Used 2016 Honda Accord

We’re big fans of the Honda Accord, and the changes for 2016 make a great car that much better.

Available in 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan body styles, the Accord is like a faithful friend: reliable, steadfast, and there when you need it. Every version delivers exceptional value without sacrificing style, features or performance. And while the Accord holds its value well, making it more expensive than other midsize cars as a used vehicle, it will still be worth something when the time comes to hand it over to the next owner.

When shopping for a used Honda Accord, you’ll find the coupe in LX-S, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels. All but the Touring, which has a standard V6 engine and handsome 19-inch aluminum wheels, come with a 4-cylinder engine. The 4-cylinder is paired with a manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters. The V6 comes with a manual or an automatic transmission, and is available as an option with EX-L trim.

Switching to the 2016 Accord sedan, the different versions are called LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring. The Touring trim includes the V6 engine and automatic transmission, while the others feature a 4-cylinder engine paired with a manual transmission or a CVT (with paddle shifters in Sport trim). The V6 and automatic are optional for the EX-L sedan.

If you want a midsize coupe, the Accord is your only option from the 2016 model year — unless you cross-shop it with a 2016 Dodge Challenger or a luxury-brand alternative such as the 2016 Audi A5 or 2016 BMW 4 Series.

In the midsize-sedan category, there are several alternatives to the Accord. They include the KBB Best Buy winner of that model year, the 2016 Kia Optima, as well as finalists like the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 2016 Hyundai Sonata, 2016 Mazda Mazda6 and 2016 Toyota Camry.

For the most part, Honda doesn’t tout itself as a purveyor of enthusiast-tuned vehicles, but most of the company’s cars and SUVs are rewarding to drive.

The fun starts with smooth and peppy engines tuned for eager response and delivering uncanny refinement. Taut but not stiff suspension tuning, precise steering, and effective brakes make the 2016 Accord enjoyable, and this year’s structural improvements and revised dynamic tuning help to put an even bigger smile on a driver’s face.

You’ll buy the Accord for its reliability, value and practicality. Driving enjoyment is the icing on the cake.

How fast is the 2016 Honda Accord?
Get the standard 4-cylinder engine and the CVT, and you might be surprised by the Accord’s strong acceleration. Even with four people aboard, we find the Accord’s 4-cylinder capable of effortless freeway merges and speedy slow-vehicle passes. This powertrain also delivers impressive fuel economy in daily driving situations.

Of course, the available V6 engine provides abundant power, but at a cost to fuel economy. Out in the real world instead of the EPA’s prescribed testing regimen, the penalty isn’t as significant as you might guess, though, because the V6 doesn’t need to work as hard as the 4-cylinder to motivate the Accord’s mass. It also includes a cylinder-deactivation system that makes the V6 especially efficient on the highway.

Does the 2016 Honda Accord get good gas mileage?
Depending on the engine and transmission combination, the Accord is EPA-rated to return between 21 mpg and 30 mpg in combined driving.

As you might expect, the 4-cylinder/CVT is the most efficient powertrain combination. In the Sport trim with paddle shifters, it should return 29 mpg. Otherwise, this combination gets 30 mpg. Insist on shifting for yourself, and the Accord 4-cylinder gets 27 mpg.

The V6 with a stick returns 21 mpg. Go with the automatic, and the Accord travels 24 to 25 miles on every gallon of gas, depending on the presence of paddle shifters. This aligns with our testing, during which an Accord Touring sedan averaged between those numbers.

How does the 2016 Honda Accord handle?
Thanks to its structural upgrades, the 2016 Accord boasts newfound solidity and quietude on the road, and the 19-inch wheels on Sport and Touring versions supply plenty of grip. You can toss one of these Accords around like a sports sedan if you want to. And Honda appears to expect this behavior, installing larger front brakes on Sport and Touring models for 2016.

