2016 Honda Accord Touring Sedan 
Class: Midsize Car
Miles Driven: 284
Fuel Used: 13.3 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 21.4 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B+ |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B+ |
| Fuel Economy | C |
| Value | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | A- |
| Tall Guy | A- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
Driving mix: 60% city, 40% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 21/34/26 (city/highway/combined)
Base price: $34,580 (not including $935 destination charge)
Options on test car: None
Price as tested: $35,515
Quick Hits
The great: Smooth, abundant power
The good: Comfortable, well-finished cabin
The not so good: Old-school V6 fuel economy
Check out Consumer Guide’s Midsize Car Best Buys
John Biel
Here’s the 2016 Accord with everything but the kitchen sink (we looked; it’s not in there): smooth V6, automatic transmission, ample luxuries, and tech features galore. No doubt about it, this is Honda’s big dog.
Of course, you don’t get everything for nothing. This line-topping Accord Touring is priced at $34,580. That’s not the most that anyone’s charging in the midsize-sedan class, but it’s close to the top. Certain Touring standard features—V6/automatic powerteam, Honda Sensing electronic safety-systems suite, satellite-linked navigation with voice recognition, 19-inch alloy wheels—can be found in some combination further down the line. But if you want all that thrown in and LED headlights with automatic high-beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, body-colored parking sensors, and heated rear seats, then you’re going to have to pony up for the most Accord that money can buy.
Test Drive: 2016 Honda Accord Touring Coupe
The Touring in this test is Consumer Guide®’s second go-round in a 2016 Accord, CGers having previously tested a Sport upfitted with a continuously variable transmission and Honda Sensing (collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control). However, the Sport is a 4-cylinder car where the Touring packs a 3.5-liter ohc V6 that develops 278 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 252 lb-ft of torque at 4900 revs. This smooth, quiet powerplant delivers good acceleration for easy cruising and secure passing—providing you don’t have the “Econ” mode activated. It changes fuel delivery for more economical operation, but makes a palpable dent in the car’s pick-up. (The fine 6-speed automatic also has a “Sport” setting for more spirited driving.)
The V6’s added power and smoothness come at a cost at the gas pump. It is rated by the EPA at 21 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the open road. This driver averaged 22.18 mpg from a stint of 160.2 miles, 61 percent of it in city-style driving, and mostly in the “base” mode. That’s almost 7 fewer mpg than he got from the Sport’s four (albeit with more highway driving).
Test Drive: 2016 Honda Accord Sport
There’s a high level of composure and control to the ride and handling, with good bump absorption, just-right steering weight, and responsive and easy-to-modulate brakes. Note that the Sport and Touring, which share a 19-inch wheel-and-tire package, have a 39.6-foot turning diameter that’s 1.5 feet wider than that of other Accord models with smaller and narrower footwear.
The Touring has the smartphone-enabled HondaLink system for accessing things like personal music and podcasts. Users can control this by touch, pinch, or swipe on the 7-inch display screen. Also included are Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity, satellite radio, and HD radio. Setting up radio presets on the screen isn’t quite a snap, and it’s a lot easier to do things like change stations or alter volume via the steering-wheel thumb buttons than it is to pick around on the screen, but at least Honda has avoided going to one of the dreaded tap-and-turn (or is that twist-and-shout?) console controllers.
CG’s test Touring showed off more plushness, too. Seats were dressed in a soft perforated Ivory leather that offered a nice contrast to the black upper-door and dash surfaces. Woodgrain highlights on the instrument panel and doors lent an upscale air. The provisions for the standard moonroof didn’t leave this driver short of head room, and rear-seat passengers are not affected by this feature at all.
In most other respects, the Touring is like other Accords. Driving controls are large and legible, outward vision is very good, and there’s decent adult-size leg room in both rows of seats. Personal-item storage in the cabin is about average but there’s enough of it to be useful. So, too, trunk space. The opening is wide, and the flat floor is full-width at the rear of the car, but narrows behind the rear seat where wheel houses intrude. Gooseneck hinges take up some space in the trunk area, too. Folding rear seats are split 60/40 with release levers in the trunk. However, when lowered to expand cargo capacity, the seats rest a few inches above the height of the trunk floor, and a bulkhead reduces the size of the pass-through.
Test Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
The Accord Touring justifies its spot at the top of Honda’s midsize-sedan lineup by offering a compelling mix of performance, luxury, and everyday practicality. And, given its level of comfort and convenience features, it’s also a pretty good value; it’s nice enough to be a worthwhile alternative to premium-brand midsize sedans.
