2026 Honda Accord Adds More Standard Kit, Still Starts Under $30K
Honda's venerable mid-sizer gets some trim tweaks and a bigger standard touchscreen.
The mid-sized sedan market is shrinking. The Chevy Malibu and Subaru Legacy are both dead, and the aging Nissan Altima still shuffles on for now ( in a zombie-like green hue, no less). There are essentially five options left in the mainstream market, and the perennial second-best-selling Honda Accord on Thursday saw a smattering of upgrades to keep it fighting fit in this smaller talent pool.
There are no major or even minor styling revisions here. There are visual changes mind you, with the turbocharged SE trim gaining the 19-inch alloys from other models, while the Accord Sport and Sport-L Hybrid swap out some chrome-finish trim for black-out versions. Even for Honda, this is subtle.
Inside, lower-trim models now benefit from a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen, while fancier trims continue to offer the 12.3-inch setup. One impressive change: Honda will now fit all Accords with a Qi wireless charger, even the base LX trim.
Along with the CR-V, the Accord launched with Honda's latest hybrid powertrain a few years back. Both the smooth hybrid and standard 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder remain, and the Accord is still the only holdout in the segment to not offer available all-wheel drive. Honda says the hybrid now accounts for over half of all Accord sales; not surprising as it covers four of the six available trims, but also who wouldn't want up to 48 mpg combined?
Pricing kicks off at $29,590 including destination for a 2026 Accord LX. Those wanting the hybrid model will need to step up to the $34,990 Sport. The full model lineup price breakdown is as follows:
- 2026 Honda Accord LX: $29,590
- 2026 Honda Accord SE: $31,890
- 2026 Honda Accord Sport: $34,990
- 2026 Honda Accord EX-L: $36,290
- 2026 Honda Accord Sport-L: $36,680
- 2026 Honda Accord Touring: $40,645
OUR TAKE: The Accord remains a smooth yet refined mid-sized option, especially with Honda's excellent hybrid powertrain. While it doesn't match the Camry's ultimate fuel economy figures, the Accord is more satisfying to drive and offers more space. Speaking of the Toyota, the Camry's 2026 pricing is right on top of its erstwhile competitor, ranging from $30,195 (LE) to $41,630 (XSE with Premium Plus package) including destination. Those prices are for front-drive models; Toyota will sell you a Camry with electronic AWD for an extra $1,525.
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Kyle began his automotive obsession before he even started school, courtesy of a remote control Porsche and various LEGO sets. He later studied advertising and graphic design at Humber College, which led him to writing about cars (both real and digital). He is now a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), where he was the Journalist of the Year runner-up for 2021.
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