What is the best car for a modern Australian family?
That’s a good question that is more difficult to answer today than it ever has been, thanks in part to the stampede of SUVs over the past 20-odd years and the more recent gentrification of dual-cab 4×4 utes, both of which have muddied the waters of what the definition of a family car is in the first place.
Needless to say, with the amount of choice currently available, we’ve never had it better.
But, having spent the past few months behind the wheel of the 10th-generation Honda Accord as part of our long-term evaluation fleet, we’ve been reminded of what’s great about the past when traditional sedans were the only option.
There’s no pretence about the Accord. It’s not trying to promise you a sense of adventure with the ability to cross the country on the path less travelled.
And, consequently, its character isn’t compromised by pretending to offer more than it can.
Sure, it’s a more conservative choice that won’t win you medals in the race to keep up with the Joneses. But there is a lot to like about the Accord, as we found during our time with it.
How much does the Honda Accord e:HEV RS cost?
There is only one variant of the Accord offered by Honda in Australia: the e:HEV RS that we’ve had for the past couple of months, which costs $64,900 drive-away.
| Model | Drive-away pricing |
|---|---|
| 2026 Honda Accord e:HEV RS | $64,900 |
In comparison to its most direct rival, the Toyota Camry which is available across a much wider range of model variants with prices starting at $39,990 plus on-roads for the entry-level Ascent and topping out at $53,990 plus on-roads for the flagship SL, it was difficult at first to find the extra value in the Accord’s $10k price premium.
However, while it would still be intriguing to put the Accord up against the flagship Camry in a head-to-head analysis, our time behind the wheel has revealed more about the Honda that helps justify its price tag and quasi-premium positioning.
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
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What is the Honda Accord e:HEV RS like on the inside?
One key element of that is just how comfortable and easy it is to live with.
Sure, the mostly black interior isn’t overly exciting in its design and could do with a splash more colour, but the fundamentals are bang-on in terms of space, comfort and vision.
The front seats are both supportive and plush, and offer an excellent range of adjustment to suit myriad drivers, while the steering wheel falls nicely to hand with simple controls for the cruise control and audio functions on each of the horizontal spokes.
And there’s acres of room in the back for two adults to travel comfortably in, plus rear vents, USB outlets, a fold-down centre armrest, and built-in sun blinds.
And the full-length panoramic sunroof bathes the cabin in light, making it feel even more spacious.
One thing that was a little challenging though – even with the sunroof blind closed – is the fact the black leather trim soaks up a lot of heat when parked in the sun, which made the cabin unbearably hot to enter on a bright summer day. It makes the lack of ventilated (or even heated) seats an obvious omission for a car of this price and positioning.
Thankfully, the air-conditioning works a treat, cooling down the cabin relatively quickly. And, unlike some other hybrids, it works just as effectively when running on battery power alone as it does when the petrol engine is ticking over. We love the flat-plane toggles to adjust the air flow too, as they provide a clear point of reference for the direction selected.
In terms of other practicalities, the cupholders in the centre console work a treat to properly secure a broad size of containers, from large water bottles to small coffee cups; the tray at the base of the centre console has a wireless phone charger that works all the time; and there are ample door bins in both the front and back.
As for digital conveniences, the 10.2-inch instrument cluster is clear and easy to read in its most conventional theme with twin dials for road speed and energy usage in percentage terms on either side, plus a multi-function section in the centre that can switch between trip, audio and safety system information. Drivers can also choose a bar graph theme that pushes the speed and energy readouts to the outer extremities.
This is particularly handy when using Google Maps for directions as you can display the map and selected route in front of you, which not only puts key navigation information in better line of sight but also means the central touchscreen can be used for a different function, such as audio or other apps available through the Google Built-in suite.
The head-up display is also crystal-clear and projects the right information in front of the driver, and of course there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring.
As for boot capacity, we tested out the Accord’s generous 570 litres of storage space with weekly grocery runs and a long weekend getaway. And it is more than capable of handling any family activity, with a broad aperture and relatively low loading height.
| Dimensions | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Length | 4975mm |
| Width | 1862mm |
| Height | 1449mm |
| Wheelbase | 2830mm |
| Cargo capacity | 570L |
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What’s under the bonnet?
The Accord is powered by a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors sandwiched within the continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that drives the front wheels. Together, they produce 135kW of power and 335Nm of torque which, to be honest, doesn’t sound all that exciting and seems at odds with the sporting intentions suggested by its RS badge.
| Specifications | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.0L 4cyl hybrid |
| System outputs | 135kW 335Nm |
| Battery | 1.06kWh |
| Transmission | e-CVT |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1609kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 4.3L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 4.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 48L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 98g/km |
However, in reality this is a remarkably flexible and refined powertrain that feels more muscular than its outputs might indicate.
