For most people, the best 2026 Honda Accord is the EX-L Hybrid at $35,095. It gets the best mileage in the lineup at 48 mpg combined, adds leather seats, front and rear parking sensors and a power passenger seat, and it tops our value score. Once you count fuel, it costs only about $900 more over five years than the gas SE. On a tight budget, the LX has the lowest five-year cost; for the sporty look, the Sport Hybrid is a very close second in our score.
Key takeaways
- The EX-L Hybrid at $35,095 is the best-value 2026 Honda Accord and the most efficient, at 48 mpg combined.
- The Sport Hybrid costs $3,100 more than the gas SE but only about $100 more over five years once fuel is counted.
- Every Accord is front-wheel drive; there is no all-wheel-drive option.
- Blind spot monitoring is missing on the LX, and the hybrids have a repair kit instead of a spare tire.
- The Accord has five NHTSA stars and is an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2026.
Side by side
| Gas (LX, SE) | Hybrid (Sport, EX-L, Sport-L, Touring) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.5L turbo 4-cylinder | 2.0L 4-cylinder hybrid |
| Power | 192 hp | 204 hp |
| EPA combined mpg | 32 (LX), 31 (SE) | 48 (EX-L), 44 (others) |
| Fuel cost a year (EPA) | about $2,000 to $2,050 | about $1,350 (EX-L) to $1,450 |
| Fuel tank | 14.8 gal | 12.8 gal |
| Spare tire | compact spare | tire repair kit |
| Starting MSRP | $28,395 | $33,795 |
Prices are 2026 MSRP from Honda, checked in November 2026, without the $1,295 destination charge, taxes or dealer fees.
Prices by trim
The 2026 Accord comes in six trims: the LX and SE with a gas engine, then the Sport, EX-L, Sport-L and Touring, which are all hybrids.
| Trim | Engine | MSRP |
|---|---|---|
| LX | gas | $28,395 |
| SE | gas | $30,695 |
| Sport Hybrid | hybrid | $33,795 |
| EX-L Hybrid | hybrid | $35,095 |
| Sport-L Hybrid | hybrid | $35,495 |
| Touring Hybrid | hybrid | $39,495 |
Every Accord adds a $1,295 destination charge, and every Accord is front-wheel drive. There is no all-wheel-drive option, so if you need it for deep snow, that is a real reason to look elsewhere.
Gas or hybrid?
The gas trims use a 1.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with 192 hp. The hybrids make 204 hp, and the electric motor gives them a strong push from a stop. They never need a plug.
The most efficient Accord is the EX-L Hybrid: the EPA rates it at 48 mpg combined, helped by its smaller 17-inch wheels. The other hybrids get 44, the gas LX 32 and the gas SE 31. In dollars, the EPA estimates about $2,050 a year in fuel for the SE and $1,450 for a Sport Hybrid, a saving of $600 a year or about $3,000 over five years.
That is why the hybrid math works. The Sport Hybrid costs $3,100 more than the SE, but over five years, counting price, destination and fuel, the gap shrinks to about $100. The hybrids have a smaller 12.8-gallon tank, but an EX-L can still go about 600 miles between fill-ups.
Size, cabin and trunk
The Accord is 195.7 inches long, a little longer than a Toyota Camry, and sits low with about 5.3 inches of ground clearance, so watch steep driveways. The LX and EX-L ride on 17-inch wheels; every other trim gets 19-inch wheels, which look sportier but cost mileage and more for tires.
Inside, it is one of the roomiest cars in its class: 40.8 inches of rear legroom, almost three more than a Camry, and a 16.7-cubic-foot trunk. Every trim has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, a 10.2-inch digital gauge display and remote start. The LX and SE get a 9-inch touchscreen; every hybrid gets a 12.3-inch screen, and the Touring adds Google built-in. On the LX, the rear seat folds in one piece and there are just four speakers.
Safety
The 2026 Accord gets five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests and is an IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2026, with Good headlights on every trim. Every Accord has automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, adaptive cruise that works in stop-and-go traffic and 10 airbags. Blind spot monitoring is missing on the LX; it starts at the SE.
Recalls and warranty
This Accord generation, from 2023 on, has had nine recall campaigns so far, covering fuel pumps, a seat frame, a seat belt part, hybrid software and the hybrid's tire repair kit. Every fix is free. The 2026 gas Accord has no recalls and the 2026 hybrid has two, both for the tire repair kit. Owners have filed about 600 complaints with NHTSA across the 2023 to 2026 model years, context rather than a verdict for a car this common.
Honda covers the whole car for 3 years or 36,000 miles, the powertrain for 5 years or 60,000 miles and hybrid battery capacity for 8 years or 100,000 miles, and includes one year or 12,000 miles of free maintenance.
