road or spiritedly, if you must. There’s a good amount of resistance in the steering wheel to make it feel sporty. There’s not too much body roll in the corners, either.

Visibility is excellent and it’s relatively easy to park in tight situations. I say “relatively” because the turning radius is not very good. In fact, the Accord turns so wide that I found myself having to make multiple adjustments when parking in a parking lot.

The Accord Hybrid’s engine is powerful and efficient

Under the hood of every Accord Hybrid, there is a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that’s mated to an electric motor, which powered by a lithium-ion battery. That setup is mated to a single-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

Combined, the hybrid setup produces 212 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque and is good for an EPA-estimated 48 mpg city in the city and 48 mpg on the highway (base trims) and 44/41, respectively (Touring).

On the street, the Accord Hybrid pulls away from dead stops quickly and quietly thanks to its all-electric operation up until more power is needed. When that happens, the gas motor kicks in smoothly with only a somewhat detectable growl. Passing power on the freeway is plentiful and accelerating is a breeze as the Accord Hybrid’s power feels akin to a small V6 engine.

Safety is always a primary concern for Honda

Honda is always on top of the game when it comes to safety. The Honda Accord Hybrid features a multitude of safety features and comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite. The Honda Sensing suite includes features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, a forward collision warning, and road departure mitigation.

Other safety features include blind-spot indicators, parking sensors, a rear cross-traffic alert system, and 10 airbags. If you need any more reassurance that the Honda Accord Hybrid is safe, then you’ll be glad to know that it received the highly-coveted “Top Safety Plus Pick” award for 2021 from the IIHS.

There’s almost no need to worry about maintenance

According to Edmunds, the 2021 Honda Accord’s maintenance costs add up to a little over $1,000 for the first few years of ownership and then increase to over $1,000 for years four and five. And if any repairs are needed, Repair Pal reports that the average projected repair cost for an Accord is $400 average.

Fortunately, every Honda Accord comes with a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and the hybrid battery is covered, too. That warranty is good for 8-years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid blurs the line between efficiency and luxury

If you’re looking for a mid-size sedan that can comfortably fit five adults in a lap of near-luxury, the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid is a good fit for you. In addition to being spacious and comfortable, it effortlessly achieves over 40 mpg under almost any type of driving situation and with plenty of power. During my week of testing, I was able to average 44 mpg in mixed driving without even trying.

Overall, the Accord Hybrid is ideal for long commutes and bumper-to-bumper traffic. However, you’ll wish that it has a better sound system and turning radius at some point. But those are small complaints in a vehicle full of promise.

MotorBiscuit gives the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid an expert rating of 7.8 out of 10

The editors at MotorBiscuit gave the 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid a rating of 7.8 out of 10. The Accord Hybrid presents an excellent value proposition with its stellar fuel economy ratings and comfortable driving dynamics. IF you’re looking for a super-efficient mid-size sedan, the Accord Hybrid is an excellent choice.

RELATED: The 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid Is Actually Pretty Fast Too

The post 2021 Honda Accord Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Depending on how entrenched you are in car culture, you may or may not have been a longtime BMW fan. The European automaker has always had a cult following due to great designs, powerful engines, and never-ending customization options in the secondary market. As the automotive market experiences growing pains, are the BMW kidney grilles just another cog in the broken wheel?

But in recent years, the fandom seems to have faltered. Is Domagoj Dukec’s obsession with the kidney grille at fault?

Dukec is the head of design at BMW and knows better than anyone what the public wants. Yet we get kidney grilles. The brand shifted gears after the 1960s and started focusing on sports cars. According to an article and interview with Dukec by Autoblog, the “Ultimate Driving Machine” slogan first hit the market in 1975. That same year, the BMW 3 Series was released.

The rest is history. People were hooked on the design, the BMW kidney grille, the BMW engines, and the BMW community. That excitement from the 3 Series has carried the BMW brand through generations. The BMW 5 Series, 7 Series, M3, M4, M5, X3, X5 SUVs, and everything in-between.

But while the lineup grew and the fan base expanded, BMW took little risk in changing the design. Of course, modern cars look different from the original BMW designs, but you can always tell a BMW apart. The kidney grilles and the shape of the headlights have modernized but not changed. According to the brand, there have been 13 significant changes to the BMW kidney grille over time.

From the early days of BMW, the twin kidney grille has been an iconic design element. Over time the kidney grille has evolved, becoming smarter and more functional.

Explore the history and evolution of the BMW kidney grille:https://t.co/0JaC100KvChttps://t.co/k3YaKQGpgN pic.twitter.com/RKldLyxdF2

— BMW South Africa (@BMW_SA) September 4, 2021

RELATED: Why Is BMW So Popular If They Are Unreliable and Expensive?

However, in recent years, Dukec has gone ahead with 46 years of change all at once. The design of the well-loved BMW is gone. In its place, massive kidney grilles glare at you from the front of the car. The grilles are reminiscent of a beaver if you will. But Dukec stands by his design changes, noting that the brand has evolved.

BMW is big on the joy of driving, at one point even changing the slogan to “Joy is BMW.” That didn’t last long, as the “Ultimate Driving Machine” came back into style. Dukec says the company has shifted from gaining large amounts of drivers to just the drivers who “want” a car. “You have to understand the reason certain customers want a car. We want to address just the ‘I want’ customers,” he told Autoblog. Dukec says the brand wants buyers that want to buy the vehicle. Not the person who lands on a lesser car because the 5 Series is too expensive. The buyer who wants the 3 Series because he wants the 3 Series.

Since joining the company in 2019, the design of the most popular sports cars has changed drastically. While most BMWs from history are aesthetically pleasing, that is no longer the case. The performance-focued M3 and M4 might have a lot of power, but te kidney grilles sure are ugly.

RELATED: Want A New 2021 BMW M3/M4 But Hate The Grille? Here’s The Fix!

By the time the BMW X7 and BMW 7 Series rolled out in 2019, the grille was growing.

“The BMW X7 and the current BMW 7 Series each have twin kidney grilles of a similar design to the 3 Series, including the horizontal bend to the upper edge. However, in both of these models the BMW grille is much larger and significantly more eye-catching – and thus much more present.”

BMW

The Head of BMW design said the BMW 4 Series Coupe from 2020 is meant to make a statement. “The striking vertical kidney grille and the iconic double headlights create a daring and confident identity,” Dukec said. But when did BMW have to resort to such tactics to keep attention on the brand?

BMW says the new kidney grilles are just part of the evolution of the brand. However, fans aren’t in love with the change. The performance is still there, but how can one love a car that looks so ridiculous? Based on sales figured from Good Car Bad Car, they don’t. Sales of the 3 Series have been in a slump since 2015 when 140,609 units sold. In 2020, only 39,290 units left the dealership. Sales for the 4 Series were at a high in 2017 with 39,634 units selling. In 2020, that number was 12,357. Competition is fierce in these segments, but that isn’t the only reason for slumped sales.

As the new electric BMW iX hits the market, the company is full-speed ahead with this design aesthetic. Dukec says that the design philosophy of the vehicle doesn’t have a name but is more “Form follows experience. This all has to be an experience of joy that [makes] BMW relevant to our customers.”

It appears the brand isn’t out for instant gratification but is more corned with long-lasting success. But will the die-hard fans stick around to be a part of that? Dukec doesn’t seem to care one way or another.

RELATED: 4 Best Cars That Nobody Buys According to Consumer Reports

The post Is the BMW Kidney Grille Campaign Going Completely Wrong and Alienating Longtime Fans? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.