At this point, we’re accepting the fact that the tenth-generation Honda Accord isn’t coming to the Philippines anymore. Sure, Honda Cars Philippines said it’s ‘not closing doors’ on its possible return, but the state of the midsize sedan market here isn’t a promising sign.
That said, most of our neighbors have the latest version of the once popular executive sedan. Heck, we saw several of them already in Thailand when we swung by the Bangkok International Motor Show. Sedans of its kind still have some presence there, as well as in China.
We bring this up because the Honda Accord just got an update over in the PRC. The question is, will the changes for the 2026 model year be applied to other markets?
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That aside, what’s new? The most obvious would be the front bumper. It adapts a more chiseled appearance with more prominent corners. Its apron has also been redesigned to give it a fresher look, along with a more intricate grille pattern.
As for other changes, the headlights have been given a new pattern. Also, the rear bumper gets a few tweaks, and there’s a new color option called Venetian Blue. All in all, the facelift puts the new Accord in line with the rest of Honda’s lineup.
Inside, it’s mostly the same as before. Sport Turbo versions get a traditional mechanical gear selector, while the e:PHEV model comes with a push-button electronic unit. Yes, the Accord in China is available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
There’s also mention of an updated infotainment system. It also includes a newer version of Honda Connect dubbed, er, Honda Connect 4.0. Higher trim levels also come with a head-up display and a 12-speaker Bose surround sound system.
In terms of safety, the Chinese-spec Accord gets Honda Sensing 360+. It adds a 5mm radar, 8 ultrasonic radars, a driver monitoring camera, and six more on the exterior. Realtime navigation is available, as well as a built-in driving recorder.
For engines, the Sport Turbo uses a boosted 1.5-liter mill that makes 190hp and 260Nm. Meanwhile, the e:PHEV model pairs a 2.0-liter Atkinson Cycle engine to two electric motors and a 17.7kWh battery to make 204hp and 335Nm. Honda claims an electric-only range of 104km for the plug-in hybrid model.
More photos of the 2026 Honda Accord (China):
