For better or worse, the Toyota Prius is the poster child for hybrid cars, and one of the most popular vehicles ever produced. But it's also a symbol of how driving a hybrid and getting great fuel economy involves tradeoffs such as a premium price and a lack of performance, interior space, and (in our opinion) style. While there are several nice looking and great performing hybrid sedans on the market, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid, the 2015 Honda Accord is as subtly attractive and insanely practical as its gasoline-only sibling, with just a few compromises with trunk storage and convenience. It doesn't cost much more than the pure petro-powered models, and its gas engine and electric motor combine to deliver impressive acceleration when needed and the best fuel economy in the segment when not.

Pricing and Design
The 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan is available in three trim levels (plus a plug-in version that isn't included in this review). All come with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that, when combined with an electric motor, can send up to 196 horsepower to the front wheels via a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The base model starts at $29,305 and comes equipped with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated side mirrors, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an eight-way power driver seat, keyless entry and ignition, an 8-inch in-dash display, Bluetooth for hand-free phoning and wireless audio streaming, a rearview camera, Honda's LaneWatch blind-spot detection system, and a six-speaker audio system with AM, FM, satellite radio, CD, USB and aux-in jacks, and a Pandora Internet Radio app.

The mid-level EX-L trim that starts at $32,055 adds to this a sunroof, leather upholstery, forward-collision and lane-departure warning, a rearview camera with three separate view settings, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, driver memory settings, heated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat, and a premium seven-speaker sound system with its own 6-inch touch screen, satellite radio, and the HondaLink infotainment system.

The top-of-the-line Touring trim that we tested starts at $35,055 and adds LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, and a navigation system with voice recognition.

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The 2015 Accord Hybrid's styling doesn't deviate from that of the gasoline models except for a different grille, lights, and trim accents. It has a clean, handsome look that doesn't scream hybrid, and the car's low belt line, slim roof pillars, and plentiful glass helps improve visibility. The interior is tasteful and feels solid, with materials that have a premium appearance and feel. The cabin also boasts plenty of leg and shoulder room for all passengers, while the spacious and comfortable backseat is among the best in the segment.

The only downside in the design is that the Accord Hybrid's trunk, while just three cubic feet smaller than non-hybrid Accord sedans, has an odd shape to accommodate the hybrid battery. This also means that the rear seat loses its fold-down and pass-through functionality, which rivals the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid both offer.

Connectivity, Navigation, and Interface
Honda was a bit late to the game in the automotive connectivity and in-dash apps department. Rather than incorporating a handful of apps into the dash via a proprietary infotainment system, like the first-in automakers, HondaLink leverages Harman's Aha Radio app to provide most of the Accord Hybrid's cloud-connected content (with the exception of the separate Pandora app).

The intelligent Multi-Informational Display (i-MID) infotainment interface is used to access HondaLink. It consists of an 8-inch screen at the top of the dash, and a controller and buttons about mid-dash. The EX-L and Touring trims also have an extra 6-inch touch-screen interface. (See our separate review of the HondaLink system and interface.)

The car's navigation system is a bit dated and doesn't provide any of the connected search features that are becoming more common. (A separate HondaLink Navigation App that can connect to the in-dash nav system to get traffic information, POI search, and free annual map updates isn't available for the 2015 Accord Hybrid.) Instead the nav system uses a static and quickly outdated hard-disk database, but allows adding POIs that have been downloaded to a USB drive. The nav system does have one unique feature: the option to choose a Scenic Route as a destination.