Compare the2026 Honda AccordVS 2026 Lexus ES

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Accord are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ES doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Accord and the ES have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Honda Accord achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2026 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, pedestrian crash prevention testing, and vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention testing. The ES has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2026.

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Accord’s warranty.

The Accord has more powerful engines than the ES:

Regardless of its engine, the Accord’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (1.5T only). Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the ES 350h, and doesn’t offer a disable button.

The Accord has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The ES doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Accord LX/EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the ES’ standard 55 series tires. The Accord SE/Sport/Touring’s tires have a lower 40 series profile than the ES’ optional 45 series tires.

The Honda Accord may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1300 pounds less than the Lexus ES.

The Accord is 6.6 inches shorter than the ES, making the Accord easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Accord uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Accord has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Accord, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Accord was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2025 and 25 more times in the last 27 years. The ES has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.

The Honda Accord outsold the Lexus ES by almost four to one during 2025.