Since childhood I have been hearing that Honda Accord is a fascinating car. On the other hand Honda biggest rival is Toyota (Camry), if we compare these both brands, Accord is more sporty and fun drive option in the medium-sized family sedan segment. I hadn't driven a Honda Accord before this press loan, but I got into my week-long evaluation with high expectations, and I still had a massive impression on the car. Initially I wanted to do a comparative test between the 2026 Toyota Camry I had a few weeks ago when I had this Accord hybrid touring, but since the Camry was a less well-equipped nightshade version, I decided to do 2 separate reviews.
However, given that the Camry is sold exclusively as a hybrid, I can still draw comparisons between the driving characteristics of each of the two Japanese bestsellers, and the Accord will be my choice. With playful handling, a spunky and efficient hybrid powertrain as well as a quiet, luxurious and user-friendly interior, the Accord really won me. In 2023 the 11th generation Honda Accord reached America, while keeping the a turbocharged 1.5-litre in-line 4-cylinder gasoline engine. It important to mention that in 2025 more than 50% of all accords sold were hybrid. It is powered by Honda's 2-motor hybrid system, with a total output of 204 hp and torque of 247lb-ft.
Due to its unique design, there is no conventional transmission or CVT required for driving, rather than controlling the gear, the reproduction of the paddle control brake mounted on the steering wheel, a unique and highly appreciated feature on the traditional hybrid.The hybrid powertrain is the Accord's more powerful engine option, and of course the most efficient, but even the standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder and CVT combo make a healthy 192hp and 192lb-ft of torque. It also returns a respectable fuel economy figure for 29mpg in cities, 37mpg on highways and 32mpg on base LX cars
For reference, the 2026 Toyota Camry Nightshade Edition I drove before the Accord managed the exact same average fuel economy on my 1-week loan. The EPA rating of the Camry generally returns 53mpg in the city, a little higher than the Accord's, and 50mpg on the highway at the base LE trim, but as always, your mileage is a little higher. With a total output of 12 horsepower - 204 horsepower more than the base turbo motor, the hybrid is the Accord's best performing powertrain at the moment. The optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder of the previous generation Accord was also available in a manual transmission, but in this new generation I never got to drive an Accord equipped with its powertrain, but after living with this Accord hybrid touring, I was able to drive it.
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The only changes to reach the 2026 Accord are limited to a larger 9-inch infotainment system, a new 19-inch wheel for the SE, and a black window trim for the sports hybrid when Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and wireless chargers become standard equipment. Given that this generation of accords was introduced just 3 years ago, the lack of updates in 2026 makes sense. Fortunately, the Accord in 2026 has likewise gotten minimal price increases, of which $100 is due to an increase in destination rates, currently up to $111,195. The cheapest Honda Accord Hybrid LX is just $200 more expensive than last year which was around $29,590.
My test car was a top trim Accord Hybrid touring, and its only extra cost option was the $455 Urban Gray Pearl paint which brought MSRP up to $40,50 including the destination.(My test car was actually a 2025 model vehicle, but this review covers both model years as there is no change in the tooling trim level for 2026). These prices are slightly higher than the comparable Toyota Camry, especially if you even think that the base Camry LE is now a hybrid, the top Camry XSE including the destination starts at $36,695, but if you're looking for a premium Camry that brings its feature content in line with Accord Hybrid touring.
With the addition of the package Plus, its price has just managed to leap past the Accord, up to Accord $41,455.Driving the Accord hybrid touring was a fun experience. On the town and on the highway, I felt quiet, energetic and comfortable. The hybrid drivetrain is very smooth and refined at low speeds, and the brake blending is done brilliantly. Every aspect of the car is very user friendly and well thought out. Similarly, all of the interior controls are supremely simple, easy to know yourself and feel expensive. These are all the characteristics I would expect from an industry stalwart like the Honda Accord, but there are two aspects of the car that really blew me away with their brilliance.
The accord is completely massive inside. I'm 6'8 with long legs, and I fit comfortably both in the driver's seat and when sitting behind my preferred driving position, and it always slides all the way back and down. It was not so comfortable to sit behind yourself in the Camry, especially since the Camry's roofline was cut into the headroom of the back seat. When I crawled behind my preferred driving position with the Accord, I had enough space to sit upright without my head brushing the ceiling, the accord reflects that, as the Camry is rated at 38 inches below the foot of the rear seat, which offers only 40.8 inches, but you have to be careful.
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As you may be able to tell, I am very far away from the Angeles Crest Highway, this front-wheel-drive sedan sticks to the road like glue and a sense amplified by the intermediate performance of the powertrain. The steering is well communicated, accurate and direct, without feeling cramped, and the brakes can withstand a lot of abuse. With no overwhelming power, I tried to hold as much speed as I could through the bumpy turns of this famous driving road, and the Accord didn't disappoint me, and achieved some off-throttle rotation where things continued to feel playful and positive. I was really stumped by its roadholding feature, and how fun it was to push harder.
I've spent a lot of this review gushing about the Accord, so you should all go into the comments and let us know if we're going to say good things about that car. When I say this, I feel like I'm beating a dead horse here, but I'm resentful of the more powerful Accord 2.0T discontinuation. This was exacerbated by the fact that I was driving uphill on a mountain road and not doing the intended use case for commuting, but given how the chassis works and is sorted, I would appreciate a bit more power. My biggest complaint with the Accord is about its adaptive cruise control system. The lane keeping assist was inconsistent, and there were some scary examples of me frequently pinball my car between lane lines and just not realizing that the car was merging in front of me.
It needed my intervention. These actions really stood out, especially when compared with the rest of the refined and composed qualities that make up harmony. The multi-view camera system is also disappointing, with poor image stitching and poor image quality as a whole. That and the fact that the Bose Premium audio system sounded inconspicuous to my ears was the biggest present that was behind the wheel of a volume-oriented model, not a dedicated luxury car. Aside from those frustrations, however, Accord Hybrid Touring does a striking job punching above its price class.In case you could not say, I was thoroughly impressed by the 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring.
What I can say is that there is not much to find such an attractive combination of sophistication, affordability, efficiency, spaciousness and driving pleasure.The camry is a better choice, because if your main motivation in choosing your next car is stretching your dollar as far as it can go, it will return 2mpg cheaper than the Accord. If you need to transport a larger human or you need an excellent driving experience, the Accord will be the most satisfying choice. It's a midsize sedan that I spend my money on.
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