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Honda Accord Plug-in is a high-tech hot mess (pictures)

With its modern but bland design, the Accord Plug-in attempts a high-tech coup, but merely catches up with previous efforts from Toyota and Ford.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Honda adds a plug-in hybrid version of the Accord sedan for the 2014 model year.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
2 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

The Accord Plug-in gets a few unique styling cues, such as a blue-tinted stripe below the front badge holder.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
3 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

As a midsize sedan, the Accord Plug-in offers a roomy cabin, comfortable for five.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
4 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

Like the standard Accord, the Accord Plug-in is a front-wheel-drive car.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
5 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

LED headlights come standard on the Accord Plug-in.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
6 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

Honda's Earth Dreams brand encompasses its new efficiency technologies, including a hybrid drivetrain and direct-injection engines.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
7 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

A lithium ion battery pack takes up extra room in the Accord Plug-in, limiting trunk space to 8.6 cubic feet.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
8 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

A charging cable adapter that can plug into a 110-volt wall outlet stows under the trunk floor.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Honda mounts the standard J1772 charging port on the left-front fender.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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The soft seats help absorb some of the stiffness of the suspension.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Rear seats offer a comfortable amount of legroom.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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The interior design of the Accord Plug-in is light and modern.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
13 of 21 Josh Miller/CNET

The cabin tech interface is confusing, with an LCD at the top of the stack, a smaller touch screen below, and switchgear below that.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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This dial-and-button set controls the LCD at the top of the stack.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Typical for hybrids, the instrument cluster lacks a tachometer, instead offering drivers information on power usage and regeneration.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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The shifter controls an electronic continuously variable transmission.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Drivers can view a power flow animation on the top LCD.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Honda's maps are bright and colorful, but the navigation system is prone to losing track of the car.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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The stereo includes iOS integration for devices plugged into the USB port.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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Pandora integration comes standard and requires that the Pandora app be running on a connected smartphone.

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2014 Honda Accord Plug-in
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The HondaLink app integrates Aha audio and location services.

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