Honda is planning a major transformation of the Accord that will reach showrooms as a 2028 model in the second half of 2027 and a lifted, wagon-like Accord SUV targeted for mid-2029, according to published reports. The changes go beyond a fresh face: Honda intends to reposition the Accord with new styling, an updated hybrid powertrain line, and an interior overhaul while routing more resources to hybrids after scaling back its North American EV plans earlier in the year.
Design, interior and sources of the new Accord
People familiar with the matter told Automotive News that the 2028 Accord will adopt a 'modern and futuristic' look that takes design cues from Honda's wedge-shaped 0 Series and the low-slung Hybrid Sedan Prototype. Honda expects to replace the current large grille with a much narrower opening, add razor-thin LED headlights, restyled lower air intakes, and give the car a wider, lower stance and a sweeping fastback Grand Tourer roofline. The rear is expected to feature a full-width LED light bar and an integrated trunk lip spoiler.
The cabin is set for a significant upgrade as well. Honda plans a driver-focused, premium layout with a wider, floating central infotainment screen, a fully digital instrument cluster, Google built-in with Gemini integration, and over-the-air software updates. The company will also offer its simulated S+ Shift system, which debuted in September 2025 on the Prelude and is designed for hybrids by using the electric motor to reproduce gear-shift sensations.
Powertrain, production and market positioning
Underpinning the refreshed Accord will be an updated version of the Honda Global Architecture and an advanced two-motor hybrid system. Reports indicate the hybrid setup could pair either the existing 1.5-liter inline-four or the 2.0-liter direct-injection Atkinson-cycle engine with revised electric drive hardware, with a target of more than a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. Honda's longer-term plan, as reported by Motor1, calls for the Accord lineup to be all-hybrid by the mid-2029 launch of the Accord SUV, with newly developed four-cylinder engines intended to replace the current 1.5 and 2.0 units.
Production of the new Accord SUV is expected at Honda's Marysville, Ohio plant alongside a new-generation Accord sedan built on a new architecture. That shift follows Honda's March decision to scale back most of its North American EV program, a move that the company is using to reallocate resources toward hybrid models.
On pricing, Honda aims to keep the refreshed Accord competitive. Industry reporting places the starting price around $30,000 for the 2028 model, compared with the 2026 Accord starting MSRP of $28,395 before options and fees. The current lineup ranges from the base LX to the Touring Hybrid, which is listed at $39,495. Honda is said to target roughly $35,000 for the forthcoming Accord SUV to compete with the Subaru Outback.
Sales figures underline why Honda is pressing to update the Accord. The model sold 150,196 units in 2025 and 145,521 units so far in 2026; maintaining its current monthly pace would put the Accord on track to finish 2026 with about 194,000 deliveries, a roughly 29 percent full-year increase. By comparison, Toyota's Camry led with 260,684 sales from January through September 2026, the Corolla recorded about 195,000 sales in the same period, and the Honda Civic logged roughly 180,000 units in the first nine months of the year.
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