Around town, it taps into the battery for assistance more often than you’d expect considering it only has just over 1kWh of capacity, providing instant response and a generous dose of acceleration away from a standstill. If you use the throttle pedal sparingly, it will maintain electric-only drive right up to cruising speeds. But if you ask for more, the petrol engine will also kick into life seamlessly and deliver spritely acceleration.
The engine management system smartly uses the second smaller electric motor in the gearbox as a generator, which ensures there is always enough energy on tap. And its small capacity also means it can quickly be replenished – both under power and when decelerating.
Honda claims the Accord has average fuel consumption of 4.3L/100km, which we almost matched with a final figure of 4.5L/100km after more than 2000km of driving in mixed conditions.
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How does the Honda Accord e:HEV RS drive?
Over that distance, we put the Accord to the test as an everyday family car – including everything from running errands and the weekly grocery trip to general around-town commuting – as well as a couple of long-distance getaways over the holiday period.
In every scenario, it continued to impress with its superb dynamic character that highlights Honda’s engineering prowess.
While all the gubbins under the bonnet might seem fairly complex, the Accord is remarkably easy to drive. There’s nothing complicated about its start procedure, you don’t have to manage the relationship between the petrol and electric motors to get the maximum benefit of its hybrid powertrain, the CVT transmission is smooth, and the brakes have a more natural feel than many other hybrids do when regenerating power for the battery.
The steering is light yet feels positive and offers good on-centre stability, and the suspension is expertly calibrated with a beautiful balance between comfort and composure. Yes, it will reveal its front-drive configuration when pushed hard, but I suspect many Accord owners will back off well before it reaches the summit of its grip levels.
Up to that point, and even without any tricky multi-mode dampers, the Accord feels surefooted and secure, soaking up all manner of road irregularities with ease.
It’s a very nice car to drive over a long distance, whether it’s commuting to work, bombing along on a freeway, or taking the road less travelled.
In this day and age, one element really stood out above all else, and that’s the way its safety systems are so well tuned.
In many new cars today, functions like lane keeping assistance, speed sign recognition and driver attention monitoring can be so overzealous that they become either annoying or, worse, so distracting that you immediately want to de-activate them the moment you start driving. Which, in itself, is counterproductive to the intended benefit of having them there in the first place.
But it’s the opposite with the Accord, where the only intervention we noticed was when it was absolutely necessary. Which is exactly how it is meant to be.
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
What do you get?
As you’d expect for the price, and being available only in a single premium specification, the Accord comes loaded with a decent list of standard equipment.
2026 Honda Accord e:HEV RS equipment highlights:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlights
- Keyless entry with push-button start
- Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
- Power windows
- Panoramic sunroof
- Synthetic leather seat trim
- Power-adjustable front seats
- LED ambient interior lighting
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
- Head-up display
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Bluetooth connectivity
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices
- Google Built-in functions including Maps, Assistant and Play Store
- Over-the-air software updates
- 12-speaker Bose audio system with active noise cancelling
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
Is the Honda Accord e:HEV RS safe?
The current Honda Accord has yet to be tested by ANCAP despite the fact it has been on sale in Australia for a couple of years now.
But it does come with all the latest safety systems under the banner of Honda Sensing Technology, which would likely see it score a maximum five-star rating. These include:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Forward collision warning
- Lane keeping assistance
- Traffic jam assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Speed sign recognition
- Driver attention monitoring
- Tyre pressure monitoring
- Adaptive high-beam headlights
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- 360-degree parking display
- Eight airbags
The Accord also features the latest Honda Connect telematics system and smartphone app, which (when connected) automatically calls a customer service representative in the event of a collision, and will alert and provide emergency services with the exact location of the vehicle if the owner doesn’t respond to a call or asks for assistance.
We used the Honda Connect app more often than expected during our long-term evaluation, but for its convenience features rather than the safety aspects (thankfully). Activating the air-conditioning to cool down the cabin before leaving the house was a godsend, and pre-loading destination data for the sat-nav system reduced stress in the car.
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
How much does the Honda Accord e:HEV RS cost to run?
The Accord is covered by Honda’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with free roadside assistance. The battery pack and electric motors are guaranteed for eight years.
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| Servicing and Warranty | Honda Accord e:HEV RS |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years or 50,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost | $995 |
Beyond that, it is extremely affordable to maintain with service intervals of 12 months or 10,000km (whichever comes first) and the first five workshop visits capped at just $199 each.
To see how the Honda Accord lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool
CarExpert’s Take on the Honda Accord e:HEV RS
The 2026 Honda Accord is an interesting prospect. Looking through a wide-angle lens, it appears to be in the white space between yesterday’s traditional family sedan and today’s genuinely premium Euro brands.
There may appear to be too many dollar signs attached at first, but over time they disappear as the Accord reveals itself to be an excellent machine that is superbly engineered, supremely comfortable, quiet and efficient to drive, spacious inside and reasonably well-equipped – although with a few notable omissions given its price.
As far as modern mid-size sedans go – what few of them are left – the Accord is an underestimated and often overlooked contender. And a reminder of how effortless it is to own a great car.
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