Honda Accord

The Honda Accord is a D-segment executive sedan produced by GAC Honda, having spanned 11 generations since the debut of its first-generation model in 1976. In 1999, the Accord was officially localized for production by GAC Honda. As of June 2026, the latest offering on sale is the 11th-generation facelift (2026 model), carrying an official price tag ranging between RM179,800 and RM259,800. The petrol lineup offers 4 variants priced from RM179,800 to RM228,800, whilst the plug-in hybrid (e:PHEV) range comprises 3 variants priced between RM225,800 and RM258,800. Key rivals to the Accord include the Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana, and BYD Han.

Design Language

As a mid-life facelift, the 2026 Accord receives substantial cosmetic revisions. The front end sports a newly styled hexagonal chrome grille with staggered horizontal louvres, complemented by a more sculpted lower bumper apron. The slim headlamp clusters are carried over, featuring integrated full-LED illumination. In terms of exterior dimensions, it measures 4,990 mm in length, 1,862 mm in width, and 1,449 mm in height (petrol version), with a wheelbase of 2,830 mm. Overall length has grown by 10 mm over the pre-facelift model. Down the flanks, it retains a sleek fastback silhouette, achieving a drag coefficient of just 0.23 Cd. Round the back, full-width LED taillights feature stepped lighting signatures at the outer edges, accompanied by concealed exhaust tips and a gloss-black rear bumper valence. Inside, the cabin is generously upholstered in soft-touch materials, punctuated by full-width honeycomb mesh air-con vents and chrome accents for a clean and ergonomic layout.

Powertrain and Performance

The 2026 Accord is available with two powertrain options: a 1.5T turbocharged petrol unit and a 2.0L plug-in hybrid. The petrol model (260TURBO) runs a 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo engine pushing out 141 kW (192 PS) and 260 Nm of torque, mated to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). It returns a WLTC combined fuel consumption as low as 6.0 L/100 km (6.6 to 6.8 L/100 km depending on the variant), and is compatible with RON 92 petrol. The official 0–100 km/h sprint time has not been disclosed, whilst top speed is rated at 186 km/h. The plug-in hybrid (e:PHEV) variant features the 4th-generation i-MMD dual-motor hybrid system, pairing a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle petrol engine (41% thermal efficiency) with an electric drive motor to deliver a combined system output of 207 PS (approx. 152 kW) via an E-CVT. It offers a WLTC pure-electric driving range of 82 km and a fuel consumption of 4.88 L/100 km in hybrid (charge-sustaining) mode. The e:PHEV's high-voltage electrical architecture is backed by an 8-year or 150,000 km warranty, complete with a complimentary wallbox home charger and standard installation.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the Accord rides on front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension setup across the entire range. For the 2026 model year, the chassis has been recalibrated: front spring rates are stiffened by 8%, whilst rear damper rebound has been adjusted by 12%. This retune delivers a pliant yet well-damped ride, absorbing road imperfections effectively while preserving composed body control. Body roll during spirited cornering has been reduced by roughly 15% over the pre-facelift model. Steering duties are handled by an Electric Power Steering (EPS) system, featuring a 10% reduction in dead-centre play for sharper, more communicative turn-in. The turning radius is between 5.2 m and 5.7 m. Power is channelled to the tarmac via a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, with braking managed by ventilated discs up front and solid discs at the rear.

Cabin and Equipment

Inside the cockpit, all 2026 Accord variants feature a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster alongside a 12.3-inch floating infotainment touchscreen as standard. Infotainment is powered by Honda CONNECT 4.0, which brings new features like facial recognition, Bluetooth vehicle locator, and AR navigation. It also supports wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto connectivity, alongside a standard 15W Qi wireless smartphone charging pad. On the seating front, mid-to-high-spec variants gain heated rear seats, whilst top-tier variants add ventilation and heating for the front seats. Boot space is rated at 575 litres. Audiophiles will appreciate the range-topping variants, which are fitted with a premium 12-speaker BOSE surround sound system.

Safety and Driver Assistance

In terms of passive safety, the Accord is engineered around Honda's Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, supplemented by multiple airbags as standard across all grades. On the active safety front, the 2026 Accord comes equipped with the Honda SENSING 360 Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) as standard, packing Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR), and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM). High-spec models can be upgraded with the advanced Honda SENSING 360+ suite, which utilises 8 ultrasonic sensors, 5 millimetre-wave radars, 6 surround-view cameras, and a Driver Monitoring Camera to provide comprehensive 360° situational awareness. This adds Honda CoPilot Pro highway navigation assist (including automated overtaking, highway exit ramp assist, lane change assist, and curve speed management), Driver Emergency Support System, and Door Open Warning, delivering full Level 2 (L2) semi-autonomous driving capability.

Market Performance and Reception

Since its local production debut in 1999, the Accord has surpassed 3 million cumulative sales in China, having previously clinched the domestic D-segment sedan sales crown in 2019. In terms of sales volume, the Accord recorded 152,115 deliveries across 2025; it saw monthly figures of 13,825 units in January 2026 and 6,757 units in March 2026. However, squeezed by rapid New Energy Vehicle (NEV) adoption and fierce market price wars, monthly sales dropped from nearly 19,000 units in December 2025 to just over 6,000 units by March 2026. To bolster sales, GAC Honda introduced an "Accord 50th Anniversary RM100,000 Loyalty Campaign" in February 2026, bringing the repeat-purchase price of the Accord e:PHEV limited edition down to RM138,800—a direct discount of RM100,000. The Accord's enduring appeal lies in its proven powertrains, generous rear legroom, low running costs, and strong resale value (three-year residual value is projected to stay above 65%). On the flip side, NVH levels (notable wind and tyre roar above 100 km/h) and the pronounced rear centre floor hump (around 12 cm) remain areas ripe for improvement. On balance, the Accord continues to hold commanding brand equity and solid market share within the RM150,000 to RM250,000 executive saloon segment.