How does the 2016 Honda Accord ride on the highway?
Keep in mind that the bigger wheels and low-profile tires on the Sport and Touring versions do contribute to extra ride harshness over bumps. If you want a smoother ride, stick with the smaller wheel-and-tire combinations on other trim levels.

Even so, Accords tend to feel a little stiffer than many competitors. They don’t float or waft about, the suspension taking decisive action to limit excess body motions. This helps to contribute to the car’s fun-to-drive feeling, but could bother people expecting a softer and cushier ride quality.

Are the 2016 Honda Accord’s driving assistance systems helpful?
Honda Sensing is new for 2016, a suite of advanced driving-assistance systems (ADAS) that are designed to help you to avoid an accident. You can shut some of them off if you prefer not to use them, and you can adjust sensitivity levels for some of them in order to customize settings to your preferences.

Like most ADAS systems, especially first-generation technology like the 2016 version of Honda Sensing, false alarms are somewhat commonplace. More aggravating, however, is that Honda did not offer a blind-spot-monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert for the 2016 Accord.

Instead, the company’s LaneWatch technology was available. Using a camera mounted to the right mirror, LaneWatch provides a live video view of what’s on the right side of the car. It activates when you signal a lane change, or when you push a button on the end of the turn-signal stalk. The video feed appears on the infotainment system screen.

Note that LaneWatch works only for the right side of the car. On the left side, Honda provides a blind-spot mirror for the driver to reference. Also note that the camera is easy to damage due to its location on the edge of the right mirror.

Since the radar units that power a traditional blind-spot-monitoring system are not present, the 2016 Accord also lacks a rear cross-traffic alert system, which is useful when reversing from parking spaces or driveways. It does, however, make up for this omission to some degree through a standard multi-angle reversing camera.

Is the 2016 Honda Accord fun to drive?
The Honda Accord sedan is more enjoyable to drive than many of its competitors.

The Accord Coupe, without direct competitors, is harder to assess. Compared to entry-luxury coupes, the Honda isn’t quite as thrilling. And though the Honda is quick with its optional V6 engine, a rear-drive Dodge Challenger with a V8 provides a hairy-chested, all-American, muscle-car driving experience.

Assembled with care, offered in popular color choices with attractive trim panels and metallic accents, and comfortable for most passengers, the Accord’s interior is an appealing place to spend time. Simultaneously, though, Honda missed some obvious opportunities to make the car even better.

Does the 2016 Honda Accord have a nice interior?
Honda upgraded the 2016 Accord’s interior materials and trim, and for the most part they meet expectations. Still, there is room for improvement. For example, the padding for the front-door panel and center-console armrests is too thin, and some plastics are obviously inexpensive.

What 2016 Honda Accord interior colors are available?
Depending on the exterior color, the 2016 Accord came with Black, Gray (sedan only) and Ivory fabric or leather upholstery colors. Interior trim surfaces included gloss black, metallic black (coupe only), carbon weave (Sport sedan only), and simulated-wood trim.

Are the 2016 Honda Accord’s controls easy to use?
When searching for the climate controls, power-window buttons, turn signal and wiper stalks, and headlight activation, the Accord is intuitive to use. The gauges are also large and easy to reference, and if you select the LX or Sport trim, the radio controls are helpful.

Beyond this, the car takes some acclimation. The Display Audio infotainment system found in the EX trim and higher is reliant on virtual touch-sensing buttons that require too much accuracy and attention to operate while driving.

Honda’s solution is to put things like stereo volume control, radio-station favorites’ access, and nearly 20 other functions on the steering wheel. Believe it or not, once you’ve set your favorite stations and you’ve re-trained yourself to use the steering-wheel controls, they become second nature. But that takes a while.

Honda also provides a 7.7-inch display at the top of the dashboard, where it resides under a lump and looks out of place.

Is the 2016 Honda Accord’s infotainment system easy to use?
The Accord’s available Display Audio infotainment system is a study in minimalism. From its undersized 7-inch touch-screen display to its lack of physical main-menu buttons and stereo control knobs, the smooth and clean interface looks good — until you want to use it.

