First Drive: 2016 Honda Accord

When I drove the 2016 Nissan Maxima, I couldn't help but scoff at the notion that a front-wheel drive sedan could be considered a sports car.

I was quickly convinced otherwise.

Fast-forward a few short months, and I was sitting behind the wheel of the 2016 Honda Accord, a car that has for years been a direct competitor to the Maxima.

But while they may occupy the same market segment, make no mistake these are completely different vehicles.

Where the Maxima is marketed as a "four-door sports car," and rightfully so, the Accord is deemed "sporty"—no more, no less.

That doesn't mean it isn't an enjoyable drive, though.

The Accord has consistently been one of the best-selling passenger cars in Canada over the years, though not necessarily one of the best looking.

That Honda sold a sharp-looking Accord in Japan and Europe, rebadged here as the Acura TSX, didn't hurt sales, but it didn't help either.

So when Honda introduced the ninth generation Accord in 2011, fans of the brand surely rejoiced.

Aesthetic appeal was finally made a priority, with an attractive design that bumped the Accord up the midsize heap.

A few short years later Honda has introduced a mid-cycle refresh that gives the Accord a more refined look that includes a redesigned bumper and a new chevron-shaped grille, as well as the expanded use of LED lighting.

Truthfully, I'm not crazy about the new grille—Honda calls it the "flying H" design—that drifts a little too closely into sister brand Acura's territory for my liking, but it shouldn't be a deal-breaker for what is otherwise a pretty handsome, and, yes, sporty-looking, car.

There is nothing new to report on the Accord's drivetrain, with the familiar 2.4-litre four-cylinder and 3.5-litre V6 carrying over for 2016.

Transmission choices, too, are the same for 2016, with three available, though the gearboxes options definitely confuse matters.

The Accord is available with six-speed manual, six-speed automatic and continuously-variable transmissions, with manual and CVT options in four-cylinder coupes and sedans.

Where it gets confusing is when the V6 comes into play.

Coupes powered by the six-cylinder can be had with either manual or automatic gearboxes between the seats, while V6 sedans only come with automatics.

As is the norm for CVTs, the continuously variable option has a rubber band feel to it, and seems to take forever to accelerate in drive.

It does, however, offer the best fuel economy, with the 2.4-litre/CVT combination turning in Civic-like numbers of 8.6 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 L/100 km highway.

Where the Accord breaks away from the familiar is inside, with a standard touchscreen infotainment system that benefits from smartphone integration using both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Using simple cables like the ones included with all iPhone and Android devices, users can essentially transform the Accord's seven-inch touchscreen into a remote phone display, accessing everything from maps, text messages and phone calls on the go.

It all works quite well with the intuitive voice recognition function that taps into Apple's Siri and Google's Talk to Google, allowing users to do everything from ask for directions to send and receive text messages and make phone calls.

After spending a day with the car, what I can tell you is that the system works as seamlessly as the iOS and Android operating systems that they are based on, never glitching and consistently responding to a simple press of a steering wheel-mounted button.

And because the system isn't a standalone one, there is no threat to remote hacking like we've seen recently with Fiat Chrysler's Uconnect system.

Essentially, it's at no more of a risk than your cellphone is.

The Accord also benefits from the added bonus of a second 7.7-inch screen on the centre stack that displays items like the time, turn-by-turn directions, and rearview and LaneWatch camera views.

The automaker's Honda Sensing suite of safety technologies are also now available on the Accord, coming standard on EX-L and Touring models, and as a $1,000 option on LX and Sport sedans and EX coupes with either a CVT or automatic gearbox between the seats.

Honda Sensing includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, road departure mitigation and collision mitigation braking—all highly sophisticated systems, but ones you generally won't notice until you need to.

The Touring model I drove was equipped with Honda Sensing, and I can honestly say I didn't use it, but that doesn't mean it's not handy to have.

Even adding it to an EX coupe or LX or Sport sedan keeps the Accord's price tag below $30,000, making it worth the peace of mind Honda Sensing offers.

The Honda Accord has been the practical choice for years, and that may still be the case.

Add in its sporty looks and technological bells and whistles, however, and the 2016 version may start turning heads for more than just its sensible ways.

Base price: $24,150 (sedan)

As tested: $34,820 (freight included)