The iconic 2016 Honda Accord Coupe breathes new life into the model with an exterior styling update, a new interior design with a new display system and 60/40 folding rear seats. Although the 2016 Accord sees some new additions and redesigns, its high quality build and reputation for lasting many years without problems has made the Accord a best seller for decades.
ENGINE & DRIVE
Staying true to its roots, the 2016 Honda Accord Coupe provides a balanced and composed ride with superb acceleration coming from the 3.5L V6 engine outputting 278hp! The unexpected acceleration performance was a welcomed surprise and thankfully it didn’t overpower the interior with engine noise.
When you step up to the top of the line 2016 Accord offering the V6 engine, Honda pairs it with a traditional 6 speed automatic or manual transmission, whereas the smaller 2.4L four cylinder engines outputting 185hp come with the CVT transmission (or 6 speed manual). Both CVT and automatic transmissions do a great job of providing smooth and seamless transitions depending on your power requirements.
Although the fuel economy suffers when equipped with the V6 engine, it’s to be expected for an almost 300hp coupe! The smaller four cylinder engine provides a combined fuel economy of 8.0 L/100km with the CVT transmission, where the larger V6 gives a combined 9.5 L/100km with the six speed automatic transmission.
After driving the 2016 Honda Accord Coupe Touring V6, I was left with a pleasant, memorable and reassured feeling. The overall ride was solid and defined with grippy traction, precise handling around turns and accurate steering feedback. There was an overall excellent balance between the smooth ride and the sporty handling.
I did find the new driving technology (specifically the collision warning system) was a little too cautious by flashing the brake warning a touch too frequently.
EXTERIOR DESIGN
The 2016 Honda Accord Coupe benefits from a sharp looking front end redesign incorporating thin LED headlights, accent lines and after market inspired skirting. Chrome highlights, dual exhaust, gold highlighted grille and black and chrome rims portray a more refined, executive look versus a racy, aggressive design.
The rear end redesign, although similar to previous model years with the flat sloped trunk, did improve with nicely placed curves where the trunk meets the spoiler and tail lights. I felt the overall shape of the exterior could have been more coupe-like, since it resembles an accord sedan too much with the exception of having 2 doors.
INTERIOR COMFORT
Stepping inside the 2016 Honda Accord Coupe, you will be pleasantly surprised by the storage areas, cargo capacity and ample legroom for front and rear which was surprising for a small looking coupe. The interior makes use of some superior materials put together in a great quality build.
The executive style multi tiered dash incorporates shiny piano black finishes highlighting the dash, vents and center console. The dual display is a nice touch but could be improved by allowing the driver to select what displays on each. Although the overall impression of the 2016 Honda Accord Coupe interior design screams “executive”, I would have preferred to see some elements of a sporty design since it is after all an almost 300hp coupe. There are some hints of sporty design with the carbon fibre-like material, but perhaps some leather or stitching on the dash would help to complete the look.
The seats although comfortable, looked a bit uninspired. Again, being a sporty coupe I felt they would benefit from a dual color leather seating surface or perhaps different coloured stitching.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The updated design for the 2016 Honda Accord Coupe brings both elegance and refinement to the overall experience. The sporty performance combined with a roomy and luxurious interior makes it a great choice for everyday driving. Starting at $27,090 and topping out at $35,830 for the fully equipped V6 model, you really have to take one for a test drive to see which model is the right fit for your life.
