2026 Honda Accord SE: Staten Island Buyers Guide
Quick Answer: The 2026 Accord SE at a Glance
The SE steps up from $30,695 MSRP plus $1,195 destination, still the 192-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter with a CVT, EPA-rated 28 city / 36 highway. Over the LX it adds a one-touch power moonroof, heated front seats, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, and, new for 2026, larger 19-inch wheels with an aggressive five-spoke design, a two-inch jump over last year. Honda Sensing carries over standard, unchanged from the LX. It's the trim most Staten Island shoppers land on when the LX's cloth-and-no-moonroof spec feels a little too basic but the hybrid's price jump feels premature.
The comfort trim, not the tech trim
The jump from LX to SE isn't about the engine or the safety suite, both carry over unchanged, it's about daily comfort. A one-touch power moonroof and heated front seats are the kind of features you notice every winter morning rather than once at the dealership, and the 60/40 split rear seat adds real cargo flexibility for anyone who occasionally hauls something longer than a grocery run. The bigger visual change for 2026 is the wheel: the SE moves to a new 19-inch design, up two inches from the prior model year, with an aggressive five-spoke pattern that gives the sedan a noticeably sportier stance than the LX's smaller wheels without touching the price of the hybrid trims above it.
Same engine, marginally different mileage
The SE runs the identical 192-hp, 192 lb-ft 1.5-liter turbo and CVT as the LX, so acceleration feel is unchanged, Car and Driver's 7.3-second 0-60 for the gas Accord applies here too. The EPA rating drops slightly to 28 city / 36 highway versus the LX's 29/37, a byproduct of those larger 19-inch wheels adding a bit of rolling resistance, a fair trade for most buyers given what the SE gains in comfort and looks. Regular unleaded is all it needs, and running costs stay close to LX territory despite the upgrade.
Where the SE sits in the lineup
The SE is the last stop before hybrid power enters the picture at the Sport Hybrid, and the price gap to get there is real, roughly $3,100. For buyers whose annual mileage is modest or whose driving mixes in enough highway to keep a turbo-four's fuel economy respectable, the SE is often the more sensible number even before factoring in the hybrid's higher up-front cost. For anyone doing serious stop-and-go across the borough, it's worth reading the Sport Hybrid guide before committing, since the fuel savings compound fast in that kind of driving.
What buyers experience at the store
SE and LX shoppers make up a large share of Accord traffic at the dealership, and reviews describe a sales process that moves without pressure. One customer whose son bought an Accord here wrote: "The salesman Raymund Valenzuela was a true gentleman. He conducted himself professionally, with courtesy, and respectfully. I definitely will return to purchase any future vehicle to this salesman due to his honesty" (a reviewer using the handle Btrain). More broadly, buyers describe the finance side as straightforward: "Reggie and Eugene provided a smooth, and informative experience as they helped me finance my 25 Honda Accord. They explored different options when it came to car models and payment plans until I landed on what I was content with" (Jemma Rebollar).
Frequently asked questions
How much does the 2026 Accord SE cost?
$30,695 MSRP plus $1,195 destination, before New York taxes and fees. See the 2026 Accord pricing & leasing guide for the full New York cost breakdown, and the specials page for current offers.
What does the SE add over the LX?
A power moonroof, heated front seats, 60/40 split fold-down rear seats, and new-for-2026 19-inch wheels with a sportier five-spoke design. The engine, transmission, touchscreen, and Honda Sensing suite are unchanged from the LX.
Is the Accord SE a hybrid?
No, the SE runs the same 192-hp gas turbo-four and CVT as the LX. Hybrid power, and its bigger jump in mpg, starts at the Sport Hybrid trim.
Does the SE's bigger wheels hurt fuel economy?
Slightly. The SE is EPA-rated 28 city / 36 highway versus the LX's 29/37, a small difference from the larger 19-inch wheels and tires. Both trims use the same 192-hp engine and CVT.
SE or step up to the Sport Hybrid?
The Sport Hybrid costs about $3,100 more but adds 12 horsepower and a meaningfully higher mpg rating in stop-and-go driving. Highway-heavy commuters often find the SE's lower purchase price wins on total cost; heavy city drivers usually recoup the hybrid premium faster. Run both numbers with the finance office before deciding.
The comfort-focused middle ground
The SE is the Accord for buyers who want the LX's value proposition with a little more daily comfort, without paying for a powertrain change they may not need. See it alongside the LX and Sport Hybrid at Honda of Staten Island's new inventory, and let a test drive settle the wheel-and-moonroof question.
MSRP excludes the $1,195 destination charge, taxes, title, registration, and dealer-installed accessories; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov; real-world mileage varies. Equipment and availability can change with production timing; confirm current specs with Honda of Staten Island. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Honda of Staten Island.