Eventually, you’ll retrain yourself to use the stereo controls on the steering wheel. But using the remaining on-screen functions while driving is not advised.

Is the 2016 Honda Accord comfortable?
Comfort is great for the driver. Most trim levels include a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and it’s easy to find a proper position behind the car’s steering wheel.

Rear-seat passengers enjoy plenty of room as well as good thigh support, making this a comfortable place for adults to ride.

The worst seat in the house is the front-passenger’s seat. Mounted low in the car, it’s hard to get into and out of. The bottom cushion is flat, too, lacking in thigh support. The 2016 Accord desperately needed a front-passenger’s seat-height adjuster, but it never got one.

Can adults fit in the 2016 Honda Accord’s back seat?
There is plenty of space for grown-ups in the back seat of a Honda Accord sedan. And they’ll be comfortable, too, sitting up high with proper leg support and a good view of the surroundings. Large, wide-opening doors make it easy to get into and out of the car.

The coupe is less accommodating, starting with awkward entry and exit. However, compared to most other 2-door cars, the Accord is comparatively spacious. If you want a coupe with decent rear-seat space, this is a good choice.

Is the 2016 Honda Accord’s trunk useful?
Trunk space measures 15.8 cubic feet in the Accord sedan, unless you get the EX-L or Touring trim. Premium sound-system components take up some space, reducing it to 15.5 cubic feet.

As you might expect, the Accord coupe’s trunk is smaller. It measures 13.7 cubic feet with the LX-S trim, and 13.4 cubic feet for all other versions of the car.

Note that neither version of the car provides a grab handle on the interior of the lid to use to swing it shut. That means you’ll get your hands dirty when placing your fingers on the outside of the lid.

What else should I know about the 2016 Honda Accord?
The 2016 Accord includes sliding sun visors to better block sunlight streaming in through the front windows. This is a seemingly minor detail until you’re blinded or seared by morning, afternoon or low wintertime sunrays.

Thanks to exterior styling changes and new aluminum wheel designs, the 2016 Accord looks bolder and more upscale. Especially in Touring trim, now offered for both coupe and sedan, the Accord masquerades as an entry-level luxury car.

Still, the Accord sedan is about function over form, and its roomy interior necessitates a more formal roofline and upright greenhouse. Moving up from LX to Sport trim adds big 19-inch wheels in a dramatic 5-split-spoke design, side-sill trim, dual-exhaust finishers, and a decklid spoiler, giving the relatively affordable trim level a substantial appearance.

Starting with the EX trim, the Accord has heated side mirrors, keyless entry and a power sunroof. This version does, however, lose the Sport’s sporty look as well as its 19-inch wheels. Hood struts are standard with the EX-L trim, and the Touring trim installs parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers and automatic LED headlights. Touring shares a wheel size and design with the Sport trim.

The Accord coupe, though sizable inside, is certainly more rakish in appearance. From the windshield back, it shares no styling cues with the Accord sedan, equipped instead with a fastback roof, unique taillights and a sportier back bumper. The Accord coupe’s trim level details mirror the Accord sedan’s, except there isn’t a Sport version of the 2-door.

What Honda Accord colors were available in 2016?
Honda offered the 2016 Accord in 11 different colors. Some were exclusive to either the coupe or the sedan, as indicated below:

White Orchid Pearl
Luna Silver Metallic
Modern Steel Metallic
Crystal Black Pearl
Basque Red Pearl II (Sedan only)
San Marino Red (Sedan Sport Trim and Coupe)
Kona Coffee Metallic (Sedan only)
Champagne Frost Pearl (Sedan only)
Deep Blue Opal Metallic (Coupe only)
Obsidian Blue Pearl (Sedan only)
Still Night Pearl (Coupe only)

HONDA SENSING
New for 2016, Honda Sensing is a suite of driving-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies designed to help drivers to avoid accidents. They include adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation. Honda Sensing is standard with Touring trim, and available with all other versions of the 2016 Accord that have a CVT or an automatic transmission.

