2016 Honda Accord

The 2016 Honda Accord offers a total of 5 trims and has a variety of powertrains on offer. To be specific, the trims are LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. Since it is a flagship sedan from Honda, it offers quite impressive features from the base trim itself. The features like dual-zone automatic climate control, cruise control, CD player, and auto-dimming IRVM are a few of the features which are present in the LX, while the higher trims add Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, leather upholstery, navigation, satellite radio, and many more.

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The 2016 Honda Accord doesn’t disappoint you when it comes to cabin comfort in any of the trims. However, we recommend the EX-L trim considering its price point and the features on offer. It has all the basic amenities that we generally require in daily commutes. Additionally, the features like satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, leather upholstery, heated seats, and satellite navigation are added to further enhance your convenience.

The 2016 Honda Accord offers a wide range of permutations and combinations with its engines and transmissions. It basically features two engine options: a 2.4L inline-4 base engine producing 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft. of torque, while the 3.5L V6 motor comes as optional with EX-L and Touring trims. The V6 motor generates 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft. of torque. The LX, Sport, and EX trim come standard with a six-speed manual with an optional CVT unit, whereas the EX-L comes with CVT or automatic transmission, and the top-end Touring has a 6-speed automatic as standard.

The 2016 Honda Accord has a standard front-wheel-drive layout irrespective of the trims. Despite being equipped with a CVT, it is quite a fast car. The time recorded for 0-60 mph is just 7.8 seconds, and it can complete a quarter-mile in just 15.7 seconds, which makes it the fastest in competition. The sedan has a top speed of 125 mph, which ties it with two of the rivals in the competition.

All the sedans are decently priced and have almost the same engine capacities. However, the power figures of the Accord are maximum, while the Camry feels quite underpowered. Nonetheless, it is quite as fast as Sonata. While sporting a CVT unit, the Nissan Altima takes its own sweet time to reach 60 mph and complete a quarter-mile run. When comparing the price tag, Toyota is the most expensive option in the segment.

The more refined powertrain of the 2016 Honda Accord and the revised CVT unit are much more efficient than the outgoing model. You can expect an economy of 26 MPG in the city and 35 MPG on the highways, and the tank of 17.2 gallons capacity can easily push your driving range over 600 miles on the highways. When equipped with a manual transmission, the fuel economy drops to 23 MPG in the city and 34 MPG on the highway.

All the sedans in the competition offer quite an impressive fuel economy, while the Altima has no competition in the segment. Its combined mpg figure of 31 makes it the most fuel-efficient car in the segment. With a large 18-gallon fuel tank, the driving range delivered by Altima is also the best. The Honda Accord has a decent-sized tank, and with the CVT unit, it can deliver a range of over 440 miles in the city and over 600 miles on the highways.

Honda has refreshed the interior of the 2016 model with some minor makeovers, which now look much more elegant and premium. The usage of high-quality material all around the cabin will give you a premium feel inside. The dash and doors are finished in all-black leather and some wooden trims to enhance their appearance. At the center console, you get more buttons and knobs in the lower trims, while the higher trims are available with a touch screen display. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and has all the infotainment and cruise controls at your fingertips, but it looks quite old-school.

The seats are very comfortable and well-supportive. They are covered in leather upholstery in the EX-L and higher trims, while the lower trims get cloth upholstery. The driver seat comes with 10-way power adjustments along with the heating function in the Touring trim. You also get a memory function for the driver seat and heated rear outboard seats in higher trims. You have ample room both at the front and rear where you don’t feel stressed even on long rides. You also get 15.8 cu-ft. of cargo space, which is decent in the segment.

All the cars in the competition offer a seating space for 5, however, the room offered by the Sonata is maximum while that of the Camry is minimum. The Accord has decent front row space, and you also have an ample amount of space at the rear. When comparing the cargo capacity, Hyundai offers the most at 16.3 cubic feet. That being said, some of the standout interior features on offer are:

• Dual-zone automatic AC
• 10-way power-adjustable seats
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated outboard rear seats
• Power moonroof
• Heated front seats
• Aluminum panels

How intuitive is the 2016 Honda Accord’s infotainment unit?

Honda continues its two-screen display setup, one for the infotainment controls and the other for the lane watch and navigation. The infotainment panel on the 2016 Accord is not very responsive to touch but offers vibrant graphics. A 7.7-inch display is used to display lane watch and navigation, while a 7-inch touchscreen panel is used for audio and other controls. 

The infotainment unit is paired with a 360-watt 7-speaker premium audio system in higher trims, which gives a truly immersive sound experience. The lower trims get a 4-speaker stereo or a 6-speaker stereo. Other than that, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the EX trim and above. Some of the highlighting infotainment features are:

• 7.7-inch display
• 7-inch touchscreen panel
• 360-watt 7-speaker premium audio system
• Satellite radio
• Satellite navigation
• SiriusXM radio
• Voice command compatibility
• Apple Carplay and Android Auto

The major overhaul in the 2016 Honda Accord is its exterior as it got a whole new refreshed design. It is much more elegant than before and looks modern. The front fascia is undoubtedly a Honda styling with the thick chrome grille connecting the headlamps and holding the Honda emblem at the center. The headlamps now feature a full LED setup which looks quite impressive. 

From the side profile, you definitely feel like it is a long car. The tail looks much more extended which helps in increasing the cabin as well as the boot space. It has minimal cuts and creases which make it a classy-looking car. The alloys are the major highlight here. The Touring trim features 19-inch 5-spoke machined aluminum alloys with low-profile tires, while the other trims get 17-inch wheels. Also, the tail lamps perfectly merge with the sedan's design language, and the spoiler adds some sporty stance to it. 

The Accord is the bulkiest in the segment but still delivers good fuel economy. In fact, it offers a better economy than Camry and Sonata. On the other hand, the Sonata is not the longest in the competition but still offers good cabin room and boot space as well. The ground clearance of all the sedans is decent, where you can easily drive through bumpy roads without any worries. That being said, the Accord’s standout exterior features are:

• 17-inch wheels
• 19-inch alloy wheels (Touring trim)
• Automatic headlamps
• Dual exhaust tip
• Heated side-view mirrors

Along with the top-notch comfort and features, the Honda Accord comes with a robust structure as well. The safety testing agency NHTSA gives a rating of five on five stars for overall crashworthiness rating, while the IIHS awarded it with ‘Top Safety Pick’ for the year. Apart from that, the Honda Sensing suite has been made available to all trim levels this year. Some standout safety features include:

• Forward collision warning with brake assist
• Lane-keep assist
• Lane departure warning
• Dynamic cruise control
• Honda LaneWatch

The 2016 Honda Accord falls in a premium range of sedans that offer you class-leading features and comfort. In this segment, it emerges as an economical car, thanks to its well-refined powertrain. It also comes in a variety of trims and options to choose from. With the increasing trim levels, the amenities only get better, which is totally worth the money you pay for it. If you are looking for a perfect performance-oriented yet comfortable car, the 2016 Honda Accord meets your demand best.