American Honda has released its sales results for the first quarter of 2026, which showed an overall decline. Here are the key points:
Overall Sales Picture
Similar to other major automakers, Honda recorded a sales decline in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. Despite this, the company calls this result “strong,” even though nearly every Honda and Acura model showed a decrease from January through March.
Overall, American Honda registered a sales drop of 4.2%, from 351,557 units in the first quarter of 2025 to 336,830 units in the past quarter. The Honda division took a bigger hit, falling 5.1% to 304,478 units, while Acura managed to increase by 5.2% to 32,352 units.
The situation worsened in March, when the total sales volume of both brands fell by 12% to 130,074 units. Of these, 117,677 were Hondas, meaning a 12.9% decline, while Acura accounted for 12,397 units, showing a modest drop of 2.8%.
However, the automaker does not appear overly concerned by this decline, suggesting that comparing the past quarter to the first quarter of 2025 “is not a good barometer,” as, according to them, many buyers accelerated their car purchase plans last year in anticipation of the Trump administration’s tariffs.
Detailed Honda Brand Results
The new Honda Prelude showed interesting dynamics. During the quarter, 795 units were delivered in the US, of which 280 arrived in March. This is 6.4% less than the 299 units in February, but 29.6% more than the 216 units in December.
Throughout the first quarter, the Honda Accord stood out as a rare bright spot. Its volume grew by 21.9% to 37,317 units, and it remained strong in March with 13,612 units, up 13%. The Passport also started the year well, growing 20.1% to 14,045 units year-to-date.
Most other Honda models recorded declines during the first quarter. Civic figures fell by 2.3%, CR-V by 3.8%, HR-V dropped sharply by 24.2%, Odyssey shrank by 16.4%, Pilot decreased by 3.5%, and Prologue deliveries plunged by a sharp 65.3%.
Despite this decline, the CR-V remained the brand’s best performer in March with 40,793 units, showing its strongest month since April 2025. Hybrid variants played a significant role, accounting for more than half of the CR-V and Accord volumes.
Situation at the Acura Brand
The situation was not much better at Acura. The four-door Integra became its brightest performer: 5,877 units were sold in the first quarter, which is 25.6% more than last year. It proved particularly popular in March, when sales reached 2,730 units, up 42.2% compared to March 2025. The ADX is also selling well: 7,864 units were delivered in the quarter.
Other Acura models showed mixed results. The MDX demonstrates stability with slight growth, while the TLX and RDX recorded significant declines. The ZDX model showed a catastrophic sales drop of nearly 100%.
Overall, while the general picture for Honda in America is negative from a growth perspective, there are several important nuances. The success of hybrid versions of key models like the CR-V and Accord clearly points to a growing market trend and a shift in consumer priorities. The rapid sales growth of new or updated models, such as the Acura Integra and ADX, indicates that fresh products can still generate demand even in a difficult period. The sales drop of the electric Prologue, despite significant discounts, raises questions about Honda’s competitiveness in the electric vehicle market. This data may indicate that the company is in a transition period where traditional hybrids remain its mainstay, while success in the fully electric segment still requires time and, possibly, new solutions.