Many savvy buyers consider a used hybrid to be better value than a new one, and would search for 3-year-old hybrids instead. But could a five-year-old hybrid offer similar value? People usually consider a 2020 model car as over the hill.
For many cars, that may be true. Older cars can start giving problems, and not be that reliable anymore. They may lack the performance of new cars, and use more fuel. There is the question of whether the 2020 car is still as safe as the newer models. It is worth considering the hybrid technology from five years ago, and whether it is as good and as reliable as the hybrids available in 2025. One should consider the resale value of such a car, and whether it would lose money when trying to resell it in a few years’ time.
There is a 2020 hybrid that scores well in reliability and value for money. It scores very high marks on reliability ratings, and it also performs just about as well as its 2025 counterpart, both in MPG and acceleration. Its hybrid technology is almost exactly the same as that used in the latest model, while its depreciation is less than other similar hybrids. This means it keeps its resale price better for longer as well. Here is a look at this car and some research on why it is a good buy.
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 and other authoritative sources, including J.D. Power, Consumer Reports, and Edmunds.
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Proven Reliability: How The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Stands The Test Of Time
Honda’s Legacy Of Dependability
When Edmunds rates a 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L with 94,900 miles at $17,989 as a great price, and a similar one with $78,000 miles at $21,978 as a fair price, that is worth noting. This is a five-year-old car and that is a lot of mileage. How can cars that old and with so many miles still be rated as good buys at that price? It is worth noting that Honda and Toyota are both at the top of the reliability stakes, and hybrid drives are now considered as reliable as regular ICE engines, despite the added complexity of the hybrid components.
High-Reliability Score
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid has a better score on the J.D. Power Reliability Index than the average 2025 hybrid sedan. The Honda hybrid system has stood the test of time, with its electric motors and batteries showing exceptional durability. Because Honda cars are so well designed and built, the Accord Hybrid consistently ranks below average for major repairs. This is an important metric to consider when buying an older car, as it will affect the cost-effectiveness of such a purchase.
2022 Honda Accord Hybrid Vs 2025 Hybrids
|
2020 Honda Accord |
2025 Hybrid Sedan Average |
|
|
J.D. Power Reliability |
82/100 |
78/100 |
|
Annual Maintenance Cost |
$450 |
$650 |
|
Battery Warranty |
8 Years / 100,000 miles |
8 Years /100,000 miles |
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid beats most new vehicles and all its peers in reliability. Although brand-new year models often show teething problems in reliability, and these would generally have been fixed in older models. While older cars can develop age-related issues, the Honda Accord Hybrid rises above these factors, maintaining a solid dependability that belies its age.
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Safety First: Why The 2020 Accord Hybrid Still Leads The Pack
A Perfect Score In Safety Ratings
Safety is a major consideration when buying an older car, even one that is only five years old. Safety standards are improving all the time, and the buyer must ensure that the older car is still going to protect the occupants in case of an accident.
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid falls in the middle years of the tenth generation of this iconic car, but the next generation is now a couple of years old. So how has the 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid held up to the passage of time and a generation?
2020 Honda Accord Hybrid Safety
The tenth-generation Honda Accord was awarded the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in 2020, and this hybrid still competes favorably with many 2025 hybrid sedans. Standard safety features include the Honda Sensing Suite, which offers adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, and more.
The best way to survive an accident is to not have one, and the 2020 Accord outperforms most newer models in accident avoidance features.
|
2020 Accord Hybrid |
|
|
IIHS Safety Rating |
Top Safety Pick+ |
|
Standard Safety Features |
Honda Sensing Suite |
|
Crash Test Side Impact |
5/5 |
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is the gold standard for road safety evaluation. Such safety tests are normally not influenced by drive variations, such as a hybrid versus an ICE car, and the entire generation is usually measured by the same test. The only difference would be if there was a safety feature change during a mid-generation facelift, but this was not the case with the tenth-generation Honda Accord. The 2020 Accord still stands out in safety features and crash-test rating, even when compared to newer sedans. It also gets a top score in crash survivability.
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Efficiency That Competes With Modern Tech
Hybrid Performance That Hasn’t Aged a Day
Honda, together with Toyota, pioneered the hybrid drive a quarter of a century ago. It has over that time refined its hybrid technology to the point where it is pretty much mature. The hybrid drive used in the 2020 and 2025 models is essentially the same thing. Any improvements over the five years separating these cars are minor, incremental rather than revolutionary, and many are more cosmetic than performance-driven. The 2025 model has a marginally better fuel consumption than the 2020 model, while the new car is a fraction quicker to sixty MPH. But those differences are too marginal to make up for the price difference.
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2020 Accord’s Timeless Performance
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid gets an excellent 48 MPG combined, which is exceptional for a car this size, and just about rivals similar 2025 models. Honda has perfected its tried and tested 2.0L Atkinson engine that is paired with the two-motor hybrid system. This gives the 2020 Accord acceleration that is very similar to today’s comparable hybrids. Coupled with Honda’s legendary handling, this five-year-old is still a great car to drive.
Honda Accord 2020 Vs 2025 Performance
|
2020 Accord Hybrid |
2025 Accord Hybrid |
|
|
Fuel Efficiency (Combined) |
48 MPG |
51 MPG |
|
0-60 MPH |
7.1 seconds |
7.0 seconds |
|
Annual Fuel Cost |
$950 |
$950 |
The 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid is as efficient and offers similar performance to today’s models, which makes it a very smart choice in terms of budget.
Save Or Spend
- The average 2024 vehicle gets 28 MPG
- This means the 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid saves $3,250
- Annual fuel cost is $950
- Cost to drive 25 miles is $1.56
- Cost to fill the tank is $38
- Tank size is 12.8 gallons
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Lower Cost, Higher Value: Why The 2020 Accord Hybrid Is A Smart Buy
A Used Hybrid That Holds Its Worth
When you buy a 2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, it means the price already factors in the depreciation that happens to any new car once it leaves the showroom. So, a 2020 Accord in reasonable shape will cost around $22,000, while a 2025 Accord Hybrid will cost between $34,000 and $39,000. There are less expensive new hybrids, but the average price is still over $30,000.
Resale Value
A car’s depreciation is not a straight line, but a curve that flattens out over time. The 2020 Honda Accord’s $22,000 price tag reflects a premium because this hybrid keeps its value longer. As long as you look after the car, you would expect to sell it again at a higher price than similar 5-year-old sedans. The Honda’s proven reliability and the lower insurance costs translate into lower ownership costs compared to 2025 hybrids in general.
|
2020 Accord Hybrid |
2025 Average Hybrid |
|
|
Price in 2025 |
$22,000 |
$30,000 |
|
Depreciation |
27-Percent |
35-Percent |
|
Annual Insurance |
$950 |
$1,200 |
The 2020 Honda Accord, with its proven reliability, undiminished performance, fantastic safety rating, lower costs, and good resale value is a great choice for a buyer seeking quality and value for money. The bonus that it still looks very modern, and that it offers a great drive as well makes it an even more compelling choice.