HONDALINK ASSIST
Included with the new-for-2016 Display Audio infotainment system, HondaLink Assist equips the Accord with e911 calling. Simply pair your smartphone to the Accord’s Bluetooth system, activate the HondaLink Assist function, and the technology will automatically call an emergency services operator if the car is involved in a collision and the airbags deploy. Note that cellular service is necessary for this function to work.

APPLE CARPLAY/ANDROID AUTO
Another great feature that’s baked into the Display Audio infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone projection make it easy for a driver to use selected apps, stream music, get directions to destinations, and more. Connect your Apple or Android device via the quick-charge USB data port, unlock the phone so that it will show on the infotainment screen, choose your device from the Media menu, and you’re all set.

MANUAL TRANSMISSION
If you like to shift your own gears, Honda offers that option in the 2016 Accord. Versions of the car with the 6-speed manual gearbox are harder to find, but they’re also harder to sell. That means you’re likely to get a good bargain on a stick-shift Accord.

SPORT TRIM LEVEL
Based on the affordable Accord LX sedan, the Accord Sport features a little bit of extra horsepower thanks to a freer-breathing exhaust system, and better handling thanks to bigger wheels with more aggressive tires and a strut-tower bar. Add the 6-speed manual gearbox or the CVT’s paddle shifters to the equation, and the affordable Accord Sport is everything a driving enthusiast on a budget needs, and nothing he or she doesn’t. Except outright speed, of course.

Honda sold the 2016 Accord sedan in LX, Sport, EX, EX-L and Touring trim levels. The 2016 Accord coupe came in LX-S, EX, EX-L and Touring trim. Below, we define the major differences between each version of the car.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord LX sedan?
Historically, Accords are known for being loud inside, especially on the highway. That’s why every 2016 Accord has Active Noise Cancellation and Active Sound Control to help make the car quieter at speed.

Additionally, the LX trim equips the Accord with 16-inch aluminum wheels, automatic headlights, a multi-angle reversing camera, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. Inside, dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, along with a tilt/telescopic steering wheel and a manual driver’s-seat height adjuster. Fabric covers the seats.

The standard infotainment system includes Bluetooth, hands-free text messaging support and a USB port.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord LX-S coupe?
In keeping with its sportier nature, the Accord LX-S coupe gains bigger 17-inch aluminum wheels and larger suspension stabilizer bars. With the optional CVT, paddle shifters are standard. The coupe’s stereo also has six speakers rather than four.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord Sport sedan?
Compared to the Accord LX sedan, the Sport trim level has much larger 19-inch wheels wrapped in more aggressive rubber, a front-strut tower bar, larger front brake discs, and a freer-breathing exhaust system bumping the horsepower and torque ratings a little bit. With the optional CVT, paddle shifters provide more control over engine revs.

The Accord Sport also gets LED running lights and fog lights, dual-exhaust finishers, a rear lip spoiler and subtle side-sill trim. Interior upgrades include a 10-way-power driver’s seat, aluminum pedals, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and a split-folding rear seat.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord EX?
The Accord EX loses most of the Sport trim level’s unique features, but gains 17-inch (sedan) or 18-inch (coupe) aluminum wheels, heated side mirrors, keyless entry with push-button engine starting, and a power sunroof.

LaneWatch technology is standard, along with a quick-charge USB port and Honda’s Display Audio infotainment system. It equips the car with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HondaLink, satellite radio and HD radio.

In the sedan, the EX trim also adds six stereo speakers. The EX coupe gets a premium sound system with seven speakers.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord EX-L?
The “L” in EX-L stands for leather seats. But that’s not all you get with this trim level.

