Vehicle Tested
| 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L with Navigation
Base Price: $36,220
At-Tested Price: $37,000
Built in East Liberty, Ohio.
Options
None
Engine: 3.5-Liter V6
Transmission: Five-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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A decade ago it would be called a station wagon; today it's a crossover. Whatever the name, the Honda Accord Crosstour is aimed squarely at active families on the go. Available only as a four-door wagon, Crosstour fills a gap in Honda's lineup between the compact CR-V and the midsize Pilot. Though Crosstour most closely competes with the Toyota Venza, other competitors include the Chevrolet Equinox, Dodge Avenger, Ford Edge, Nissan Murano.
Crosstour shares more than just its name with the Accord. It rides on the same chassis and uses the same V6 engine. The main differences are styling, a higher ride height and the availability of all-wheel drive.
Two trim levels are offered, EX and EX-L. Both seat five on twin front buckets and a three-place fording rear bench, The EX is available only with front-wheel drive, while the EX-L is front drive or all-wheel drive. The all-wheel drive system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use.
Sole powertrain consists of a 271-horsepower V6 mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The V6 utilizes Honda's cylinder management deactivation that's designed to shut down three cylinders when coasting or cruising in an effort to save fuel.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, front-seat active head restraints, and dual-front, front-side and curtain-side airbags. A rear-view camera is included on EX-L models equipped with the navigation system. Park assist and blind-spot alert are not offered.
The EX lists for $29,670 and includes air conditioning with dual-zone automatic climate control, tilt and telescope steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, ten-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, four-way power passenger seat, center console, heated power mirrors, power windows, ower door locks, keyless entry, sunroof, AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer and digital media player connection, satellite radio, outside-temperature indicator, compass, variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, rear wiper/washer, automatic-off headlights, floormats , theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, fog lights, 225/65R17 tires and Alloy wheels.
The front-drive EX-L lists for $32,506 and the all-wheel-drive model lists for $36,220. The SX-L adds to the EX leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, heated front seats, memory system, tilt-down back-up aid outside mirrors, iPod adapter, Bluetooth cell-phone connection, universal garage door opener, automatic day/night rearview mirror, cargo cover, automatic headlights and 225/60R18 tires.
Available on the EX-L is a navigation package that adds $2200 and includes navigation system with voice recognition and real-time traffic information and rear-view camera. As per Honda practice, there are no factory-installed options offered on the Accord Crosstour. Crosstour is built in Ohio, and has a $780 destination charge.
Get Up and Go Crosstour comes to market with one of the smoothest and most-powerful V6 engines in the class. There's plenty of low-end grunt for stop-and-go commuting and strong highway passing power.
The five-speed automatic is down a gear to most crossover competitors. It's also not as smooth as you'd expect. There's a slight hesitation when shifting between first and second and slow speeds and a noticeable pause when downshifting for more power.
The all-wheel drive model is EPA rated at 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway and runs fine on regular-grade gasoline. Given that Crosstour is a Honda, those fuel economy numbers are also somewhat disappointing. Venza for example carries an 18 mpg city rating and the Chevrolet Equinox V6, which has considerably more cargo and passenger space has EPA numbers of 17 and 24.
Real-world commuting is likely to yield about 18 to 20 mpg, depending on the amount of highway driving that's included. Straight city driving drops the economy to about 16 mpg.
On the Road Crosstour is among the smoothest riding crossovers available. The suspension is supple enough to absorb large impacts yet firm enough to prevent wallowing on wavy roads. Occasionally a freeway expansion joint or deep pothole will ring through unfiltered, but that's the exception rather than the rule.
With a slightly elevated ride height, Crosstour doesn't feel as athletic as Accord, but is still quite lithe when tackling twisty roads. There's a little too much weight up front to call Crosstour athletic, but it does hold its own when cornering forces pick up. Brakes are excellent, but the steering seems a bit light.
Though the all-wheel drive system isn't designed for severe off road use, it does give Crosstour a leg up on conventional, front-drive station wagons. Though, for most Midwest buyers, front-drive and all-season tires are more than enough to tackle most on-road driving situations.
Accord Crosstour has more road noise than you'd expect--especially on concrete roads. The engine is quit when cruising and emits a refined growl in hard acceleration.
Behind the Wheel Like the Accord, Crosstour sports a functional and sport-themed interior. Materials are appropriate for the price and assembly quality is impressive. Opting for the EX-L brings an upscale flair.
Gauges are easy to read. As in upscale Acura vehicles, the Crosstour dash sports a dizzying array of buttons and switches. All are well marked and logically placed, but take some getting used to for easy operation. Available navigation system is one of the best in the business, but programming is difficult because of the jog-dial interface.
Front seats are firm though they offer enough support for long-trip comfort. Head and leg room are good. Driving position is ideal, but rearward visibility is severely compromised by the thick pillars and smallish rear window.
Rear seats are adult size and quite comfortable. Leg room is exceptional but head room only adequate. Sitting three across is quite possible, though there is a modest floor hump and the center console intrudes a bit.
Though the rakish roofline limits ultimate cargo capacity, there's still plenty of room behind the rear seats for a week's worth of groceries. Additionally, there are three under floor storage areas and the cargo-floor panels are reversible, so the carpeted surface can be swapped to washable plastic for hauling messy items. Rear seats fold in a snap to create a long and flat load floor. Interior storage is plentiful, highlighted by a large center console bin.
Bottom Line Accord Crosstour adds depth to the Accord lineup and fills a large void in Honda's U.S. offerings. The fact that it's an Accord at heart makes it all the more appealing to those looking for the utility of a wagon.
The only serious deficit is the high price of entry. The similar Toyota Venza, for example, starts at $26K and doesn't broach the $30K mark unless you load it up. Still, there's a lot to like with the Crosstour and that's reason enough to take one for a test drive.
Specifications, 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L AWD
| Dimensions
| 4-door wagon
| Engine
| DOHC V6
| Wheelbase, in.
| 110,1
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 3.5 / 144
| Length, in.
| 196.8
| Horsepower @ rpm
| 271 @ 6200
| Width, in.
| 74.7
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 254 @ 5000
| Height, in.
| 65.7
| Transmission
| 6-Speed Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 4070
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 17 city / 25 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 51.3
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 18.5
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 39.5
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 42.2
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 37.5
| Free Roadside Assistance
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 37.0
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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