What's the difference?
The Honda Accord is now in its 11th generation and there was a time when the Accord, and rivals like the Skoda Superb and Toyota Camry were the perfect family cars.
But if you head to a car park, it's obvious they're no longer the choice when it comes to family hauling.
We’re family testing the new Accord, now offered in one highly-specified variant, to see if its new hybrid powertrain and design are worth a look in a world where the SUV is king.
This new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N asks one important question for the brand - how far can Hyundai go?
Not in the sense of driving range, but rather how far can the brand go in terms of both performance and price. The Ioniq 6 N pushes the limit on both, offering supercar levels of power and performance and at a price that continues to take the brand into unchartered territory.
This is the follow-up to the groundbreaking Ioniq 5 N, the all-electric performance SUV that launched in 2024. But, as you’d expect, in the intervening time Hyundai has been able to make improvements to push the Ioniq 6 N to new levels.
The Ioniq 5 N dramatically raised the bar for Hyundai, offering up to 478kW of power and 770Nm of torque, way beyond the 242kW/348Nm offered by the brand’s i30 N hot hatch. This was Hyundai’s ‘Godzilla moment’, when the Skyline GT-R changed the image of Nissan forever.
Now the Ioniq 6 N looks to push things even further. And it does so as the sole Ioniq 6 model grade in 2026, with the rest of the range currently unavailable in Australia, as the local operation waits for the facelifted model to arrive sometime in the future.
Will the new Honda Accord e:HEV RS topple the SUV throne? Unlikely, but it proves sedans can still haul the family around in relative comfort and style.
The new Accord drives stupidly well and offers great ongoing ownership costs, even if it's price tag is a little steep. It's hybrid powertrain also offers fantastic efficiency and that's a big win.
In the Ioniq 6 N Hyundai has built an incredibly quick and high-capable performance car. But that doesn’t mean it’s flawless and an obvious recommendation over its rivals.
Its looks remain divisive, and while obviously each individual will need to judge the design of the Ioniq 6 N themselves, objectively speaking there is a lot to like about this latest addition to Hyundai’s N stable.Â
Yes, it’s very fast, but with all the N modes switched off it’s also a very quiet and relaxed sedan with a premium look and feel. So it will play the dual role of track terror and everyday family transport well.Â
But it needs to be for the price, which is really testing the limits of Hyundai’s brand appeal. It obviously won’t be a best seller, but with the less-polarising Ioniq 5 N only selling approximately 300 cars since its launch, this could be a very niche proposition, reserved only for those who crave its special kind of electric performance.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with accommodation and meals provided.