Mountain View, CA – The Honda Silicon Valley Lab became the site for introducing the 2016 Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe, which has undergone a mid-cycle refresh. Recognizing the multitude of choices available in a market segment that includes heavy hitters like the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima and Ford Fusion, the refreshed Accord gets a significant facelift, additional technology features, and is the first Honda model to feature both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.
Honda designers are trying to play up a sportier, edgier look for the Accord. The current generation Ford Fusion infuses an exciting style with its sleek design and Aston-esque front grille. Toyota, known for being conservative and playing safe, is pushing the boundaries with its 2015 Camry that has a more polarizing style front grille. Borrowing some cues from Acura, the Accord gets a new set of LED headlights, a more prominent metal grille, and a some tweaks to the front diffuser. Not immediately noticeable is the aluminum hood with sharper character lines. At the rear, the Accord gets wraparound LED taillights and a rear bumper fascia that continues to go after a more aggressive look.
Even the wheels have undergone a more aggressive transformation. A new collection of designs are available that even include some 19-inch wheels.
Inside there are even more gadgets Honda is proud of showing off. Two new displays occupy the center section of the dash. The top 7.7-inch high resolution screen can display turn-by-turn directions, audio settings, time and trip info, incoming calls, SMS text messages when stopped, and LaneWatch™ and Rearview Camera displays. The lower screen is a 7-inch touchscreen display that runs both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto that a user can swipe, tape and pinch—just like on a tablet or smartphone—to control the vehicle’s audio system, display settings and other advanced features.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are meant to support seamless smartphone integration and create an experience similar to what you are used to experiencing on your smartphone.
Safety is an important focus at Honda and the refreshed 2016 Accord comes with a gaggle of new safety features. Those features are bundled into a Honda Sensing™ package that includes a forward collision warning system that pre-loads the brakes, lane keep assistance, road departure mitigation with lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Also assisting the driver are multiple camera displays embedded in the mirrors that help with backing up and changing lanes, and auto high-beam headlights that switch to low beams automatically when an oncoming vehicle is detected.
For those who appreciate the little conveniences that help in a big way, the sedan model loses the one-piece folding design gets a 60/40 split folding rear seat. Front and rear parking sensors, new rain-sensing windshield wipers, and heated rear seats top off the list of new features added to the 2016 Accord.
Watch the video below for Roman Mica’s first impressions of the refreshed 2016 Honda Accord after driving it.
