2024 Honda Accord Hybrid vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in its seventh generation, continued to impress with its luxurious design and electrification efforts. The S 580e plug-in hybrid model, featuring 4Matic all-wheel drive, showcased a sophisticated exterior with optional high-gloss black trim, 20-inch AMG wheels, and AMG-style bumpers and skirts. Inside, the S-Class offered a choice of eight leather upholstery colors and five trim materials, with our tester featuring Sienna Brown and Black leather. The interior boasted a panoramic sunroof, superb fit and finish, and exceptionally soft headrests, enhancing passenger comfort.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid, available in Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, and Touring trims, offered a clean and technical design with machined-finish 19-inch wheels on the Sport and Touring trims. Our test car, the Accord Hybrid Touring, sported Canyon River Blue metallic paint and a black leather interior. While the interior featured a gray headliner, contrast stitching, and metallic finishes, the lower cabin plastics appeared too shiny for a $40,000 car. Despite this, the Accord Touring's interior impressed with its 'Acura Lite' feel, making it a comfortable and stylish choice.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S 580e combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a 28.6-kWh battery and an electric motor, delivering 510 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. It offered 56 miles of all-electric range and could be charged at 11 kW for home charging or 60 kW with DC fast charging. The S 580e achieved an impressive 53.9 mpg during testing, surpassing its EPA rating of 51 MPGe. The car accelerated from 0 to 62 mph in 4.4 seconds, matching the S 580 with its twin-turbo V8. The S-Class excelled in comfort mode, with a buttery soft air suspension and rear-wheel steering for agile handling.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. The Accord Hybrid's front-wheel-drive setup provided zippy acceleration, especially in city driving. The EPA rated the Accord EX-L at 48 mpg combined, while the Sport, Sport-L, and Touring trims achieved 44 mpg. During testing, the Touring returned 43.1 mpg. The Accord impressed with its blend of ride and handling, making it a satisfying daily driver.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class was packed with standard features, including massaging, heated, and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and power sunshades. The interior offered 64 colors of ambient lighting and the Energizing Comfort wellness program. However, the trunk space was limited to 8.1 cubic feet, smaller than the standard S-Class's 12.9 cubic feet.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid prioritized comfort, with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats in leather-upholstered trims. The Touring trim added ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom and headroom, with air conditioning vents and USB ports for added convenience. The Accord's trunk offered a generous 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing its rivals.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch OLED touchscreen with the MBUX infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a native navigation system with augmented reality. The system offered games for entertainment and a Burmester sound system for audiophiles.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid came with a 10.2-inch digital display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa Built-in. The Touring trim added a 12-speaker Bose sound system, a wireless charger, and Google Built-in. However, voice recognition issues with Google Assistant and Alexa were noted during testing.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class offered a comprehensive suite of ADAS features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a hands-on highway driver-assist system. It also featured Crosswind Assist and Speed Limit Assist. However, it had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and came equipped with Honda Sensing, which included automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, and adaptive cruise control. The EX-L trim added parking sensors, while the Touring gained low-speed automatic braking. Some issues with lane assist and adaptive cruise control were noted during testing.