Since it comes only with a CVT or an automatic transmission, remote engine starting is standard. This version of the car also has an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 4-way power-adjustable front-passenger’s seat, and heated front seats. Additionally, sedans receive a 7-speaker premium sound system.

On the EX-L coupe side of the ledger, this trim also installs a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

What comes in the 2016 Honda Accord Touring?
Honda’s Touring trim adds a standard V6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters in the coupe), 19-inch aluminum wheels, larger stabilizer bars (both body styles), a dual-exhaust system, and the same braking enhancements as the Sport trim level.

Honda Sensing driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technology is also standard with the Touring trim, along with automatic high-beam headlights, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, and heated rear seats. The infotainment system includes navigation.

When the 2016 Accord was new, most optional equipment was installed by the dealership. Factory options were limited to just a handful of upgrades.

For the Accord sedan, an optional CVT replaced the standard manual transmission in LX, Sport and EX trim levels. A V6 engine with an automatic transmission was available for the EX-L trim level, as was a navigation system.

For the Accord coupe, a V6 engine was offered with the EX-L trim. It came with a 6-speed automatic, but some people opted for a 6-speed manual gearbox instead. Honda also included a dual-exhaust system with the V6 powertrain upgrade.

Honda offered two different engines and three different transmissions in the 2016 Accord. Most examples came with the standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine, rated to make 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. The exception was the Sport sedan trim, which produced 189 horsepower and 182 lb-ft.

A 6-speed manual gearbox was standard with LX, LX-S, Sport and EX trims. Most Accord buyers upgraded to the optional continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT included paddle shifters in the Sport sedan and all coupes. Starting with the EX trim, remote engine starting was standard as long as the Accord had the CVT.

2.4-liter 4-cylinder (LX, LX-S, EX, EX-L)
185 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
181 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
Fuel tank size: 17.2 gal.
EPA fuel economy 6-speed manual (city/highway/combined): 23/33/27 mpg
EPA fuel economy CVT (city/highway/combined): 27/36/30 mpg
Driving range 6-speed manual (city/highway/combined): 395/567/464 miles
Driving range CVT (city/highway/combined): 464/619/516 miles

2.4-liter 4-cylinder (Sport)
189 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
182 lb-ft of torque @ 3,900 rpm
Fuel tank size: 17.2 gal.
EPA fuel economy 6-speed manual (city/highway/combined): 23/33/27 mpg
EPA fuel economy CVT (city/highway/combined): 26/34/29 mpg
Driving range 6-speed manual (city/highway/combined): 395/567/464 miles
Driving range CVT (city/highway/combined): 447/584/498 miles

Standard with Touring trim and available with EX-L trim, a 3.5-liter V6 engine makes 278 horsepower and up to 252 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a 6-speed automatic transmission unless you find an EX-L Coupe with the 6-speed manual gearbox. And if you do, know that torque measures 251 lb-ft with that row-‘em-yourself transmission.

With the automatic, the V6 engine includes Variable Cylinder Management technology. Essentially, this shuts off three of the engine’s six cylinders under certain driving conditions, such as when cruising on the highway or coasting down a hill. The goal of this technology is to improve fuel economy.

Remote engine starting is included with all V6 engines that have an automatic transmission.

3.5-liter V6 (sedan)
278 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
252 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
Fuel tank size: 17.2 gal.
EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined): 21/33/25 mpg
Driving range (city/highway/combined): 361/567/430 miles

3.5-liter V6 (coupe manual)
278 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
251 lb-ft of torque @ 5,300 rpm
Fuel tank size: 17.2 gal.
EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined): 18/28/21 mpg
Driving range (city/highway/combined): 309/481/361 miles

3.5-liter V6 (coupe automatic)
278 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
252 lb-ft of torque @ 4,900 rpm
Fuel tank size: 17.2 gal.
EPA fuel economy (city/highway/combined): 21/32/24 mpg
Driving range (city/highway/combined): 361/550/412 miles