Family SUVs have become the default choice for buyers who want practicality, comfort, and efficiency, but that convenience often comes at a steep price. With many new compact crossovers now pushing well past $35,000, a growing number of lightly used alternatives deliver the same everyday usability, better fuel economy, and a more refined driving experience while costing thousands less.
One three-year-old Japanese hybrid sedan stands out as a particularly compelling example. It offers generous passenger space, premium features, exceptional reliability, and fuel economy that many new hybrid SUVs still can’t match, all for less than the price of a new base-trim compact crossover. For buyers willing to skip the SUV trend, it’s one of the smartest used-car values on the market today.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites, including the EPA, CarEdge, J.D. Power, and Edmunds.
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Save yourself thousands of dollars and get a 3-year-old Honda Accord Hybrid
Just as practical, more efficient, and thousands cheaper
There is no denying the popularity of compact crossovers, with the likes of the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 dominating the market for some time now. We’ve been sold the idea that they are the ultimate affordable family cars, with spacious interiors and a car-like ride quality. However, we think you’re much better off getting a solid mid-size sedan, like the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, which offers all the practicality you could need at a much cheaper price.
A plush family sedan for the price of a mid-trim Corolla
Model (2023)
Average list price
Sport Hybrid
$26,628
EX-L Hybrid
$27,860
Sport-L Hybrid
$27,465
Touring Hybrid
$30,102
In our eyes, you don’t get much better than the Honda Accord as far as family sedans go. The hybrid model is particularly good, offering a little more power and exceptional levels of efficiency. You can also easily get a slightly used three-year-old model for an absolute bargain, with it costing thousands of dollars less than a new model despite coming with a lot of the same features. It is also very dependable, with Honda having a fantastic reputation for reliability.
We think that spending a little more money and going with the EX-L is the way to go. The price gap between it and the cheapest trim is pretty small when you consider all the luxuries that you’re getting. While the Sport-L might come with some sporty aesthetics and be a little cheaper, its larger, fancier wheels take a toll on the Accord’s fuel economy, which is why we think the EX-L is the way to go.
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The Accord finds a fine balance between fun, efficiency, and comfort
It beats hybrid SUVs in every department
Credit: Honda
In terms of driving dynamics, the biggest selling points for hybrid crossovers are that they are super efficient and they ride comfortably. Because the Accord weighs less and sits closer to the ground, it is even more efficient and its ride is better. On top of this, Honda’s family sedan is pretty peppy off the line, and quite a lot of fun from behind the wheel. Compared to SUVs, we think the Accord Hybrid is better in just about every way.
Quicker and more engaging than you’d expect
Base Trim Engine
2.0L Inline-4 Hybrid
Base Trim Transmission
Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
Base Trim Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
204 hp
Base Trim Torque
134 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Fuel Economy
46/41 MPG
Make
Honda
Model
Accord Hybrid
Segment
Midsize Sedan
The 2023 Honda Accord is powered by one of the most refined and reliable hybrid setups out there. It combines a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce a pretty reasonable 204 horsepower. It sends power exclusively to the front wheels via an electronic continuously variable transmission. This is the same as the setup you would get in a brand new Accord Hybrid.
The Accord strikes a balance between ride quality and handling that is incredibly satisfying. When cruising on your daily commute, it will feel effortlessly smooth and will absorb any shocks without skipping a beat. Find yourself on a twisty section of road and give it some throttle, and you’ll be impressed with how well it handles, and how precise the steering is. It also accelerates with plenty of urgency, getting up to 60 miles per hour from a standstill in as little as 6.5 seconds.
Sticking with the smaller wheels is the way to go
Model
City
Highway
Combined
EX-L
51 MPG
44 MPG
48 MPG
Sport/Sport-L/Touring
46 MPG
41 MPG
44 MPG
The Sport and Touring models come equipped with nice 19-inch wheels. While they look great, they do have a pretty clear effect on efficiency. This is one of the big reasons why the EX-L is our trim of choice. At 48 miles per gallon combined, it is much more efficient than any new hybrid SUV.
The EPA estimates that the average new car manages 28 miles per gallon combined. They also estimate that the average driver does 15,000 miles a year and that 45 percent of that is on the highway and 55 percent is in cities. With this in mind, they claim that you’ll save around $4,500 in fuel costs over five years in the 2023 Accord Hybrid compared to the average new car.
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You’re overestimating how much space you need in the trunk
The Accord is practical enough for most people
The one area where crossovers do have the edge is trunk space. Most people overestimate just how much space they need, and never really make full use of the cargo holds in their SUVs. This obviously isn’t the case for everyone, and different people have different needs, but we think that a lot of buyers overspend on a crossover when a sedan will easily do the trick.
Loads of passenger room and a comfortable interior
Front row headroom
39.5 inches
Front row legroom
42.3 inches
Second row headroom
37.3 inches
Second row legroom
40.8 inches
Cargo capacity
16.7 cubic feet
As someone who drives a car with similar trunk dimensions to the Honda Accord, I can tell you that I have rarely found myself in a situation where I wished I had more space. Again, this won’t be the case for everyone, but there is enough room to comfortably fit a couple of suitcases. The rear seats also fold down for the odd occasion where you do need to haul some large cargo.
In terms of interior comfort and quality, even a new Accord Hybrid feels like a fantastic deal at almost $35,000. The 2023 model comes with a lot of the same amenities and features but costs thousands of dollars less. Our recommended trim, the EX-L, comes with a ton of standard luxuries too, fitted with things like dual-zone automatic climate control, a sunroof, and leather upholstery.
Infotainment and technology
Non-hybrid versions of the 2023 Accord come fitted with a seven-inch infotainment screen. Every hybrid model, however, comes with a much crisper and more attractive 12.3-inch unit instead. It is easy to navigate and responds quickly to inputs. It also offers wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Touring trims also offer some luxuries like a heads-up display and a 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Why overspend on a new crossover when the 2023 Accord does everything better?
If you’re willing to buy something slightly used, you can always find some pretty good deals. It usually comes with some risk, but the 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid offers peace of mind thanks to its fantastic track record for reliability. Compared to a new crossover, or to a new Accord Hybrid, it costs thousands of dollars less. It offers the same amount of passenger space, a better driving experience, and much better efficiency. Unless you often haul tons of stuff in your trunk, it’s really hard to justify a new SUV over this used hybrid.