SAN DIEGO — My 2023 Honda Accord is a looker. From its smoky headlights to its streamlined shoulders to its fastback roof, it is the most handsome sedan Honda has made.
But like the serene blue of the Pacific Ocean out my side window, the Accord's smooth red surface belies the turmoil beneath.
In the U.S., state and federal governments are forcing automakers to go electric and Accord, America's best-selling retail sedan, is on the bleeding edge of what that transition looks like. Now on dealer lots, the Accord has juggled its lineup in order to satisfy government rules, focusing its 11th-generation model on a hybrid-electric powertrain in order to encourage customer adoption.
