2026 Honda Accord Gets Minor Refresh Amid Slumping Sales

The relatively young eleventh-generation Honda Accord hasn’t received a full redesign in the U.S., but for the 2026 model year, it gets several minor cosmetic and functional updates, with prices staying mostly the same.

The eleventh-gen Accord debuted in the U.S. in November 2022, though the main market for this model is now China. In China, there are effectively two versions: the GAC Honda-built Accord and the Dongfeng Honda version, called the Inspire. The Chinese GAC Accord looks quite different from the U.S. model and even received its first facelift last spring. The American Accord enters the 2026 model year largely unchanged under the hood, with only targeted tweaks intended to make the slowing-selling sedan more appealing.

Through the first three quarters of this year, Honda sold 109,677 Accords in the U.S., down 12% from the same period last year. For comparison, Toyota Camry sold 234,426 units (+3%), Nissan Altima 76,294 (-12%), Hyundai Sonata 45,914 (-5.2%), and Kia K5 52,581 (+84.7%).

The non-luxury midsize sedan segment in the U.S. is often described as “depressed,” but that’s more marketing cliché than reality. Automakers are simply replacing sedans with crossovers, which carry higher margins. The Accord’s declining popularity can be attributed to its somewhat conservative styling and the lack of an all-wheel-drive option.

To make the Accord feel less “sedate,” Honda added glossy black exterior accents to the Sport Hybrid and Sport-L Hybrid trims, including badges, mirrors, window trim, shark-fin antenna, and rear spoiler. The SE trim now comes standard with new 19-inch wheels with a more aggressive design, replacing the old 17-inch wheels.

Inside, the base infotainment screen grows to 9 inches (up from 7 inches), while higher trims keep the 12.3-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard, along with a 15-watt wireless charging pad. The instrument cluster is a 10.2-inch digital display across all trims, with the top Touring trim adding a 6-inch head-up display on the windshield.

Powertrains remain unchanged. The LX and SE trims use a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (195 hp, 192 lb-ft) paired with a CVT that simulates gear shifts — a largely cosmetic feature, but one that makes the car feel more dynamic.

All other trims feature a hybrid setup: a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine paired with two electric motors in an e-CVT configuration. Total system output is 207 hp and 247 lb-ft. All trims come with front-wheel drive only.

Pricing for the 2026 Accord rises only slightly, by $100–$155 depending on the trim. The base LX now starts at $29,590, while the top Touring trim begins at $40,645, including delivery.