Road Test: 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6

A Twofer: Upscale and Sporty Family Sedan

The 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 is a fine example of a sports sedan that will make spending time with the family a joy. Usually the thought of hearing “are we there yet” keeps parents from loading up the kids and venturing out. But that isn’t the case with the Accord Touring V6, which has spirited handling and a very smooth and responsive engine. My wife and I had the chance to spend a week in the 2016 Accord Touring V6 exploring the Central California Coast wine region and came to like being in this car real, real fast.

The Accord comes in several versions—this V6 is the gas miser that offers the most power. For maximum fuel economy, we’ve also tested the hybrid version.

Driving Experience: On the Road

The front-wheel drive 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 is powered by a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 that produces 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque and is mated to Honda’s six-speed automatic transmission with ECO and Sport modes. I was a bit surprised not to find paddle shifters as they would seem to be a natural to compliment the engine, transmission and suspension.

The Accord Touring’s V6, with drive-by-wire throttle, is a refined piece of machinery that provides seamless and fluid performance whether you are climbing through mountains or battling

highway onramps. Every time I engaged the engine, with push button start, I was pleased that Honda had resisted the temptation to have a throaty or guttural exhaust note, but gave the Accord a satisfying purr.

The EPA rates the 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 mpg at 21 City/34 Highway/26 Combined. In 760 miles of 75-percent highway/25-percent city driving, Clean Fleet Report averaged 30.2 mpg, which means we were able to exceed the EPA numbers, especially on the highway where we used ECO drive mode.

This car is fun-to-drive with a refined suspension that begins with electric power-assisted rack and pinion steering and increased body rigidity for 2016. The Touring has 19-inch, machine-finish alloy wheels shod with 235/40/19 all-season tires, MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspensions and stabilizer bars front and back. Braking is by 12.3-inch front power-assisted ventilated discs and solid rear discs with electronic brake distribution, brake assist and four-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Driving Experience: Exterior

The Accord Touring is a very good looking car that, from the first impression closing the front door, felt solid with a resounding and confidence-building, deep thud. Design upgrades for 2016 including a new grille, front and rear fascia, an aluminum hood versus steel (more on the hood later), LED headlights, daytime running and fog lights, side sills and a rear deck spoiler. Both front and rear bumpers have a new sculptured look with the rear finished off with LED taillights, two chrome accent strips and chromed exhaust tips. The new top-of-the line Accord Touring rivals its more upgrade sibling Acura TLX that costs far more.

Driving Experience: Interior

There is no question the 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 is a nice place to hang out. Starting with the comfortable, leather-trimmed, heated front seats. The driver side is 10-way power adjustable, including two memory positions, and the passenger seat is four-way power adjustable. However, for a car this so

well-equipped and built for road trips and comfort, Honda needs to have a height adjustment for the front passenger seat. The leather-wrapped steering wheel houses controls for the cruise control, telephone, navigation and audio. Becoming versed in the steering wheel mounted audio controls will come in handy as the otherwise excellent seven-speaker infotainment system does not have volume or channel knobs for the AM/FM/CD/MP3/HD/Pandora/ and SiriusXM satellite radio with USB audio interface. You can make all changes to the audio, telephone and navigation on the seven-inch color electrostatic touch screen that also houses the rear view camera, but knobs would be nice to have, too. The Bluetooth worked flawlessly for hands-free telephone, as did the HondaLink system that connects the car with a wide array of support and information services.

The rear, heated, leather-trimmed bench seat splits 60/40 and easily accommodates three adults with excellent head, leg, knee and shoulder room. For longer trips or commutes, two adults would be a better arrangement to guarantee a comfortable ride, aided by the folding center armrest, heating and cooling vents, cup holders and 12-volt power outlets.

Safety

The 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6 comes with an extensive list of safety features that include eight airbags, collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, front and rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and vehicle stability assist with traction control.

Honda does have a safety element called Pedestrian Injury Mitigation Design where the aluminum hood is designed to deform if contact is made with an adult or child pedestrian.

In crash testing by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the 2016 Honda Accord received five stars (the highest rating) for overall crash protection, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the Honda Accord its Top Safety Pick.

Convenience and Technology

For convenience the Accord has a tire pressure monitoring system, immobilizer theft-deterrent and security systems, tilt/telescopic steering column, dual zone automatic climate control with air filtration, power windows and door locks with automatic up and down, remote engine start, heated power door mirrors with turn signals, rain detecting front wipers and Honda’s multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic parking guidelines.

Pricing and Warranties

The 2016 Honda Accord comes in several trim levels starting at $22,205 for the four-cylinder six-speed manual all the way to the V6 Touring with the six-speed automatic at $34,680. In addition,

there are coupe and hybrid versions. All prices are MSRP and do not include the $820 destination and handling charge.

The 2016 Honda Accord comes with these warranties:
• Basic – Three-year/36,000-mile
• Powertrain – Five-year/60,000-mile
• Rust Perforation – Five-year/Unlimited-mileage
• Roadside Assistance – Three-year/36,000-mile

Observations: 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6

There is a lot to really like – dare I say love – about the 2016 Honda Accord Touring V6. The refined engine and transmission along with driver and passenger comfort is why the Accord, now in its ninth generation, has been a top seller in the midsize category for many years. With the Accord Touring V6 Honda has a credible entry as a sporty family sedan.

Designed and built in the United States, Honda pegs the 2016 Accord against the best in the crowded midsize car category by setting the bar high where it competes well, head-to-head with these fine cars.

With there being a $12,000+ price difference between the base and the Touring V6 models (not to mention the coupe and hybrid models), there should be an Accord that not only fits your budget, but also driving needs and lifestyle.

Whatever you buy, Happy Driving!

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate, typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive of a new vehicle, which does not address issues such as long-term reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition we are often invited to manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology, during which we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of these inducements. Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in their class or are among the top mpg vehicles on the market. In addition, we aim to offer reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.