2026 Honda Accord gains more standard technology and updates

Honda reports that the 2026 Accord arrives with more standard tech, updated styling and a growing share of hybrid sales. Learn what has changed.

Honda has begun delivering the refreshed 2026 Accord to dealerships across the United States, focusing on expanded standard technology and subtle but sportier styling updates in select trims. Rather than a full redesign, the update reinforces the model’s current direction, with hybrid versions now accounting for more than half of Accord sales.

One of the most notable changes for the 2026 model year is the standardization of key in-car technology. Every Accord now comes equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless smartphone charger — features that were previously limited to higher trims.

Exterior updates are targeted but clearly defined. The turbocharged Accord SE adopts new 19-inch alloy wheels with a more aggressive design, while the hybrid Sport and Sport-L trims gain black exterior accents, including window trim and badging. These changes sharpen the visual distinction between trims without altering the overall design language of the 11th-generation Accord.

Hybrid models continue to rely on Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, delivering a combined output of 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque. The system operates without a conventional transmission, using the interaction between electric motors and the gasoline engine to provide smooth acceleration and strong fuel efficiency, with EPA ratings reaching up to 51 mpg in city driving.

The growing share of hybrid Accord sales reflects a broader trend in the U.S. market, where demand for hybrid vehicles has been increasing faster than for fully electric cars. In this context, the Accord has emerged as an appealing option for buyers seeking improved efficiency and modern technology without committing to a fully electric vehicle.

Safety remains a central pillar of the Accord lineup. All 2026 models come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and collision mitigation braking. The ACE body structure and advanced front airbag designs are intended to reduce injury risk in frontal collisions, an area where the current generation Accord has already received strong independent evaluations.

Production of the Accord continues at Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant in Ohio, where the model has been built since the early 1980s. The facility represents Honda’s long-standing commitment to manufacturing vehicles close to its U.S. customers, a factor that remains relevant for many buyers.

Overall, the 2026 update fine-tunes an established formula rather than redefining it. Yet the broader rollout of standard technology and the continued rise of hybrid sales point to the direction Honda appears set to follow as the Accord evolves in the coming years.