We spent a week with the 2024 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring to quantify real-world noise, vibration, and harshness. Using repeatable measurements and back-to-back drives on varied pavement, we focused on cabin noise at city speeds and at 120–130 km/h, idle vibration quality, and how road/tire roar changes with surface and wheel/tire spec.
Our test car is a 2024 Accord Hybrid Touring with the 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four and two-motor e-CVT hybrid system (204 hp combined). It rides on 19-inch wheels with 235/40R19 all-season tires; curb weight is just over 1,550 kg. The Touring trim includes laminated front glass and additional sound deadening versus lower trims, but retains a conventional steel roof. We measured interior sound with an A-weighted meter at the driver’s ear, HVAC off, audio muted, tire pressures set to placard (35 psi cold), ambient 21°C, and light crosswinds (5–10 km/h).
Baseline surfaces included fresh SMA asphalt, coarse-chip seal, and older grooved concrete. Loads were one adult and a light equipment case. At city speeds (30–50 km/h), the Accord is impressively hushed for its class: 56–58 dBA on fresh asphalt, rising to 59–61 dBA on coarse-chip. With light throttle the engine often idles off, so you mainly hear gentle tire rustle and a faint inverter whir.
When the engine fires for torque or HVAC demand, there’s a subdued thrum but no harsh resonance. Stop-start events are smooth and well timed. Idle vibration is minimal. With the engine running at a stop, there’s a barely perceptible tremor through the steering rim and a faint ripple in the seat base; the mirror image remains stable.
Engine restarts are quick and free of shudder, and the e-CVT avoids flare or driveline lash when pulling away. Cabin plastics don’t buzz over sharp speed bumps, suggesting good mount tuning. At 120–130 km/h, the cabin remains composed on good asphalt at 67–69 dBA; on coarse-chip or weathered concrete it climbs to 70–72 dBA, with tire roar the dominant contributor. Wind noise is well contained with only a soft rush at the A-pillars, and lane-change crosswinds don’t introduce whistles.
On gentle grades the engine hovers near 1,700–2,000 rpm; you’ll hear a muted hum under sustained load, but it fades once speed steadies. Conversation at 130 km/h requires only a slight raise of voice on rougher surfaces. Surface sensitivity is primarily tire-driven. Coarse-chip introduces a low-frequency boom and a 250–400 Hz tone on grooved concrete.
The 19-inch package adds some impact slap over expansion joints; a back-to-back run in an EX on 17-inch 225/50R17 tires reduced broadband noise by roughly 1–1.5 dBA and softened sharp-edge impacts. The trunk area stays quiet with seats up; folding the rear backs introduces a touch more boom over rough aggregate. Overall, the Accord Hybrid is calm in town, acceptably quiet at 120–130 km/h on decent asphalt, and only gets chatty when the pavement turns coarse. Idle refinement is a strong point, and wind noise is well managed.
For the quietest result, skip the 19s if your roads skew rough, choose a comfort-biased tire, and keep pressures at the placard. Those prioritizing near-luxury silence on all surfaces may prefer a rival with thicker underbody insulation and smaller wheels.
