2016 Honda Accord Coupe Touring

2016 Honda Accord Coupe Touring Review

Strategically balancing practicality and performance.

By: Amos Kwon

Web2Carz Editor-In-Chief

Published: November 30th, 2015



Since its beginnings in 1976, the Honda Accord nameplate has become synonymous with reliability and affordability. The best-selling Japanese car made Car and Driver's 10 Best list a record 30 times. It's no wonder Honda keeps building them, even the coupe variant - a segment many other mainstream automakers have abandoned. Now in its 9th generation, the Accord Coupe doesn't rest on its laurels. With a major refresh for 2016, the Accord reminds us that Honda is still committed to building sturdy vehicles, and with five different trim levels there is something to please everyone, including the driving enthusiast, with the available V6.


  • Exterior: Looks to make heads turn.

    At a glance, you might mistake the new Accord Coupe for an Acura. With a new facelift and bright San Marino red paint job, this car looks more expensive than its asking price. A new grille accentuates the front fascia, with LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights giving it a luxurious look. For the first time the Accord Coupe comes with 19-inch alloy wheels. Though the new Accord Coupe might not resemble Honda's traditional performance lineup, it's still a head-turner, and proves a capable performer on the road.

  • Interior: Personal luxury is alive.

    An attractive interior features a nice mix of high-quality materials and surfaces, with glossy piano black trim. The ergonomic layout makes for a user-friendly experience, with buttons and knobs where you'd expect them to be. Leather-trimmed, heated seats add elegance and comfort (available on EX-L and above). And dual climate zone control and a power moonroof further add to the touches of sophistication throughout. The biggest change to the interior is the new 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen housing navigation, audio, and displaying important vehicle information like fuel consumption. The system features a rearview camera, Bluetooth, and USB connectivity, but the crowning jewel of the infotainment system is Apple CarPlay.

    The latest development in mobile connectivity, Apple CarPlay seamlessly integrates your iPhone into the vehicle's display to easily access various apps. It's as easy as plugging your phone into the USB port. Hit Apple CarPlay, and users will see their music, messages, maps, and other apps appear. It makes it easy to play music stored on your phone or access music apps on your phone like Pandora and Spotify. Users can also enlist Siri's help through the talk button on the steering wheel to play music, make calls, and read and respond to text messages. While it was a little eerie hearing her voice read personal messages from my friends and family, I was impressed by the accuracy of my messages when I spoke my responses to her. I have found Apple CarPlay to be hands-down the easiest user experience when trying to sync my phone and access its information.

  • Driving Impressions: A worthy adversary.

    The 2016 Honda Accord Coupe is offered with the same powertrain options as the sedan: a standard 2.4-liter four-cylinder and an available 3.5-liter V6. All models are still front-wheel drive. The Touring trim comes standard with the V6 putting out a fantastic 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft torque. The Touring gets paired with an automatic six-speed transmission - likely the popular choice among buyers - but enthusiasts will be happy to hear that a six-speed manual gearbox is available in the four-cylinder LX-S and EX models and the EX-L V6 model. Butter-smooth shifting makes handling the Accord Coupe a breeze. Great throttle response gives brisk acceleration with a linear torque curve, providing a composed ride whether you're passing on the highway or cruising through stop-and-go traffic in the city.

    Technical upgrades to the chassis include increased rigidity, higher performance dampers, and returned electric power steering. The Touring model also gets new Amplitude Reactive Dampers and hydraulic subframe bushings, which Honda says help deliver even more responsive steering. There was definitely sufficient feedback through the steering and chassis, but it's still built like a sedan, so don't expect to corner too sharply. The system is forgiving, but it makes for a comfortable overall ride. To feel the full potential of the V6, throw the Coupe into sport mode and use the paddle shifters. Conversely, if you're looking to maximize your efficiency, you can press the ECON button to activate Eco Assist, which will help you be more thrifty on consumption. You can also gauge how efficiently you're driving with the colored coaching bars on either side of the speedometer.

    New for the Accord Coupe is the option to add the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist technologies to every trim, except Touring where it comes standard. It includes sophisticated safety features like Lane Departure Warning which sends an audio and visual alert to the driver when they veer from their lane. Taking this one step further is Road Departure Mitigation which will send vibrations to the steering wheel when you drift too close to the side of the road while driving 45-90 mph without a turn signal on. The vehicle will even provide subtle corrections to keep you in your lane by applying steering torque and braking. Collision Mitigation Braking provides emergency brake pressure when the radar sensor detects that a collision is imminent. Another feature we love is the multi-angle rearview camera that we've been seeing more and more in new vehicles, letting users scroll their a choice of wide, normal, or top-down views. But what not every car comes equipped with - but should - is the LaneWatch function which gives drivers a view of what's coming up behind them on the right side when they active their right turn indicator. For those doing a lot of city driving this feature is invaluable in helping prevent collisions with bikers. I'd love to see it become a standard requirement on all new vehicles like rearview cameras are.

  • Final Impressions: A delicate balancing act.

    The Honda Accord Coupe is a rare breed. There aren't many mid-size coupes on the market these days that can deliver the same car performance within the same price bracket. The base Honda Accord Coupe LX-S starts at just $23,775, though the Touring model is over $10,000 more, tipping the scales at $34,125. But for those that want extra oomph and power in their driving experience, let the V6 seduce you with its howling exhaust. The 2016 Honda Accord Coupe blends the durability and efficiency of Honda sedans with fun driving dynamics that echo the sentiments of the fallen S2000. While nixing that roadster didn't place Honda in favorable opinion with driving enthusiasts, the V6 Touring will.

  • Price & Specifications

    Engine: 3.5-liter V6

    Transmission: Six-speed automatic

    Drivetrain Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive

    Power Output: 278 horsepower / 252 lb-ft

    Fuel Economy (mpg): 21 city / 32 highway

    Base Price: $34,125

    Note: Monroney sticker not available for this model.

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