2016 Accord Raises its Game with Dynamic Styling, Chassis and Body Upgrades, Available Honda Sensing™, plus Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™

The benchmark-setting Honda Accord receives a major mid-model cycle refresh for the 2016 model year. With dynamic new styling, a revised and upgraded body and chassis, and Honda's first-ever application of Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, the 2016 Accord Sedan goes on sale the week of September 28. The Accord also benefits from the addition of Honda Sensing™, among the most comprehensive suites of safety and driver-assistive technologies ever offered in the midsize car class, along with a host of available new features and technologies, including parking sensors, wireless charger, remote engine start, rain-sensing windshield wipers and more. For model year 2016 the Sedan in Sport trim and Touring versions of the Sedan and Coupe get 19-inch alloy wheels.

"The best is getting better with the launch of the redesigned 2016 Accord," said Dave Gardner, senior vice president of Honda Canada. "With more customer-relevant technology, an even more refined and sporty ride and top-class fuel economy and safety ratings, the 2016 redesign keeps Accord at the top of its class."

The 2016 Accord, with its next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure and available Honda Sensing™ technology, received the highest available crash safety ratings from the U.S. government – a 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the NHTSA – and targets a similar top rating of TOP SAFETY PICK+ from the IIHS (when equipped with available CMBS which is included as part of Honda SensingTM.

2016 Accord Sedan models equipped with a 4-cylinder i-VTEC engine and CVT (models without paddle shifters) get an improvement in their highway NRCan fuel economy ratings, to 6.4 L/100km, due in part to the application of a lighter weight and re-sculpted all-aluminum hood, along with new aerodynamic elements and friction-reducing features.

Exterior and Interior Design

Both the 2016 Accord Sedan and Coupe get a major facelift with sportier, more sophisticated styling, front and back. In front is a more sharply creased and intricately structured bumper fascia with outside edges that tuck into large side intakes containing new available LED fog lights. On the Accord Sedan, a new aluminum hood with sharper character lines meets up with a brighter, more expressive front grille. In the rear, the Accord Sedan gets restyled LED taillights and a similarly aggressive rear bumper fascia redesign.

All Accord models feature restyled alloy wheels, while Accord Sedans in Sport and Touring get upsized wheels and tires. The Sport and the Touring sedan also get a new side-sill garnish with Touring trim getting rear deck spoiler. Accord Coupe models also benefit from a more stylish and aggressive front and rear fascia and new grille design. The new styling is complemented by the expanded application of standard LED daytime running lights, LED taillights and LED fog lights (Sport and above).

The Accord also gets a revised exterior colour palette, including a new Lunar Silver Metallic for the sedan (LX and Sport trims).

The 2016 Accord cabin also features new fabric and colour schemes, depending on model and trim, including a new gloss black interior trim for the Accord Sedan LX and Sport; new seat fabric and leather seat bolsters, and a carbon fiber-style instrumental panel garnish for the sedan in Sport trim and new wood grain-style instrument panel garnish for the sedan in EX-L and above trims.

Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

The Accord audio and digital experience is also significantly upgraded with the standard application of a 7-inch Display Audio touchscreen interface featuring one of the first volume production applications of both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, plus available HondaLink Assist (e911) and HD Radio. The intuitive and easy-to-use capacitive touchscreen lets users swipe, tap and pinch – just like on a tablet or smartphone – to control the vehicle's audio system, display settings and other advanced features.

All models incorporate Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, offering a multitude of new functions and features, including smartphone-linked navigation, audio streaming, voice-controlled SMS text messaging and more. The new larger 7-inch touchscreen is paired with an upper 7.7-inch high-resolution Intelligent Multi-information Display (i-MID) screen with steering wheel-mounted controls. The i-MID can display audio settings, turn-by-turn directions, time and trip information, LaneWatch and Rearview Camera displays, incoming calls, SMS text messages, and parking sensor alerts.

Body and Chassis Upgrades

The 2016 Accord's sportier design is matched by its improved dynamic performance. Accord body rigidity is increased through the application of multiple body stiffeners, a sturdier rear bulkhead and a thicker front shock tower bar and is complimented by the application of new high-performance shock absorbers for all models, as well as a retuned electric power steering system. The aforementioned, all-aluminum hood on Accord Sedan not only provides updated character but it saves 18 pounds compared to the steel hood on the 2015 model.

Within the sedan lineup, the popular Accord Sport trim receives upgraded performance credentials courtesy of larger front brakes, upsized 19-inch wheels and tires and retuned Active Sound Control; while the line-topping Accord Touring (sedan and coupe) also benefits from the same larger front brakes and 19-inch wheels and tires, and for the first time is fitted with Amplitude Reactive Dampers and hydraulic subframe bushings that provide for a more supple ride. The Accord Coupe EX also gets 18-inch (+1 inch) wheels. This combination of new body and chassis features and engineering changes is designed to give each Accord model a more clearly defined and distinctive dynamic feeling within the lineup.

The Accord also gets new Straight Driving Assist technology that utilizes the Motion Adaptive Steering system to help reduce the driver's workload when driving on a crowned or canted road surface by providing an automatic counter-steering force.

Honda Sensing

All 2016 Accords can also now be equipped with Honda Sensing™, among the most comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies in the class. Honda Sensing™ includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS) with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) with Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control, and is available as a standalone option on LX , Sport trims (Sedan) and EX (Coupe) trims and standard on higher grades equipped with a CVT or automatic transmission .

Also, all 2016 Accords feature a standard Multi-Angle Rearview Camera and Expanded View Driver's Mirror and, for the first time on Touring trim models, new auto high-beam headlights that enhance nighttime visibility and driving convenience by defaulting to the high-beam setting and automatically switching to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is detected.

Upgraded Features

The Accord value proposition is also bolstered by new standard and available features: Standard on all trims is LED Daytime running lights and 7-inch Display Audio System .The sedan lineup also get a new 60/40 split and folding rear seat, previously a one-piece folding design. The Accord Sedan in Touring trim gets new tech features such as Front and rear parking sensors, Rain Sensing Wipers and Wireless Charger.

Advanced Powertrains

The Accord Sedan and Coupe are offered with two advanced Honda engines: a direct-injected (DI) 2.4-liter inline i-VTEC™ 4-cylinder and a 3.5-liter VTEC™ V-6 that is the most powerful engine offered in a Honda sedan to date. Available transmissions include a sporty and fuel-efficient CVT for the 4-cylinder engines, unique 6-speed manuals for the 4-cylinder and V-6 engines, and a 6-speed automatic for V-6 models.

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