2020 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid was nearly indistinguishable from its non-hybrid siblings, save for the “Hybrid” badges and unique 17-inch aluminum wheels. This subtlety was a smart move by Honda, avoiding the odd design cues that often deter buyers from hybrid models. The Accord Hybrid maintained the sleek, attractive look of the standard Accord, making it appealing to those who appreciated the existing design. Available in four trims—Hybrid, Hybrid EX, Hybrid EX-L, and Hybrid Touring—the Accord Hybrid started at $25,620, with the Hybrid EX recommended for its balance of features and price.

Inside, the Accord Hybrid offered a refined experience, especially with the leather and simulated wood trim in the EX-L and Touring trims. The interior was upscale, with a contrast of Gray and Ivory against black elements, enhancing its premium feel. However, the floor mats were notably difficult to clean, particularly for pet owners. Despite this minor inconvenience, the Accord Hybrid’s interior was praised for its comfort and style.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, redesigned for a more fluid and curvier look, continued to embody elegance and sophistication. The updated design featured squinted headlights, an inverted trapezoid grille, and horizontal taillights, giving it a slightly edgier appearance. The E-Class was available in various body styles, including sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible, each maintaining a handsome and elegant look. However, the standing hood ornament was no longer available, a change that some traditionalists might have lamented.

Inside, the E-Class was a showcase of luxury and technology. Rich woods, aluminum, and carbon fiber adorned the cabin, complemented by metal speaker grilles and elaborate stitching. The dual 12-inch screens provided crisp and vibrant displays, with the instrument panel now fully digital. The steering wheel featured touch-sensitive controls and additional screens, adding to the modern and lavish feel. Despite its age, the E-Class interior remained unmatched in its class, offering a rich and inviting space for occupants.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid excelled in fuel efficiency, achieving 42.6 mpg in real-world driving and 44.1 mpg in city and suburban conditions. Its 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, combined with a two-motor hybrid powertrain, delivered 212 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. This setup provided a significant improvement over the standard 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, which produced 192 horsepower. Despite a 200-pound weight penalty, the Accord Hybrid was quick off the line, especially in Sport mode, though the eCVT drone during hard acceleration was a minor drawback.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced electrified inline-six powertrains for the E450 model, featuring a 48-volt electrical system that provided brief boosts of power and improved fuel efficiency. The E450’s 3.0-liter I6 engine produced 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, with additional overboost from the battery. The AMG E53 model added a second turbo, increasing output to 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, delivering brisk acceleration and a satisfying exhaust note. The AMG E63 S, with its 4.0-liter V8 engine, offered a staggering 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, making it a true performance machine. Despite the impressive power, fuel economy for the AMG models was less than stellar, with the E53 achieving 25 mpg combined and the E63 S only 18 mpg combined.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid offered a spacious interior and trunk, matching the standard Accord’s full-size dimensions. The backseat provided exceptional thigh support, rear air-conditioning vents, and available USB charging ports. However, taller drivers might have found the front-seat track travel insufficient. The front passenger seat also lacked height adjustment, which could be a drawback for some. Despite these minor issues, the seats were comfortable, and the Touring trim added front heating and ventilation, as well as rear heating. The 16.7-cubic-foot trunk was larger than most competitors, offering ample space for luggage and other items.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class featured a redesigned infotainment system with a touchscreen interface, making it more user-friendly. The cabin was spacious, with ample headroom and legroom for four adults. The coupe and convertible models had less rear-seat space, but the wagon offered a stowable rear-facing jump seat and significant cargo space. The sedan’s trunk measured 13 cubic feet, while the coupe and convertible had 10 cubic feet or less with the roof down. The E450 All-Terrain wagon added ground clearance and body cladding, enhancing its utility.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, in EX trim or higher, featured a robust Display Audio infotainment system with a user-friendly interface. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, and quick-charge USB ports. The EX-L trim added a premium sound system, while the Touring trim offered navigation, a wireless smartphone charger, NFC technology, a WiFi hotspot, and expanded HondaLink services. HondaLink provided features like in-car delivery of Amazon packages, a Find My Car function, and remote locking and unlocking. The Touring trim also included a head-up display, though voice recognition could be improved.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class introduced the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a touchscreen interface and better-organized menus. It included natural voice processing, online searches, and a live feed from the front camera with overlay arrows for navigation. The system also offered massaging seats, seat kinetics, and various connected services. However, it did not support over-the-air updates, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not wireless. Optional driving assists could move the car into adjacent lanes and slow down for curves, approaching a level of semi-autonomous driving.

The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, traffic-sign recognition, and road-departure mitigation. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a multi-angle reversing camera, and SmartVent front side airbags. The Accord Hybrid received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the Touring trim earning a Top Safety Pick designation.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class was one of the safest cars available, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS for the sedan and wagon models. It featured advanced safety innovations like Pre-Safe Sound, which played a "pink noise" during a crash to protect eardrums, and side bolsters that inflated in a side collision. Standard safety features included forward automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, and blind-spot monitoring, with additional driver-assist features available as options.