Every trim, one by one
LX: $28,395
The full Honda Sensing safety kit, wireless CarPlay, remote start and a compact spare tire, which the hybrids do not have. No blind spot monitoring, heated seats, power seat or dual-zone climate, and the seats are cloth. It has the lowest five-year cost of any Accord, a fine commuter in a warm state.
SE: $30,695
For $2,300 more, it adds heated front seats, a 10-way power driver's seat, blind spot monitoring, dual-zone climate, a moonroof, eight speakers and 19-inch black wheels. The best gas Accord.
Sport Hybrid: $33,795
Everything in the SE plus the hybrid, the 12.3-inch screen, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, regenerative braking paddles and a black spoiler. It loses the SE's heated mirrors and has a repair kit instead of a spare. Over five years it costs only about $100 more than the SE.
EX-L Hybrid: $35,095
Just $1,300 more than the Sport, it adds leather seats, driver's seat memory, a power passenger seat, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming mirror and heated mirrors. On 17-inch wheels it gets 48 mpg, the best of any Accord. This is the trim we would tell a friend to buy.
Sport-L Hybrid: $35,495
An EX-L with the Sport's looks: matte black wheels, the spoiler and sport pedals. But it drops the parking sensors, the auto-dimming mirror and the heated mirrors, and its bigger wheels cut it to 44 mpg. Pick it only if the look really matters to you.
Touring Hybrid: $39,495
The most comfortable Accord: ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, a 12-speaker Bose stereo, Google built-in, rain-sensing wipers and low-speed braking control for parking. It scores lowest on value, so be honest about whether you will use these features every day.
Our value score
We give points for the features that differ between trims, weighted by how often you would use them, and divide by how much more each trim costs than the LX over five years, counting price, destination and EPA fuel cost. The best value scores 100. Our method is on the How we research page.
| Trim | 5-year cost | Value score |
|---|---|---|
| LX | $39,690 | reference |
| SE | $42,240 | 84 |
| Sport Hybrid | $42,340 | 92 |
| EX-L Hybrid | $43,140 | 100 |
| Sport-L Hybrid | $44,040 | 66 |
| Touring Hybrid | $48,040 | 60 |
Accord or Camry?
Every Toyota Camry is a hybrid, and the Camry LE gets 51 mpg against 32 for the gas Accord LX. The Camry also offers all-wheel drive, which the Accord does not. But the Accord has almost three inches more rear legroom (40.8 against 38.0) and a bigger trunk (16.7 against 15.1 cubic feet). If your back seat carries adults or teenagers, that matters.
Which Accord is right for you?
- Commuter on a budget in a warm state: LX.
- Snowy winters: at least the SE for heated seats, plus good winter tires.
- Long commute or lots of miles: EX-L Hybrid.
- Family with kids: EX-L Hybrid, for the parking sensors and big back seat.
- Style first: Sport Hybrid.
- Every comfort feature: Touring Hybrid.
Before you sign, ask for the out-the-door price in writing, remember that hybrids have a repair kit instead of a spare, and ask the dealer to check for open recalls. Watch the full trims video above and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in October and November 2026.
- 2026 Honda Accord prices and EPA ratings: Honda news release
- 2026 Honda Accord specifications and features: Honda news release
- EPA fuel economy and fuel cost: LX, SE, Sport, Sport-L, Touring Hybrid, EX-L Hybrid (fueleconomy.gov)
- Crash tests, recalls and complaints: NHTSA · IIHS 2026 Honda Accord
- Warranty: Honda owners warranty page
Buy the 2026 Honda Accord EX-L Hybrid. At $35,095 it gets 48 mpg combined, adds leather, parking sensors, driver's seat memory and a power passenger seat, and over five years it costs only about $900 more than the gas SE. Choose the LX for the lowest cost to own, or the Sport Hybrid if you want the sporty look for less.
Common questions
Which Honda Accord trim is the best value?
The EX-L Hybrid at $35,095. It tops our value score, gets the best mileage of any Accord at 48 mpg combined, and adds leather seats, parking sensors and a power passenger seat. The Sport Hybrid is a close second.
Is the Accord Hybrid worth the extra money?
For most drivers, yes. The Sport Hybrid costs $3,100 more than the gas SE, but the EPA puts its fuel cost about $600 a year lower, so over five years the difference shrinks to about $100.
Does the Honda Accord have all-wheel drive?
No. Every 2026 Honda Accord is front-wheel drive. If you need all-wheel drive in a midsize sedan, the Toyota Camry offers it.
Why does the Accord EX-L Hybrid get better mpg than the other hybrids?
It rides on smaller 17-inch wheels instead of 19-inch wheels. The EPA rates it at 48 mpg combined against 44 for the Sport, Sport-L and Touring Hybrids.
Does the Honda Accord Hybrid have a spare tire?
No. Every Accord Hybrid comes with a tire repair kit. The gas LX and SE have a compact spare tire.