Honda Accord Expected to Get a 'Major' Facelift This Year

Keeping it Fresh

Believe it not, the current-gen Accord is now three years old. If one were to follow Honda's product life cycles, it's just about ready to receive its first facelift. A recent report in Japan appears to support that, as it's been said that the updated model is coming soon.

That claim was made by motoring publication Motor-Fan. It also said that some dealers have opened reservation books for the midsize sedan. Exact changes are yet to be determined, though this suggests the American Accord could be getting some tweaks soon as well.

What to Expect

As with any model update, there will be changes to the exterior. Motor-Fan says it will be 'major,' though that could range from changes to the bumpers to actually getting new sheet metal on some parts of the car's body. Honda tends to be on the conservative side of things, and the use of the word 'major' in this case might be a bit of a stretch. Then again, nothing is set in stone right now.

Not much was said about the interior, although we wouldn't be too surprised if it gets minor tweaks or additional standard equipment. Enhancements to the Honda Sensing advanced driver-assist system are to be expected, although the powertrain will likely carry over from before. That said, the Prelude's S+ Shift system could be applied to the Accord. If Honda fitted it to the Civic, it also opens up the possibility of it being used on other models.

Already in China?

We might have a general idea of what to expect with the facelifted Accord. In the Chinese market, the midsize sedan was refreshed in mid-2025 for the 2026 model year, alongside its China-only twin, the Inspire. Over there, the 2026 model gets far more updates than the North American model, as well as the rest of the world.

Changes include a dot-matrix grille and a redesigned front bumper. New colors were also added, while the lower half of the rear bumper gets some subtle tweaks. Tech updates are the same as the American model. It's worth pointing out that the Chinese-market Accord differs from the one in the U.S. and is the one offered in most parts of Asia, including Japan.

We'll find out the real score once Honda Japan shows the car for real. It might not be too long of a wait, as it might be as early as August this year.

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