2017 Honda Accord Coupe Touring new car reviews

Honda has been pumping out Accords for over 40 years now. Obviously they have a recipe that just plain works. Our test car this time was the two-door, V6 model with an automatic transmission.

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David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens
Editorial Director

When equipped with the V6 engine, the latest Honda Accord coupe produces 278 horsepower. Just think about that figure for a bit. Remember when that was a healthy number for a Porsche 911? Or a Mustang GT? Or M3? Or even a Corvette? Or, you get my drift. Torque units are 252–shed one if going with the stick shift.

Yes, you can still get a V6 Accord Coupe with a manual six-speed box, although our test car had the automatic. What was it like to drive? Smooth. Very quick. Torquey, too, which means some torque steer. That begs the question: At what point is too much torque in a front-driver enough? Some people believe that all the power is best, while at some point others will just go with a BMW or other rear-drive sedan/coupe.

There’s an S mode on that automatic, too, and it does sporten things up a bit. Is sporten a real word? Probably not, but you know what I mean. While the S mode keeps the box down a gear or two, the shifts still seem a bit slow. Our test car had paddle shifters, but it’s still not a PDK. Most of the time I left it in D and was just as happy.

Like past examples of the V6 Accord Coupe, the latest one is smooth, quiet and comfortable. There’s that word again: smooth.

Outward visibility is quite good, and so are the seats. The controls feel good. The looks, like them or not, follow Honda’s current design language. Yes, Honda is definitely proud of their H. Good for them, I say.

Oh yeah, big trunk, too. You totally didn’t hear it from me, but people are saying that an Accord Coupe can carry four 255/35R18 tires. Plus a bass guitar at the same time. You’ll need to use the back seat to fit in all of that stuff. Or so I hear.

Is this a 3 Series fighter? No, I don’t think so. They appeal to different types of people. For those who have always dug the Accord Coupe, though, you’ll be happy with this one.

Ed Higginbotham
PunchyWrench - Ed Higginbotham
UberDork

Just to be clear here, Coupe does not mean "sport." It isn't a sports car even though the V6 does pump out good power. It still drives like an accord.

Driving like an Accord is not a bad thing. All the controls are easy to use and laid out logically. It's a very driver-friendly car.

I get that there are people who like the Accord coupes, but to me it seems like a bit of a waste to have so much space in the back only to have to crawl in and out. That being said, space in the back seat is great. There's plenty of leg room for a tall person—more than can be said for most coupes. Speaking of space, the trunk is huge.

It's a good car, and will likely last you a very long time, but if you're looking for something sporty, you might want to go in a different direction.

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Comments
Kreb
Kreb GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
3/16/17 11:25 a.m.

OK, nice read, but vague. It's not an M3, but is it enjoyable to drive a backroad on, or does understeer make it a chore? Does it leave its comfort zone at 7/10ths or 9/10ths?

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/16/17 12:10 p.m.

Yeah, you push it, it's going to understeer. And get on the throttle too much, it torque steers. If you keep it within its limits, it's fine. Just remember that it has way more engine than chassis.

Klayfish
Klayfish UberDork
3/16/17 12:39 p.m.

I've always been a huge fan of the Accord coupe, still wish I had one. As I said in other threads about them, I think they compare favorably to a V6 Mustang. I'm talking DD use only...not hard track use or autox, but just fun commuting and occasional twisty road use. From that perspective, I think it slots nicely between the V6 Mustang and the Infinity G37 coupe (or whatever they call it now). Yeah, it's FWD, but as the review said, it's quick, smooth, handles pretty well, very comfy, huge back seat, huge trunk, unbreakable, good mpg. Hard to ask for more.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
3/16/17 10:17 p.m.
Klayfish wrote: I've always been a huge fan of the Accord coupe, still wish I had one. As I said in other threads about them, I think they compare favorably to a V6 Mustang. I'm talking DD use only...not hard track use or autox, but just fun commuting and occasional twisty road use. From that perspective, I think it slots nicely between the V6 Mustang and the Infinity G37 coupe (or whatever they call it now). Yeah, it's FWD, but as the review said, it's quick, smooth, handles pretty well, very comfy, huge back seat, huge trunk, unbreakable, good mpg. Hard to ask for more.

That's a good way of looking at it.

irish44j
irish44j UltimaDork
3/16/17 10:48 p.m.

So clarify....what is the "touring" part? It's a nice looking coupe for sure, but usually the touring moniker is applied to sportwagons or at least something like the Crosstour, or at least something with a hatchback, it seems. Or is that just a trim level for Honda?

Klayfish
Klayfish UberDork
3/17/17 5:49 a.m.

It's a trim level. They offer Touring packages on the Oddity for sure, and I believe the Pilot too.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
3/17/17 7:38 a.m.

I have always felt that the Accord Coupe would benefit greatly from an "Si" version. Consider the 2010 Coupe with the V6 against the new Civic TypeR:

2010 Accord Coupe
271bhp / 251 ft.lb.
3401 lbs
191"L x 73"W
108" wheelbase

2017 Civic Type R
306bhp / 295 ft.lb.
3000 lbs (est.)
182"L x 71"W
106" wheelbase

Talk to Brembo and Bilstien and you've got a pretty awesome sports car there!

mazdeuce
mazdeuce UltimaDork
3/17/17 8:50 a.m.
David S. Wallens wrote: Just remember that it has way more engine than chassis.

I've been eyeballing a four cylinder manual Accord sedan for just this reason. Yes it's slower, but I think the engine and chassis capabilities are closer to matching than the V6 cars. I'm also smitten with the design and visual details on the newest sedans. Don't know why, but they're head turners to me.

MadScientistMatt
MadScientistMatt PowerDork
3/17/17 9:08 a.m.
pinchvalve wrote: I have always felt that the Accord Coupe would benefit greatly from an "Si" version.

Wasn't that a Prelude?

This one looks a lot better than the previous "Angry Russet Potato" school of design that Accord coupes seem to have fallen into since the 2003 version.

Brian
Brian MegaDork
3/17/17 9:14 a.m.

In Hondas case, Touring is the current top trim. Big engine, auto only, all the electronic extras. Adaptive cruise and emergency auto stop doesn't play nice with manual gearboxes. I'll take an EX 6spd.

If you really wanted to get into a sporty Accord, find a '12 LX-S coupe with a manual. DWB front, well matched drivetrain for the chassis, and a nice mesh/micro suade interior.

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