Not unlike the masses of SUVs that emerged 15 years ago to answer the demand for something new, the crossover segment has models emerging from every crack in the pavement. Welcome the newest crossover to emerge: the Honda Crosstour.
If you looked at the Honda lineup last year, there was a glaring gap between the popular CR-V and the larger Pilot SUV. The all-new Crosstour is a raised wagonlike crossover based on the Accord that should do well competing with the like-minded Toyota Venza.
The Crosstour, priced at $29,670 for the two-wheel-drive EX trim, climbs up to $36,220 for the top-of-the-line fourwheel-drive EX-L with navigation. This crossover offers all the expected comfort of its brethren Accord while delivering some impressive utility space and the convenience of a hatchback. Sure, it has some traces of station wagon in its gene pool, but you have heard it a million times here: The new crossovers are totally not your dad's wagon.
The new-age Crosstour wagon is a hybrid of outstanding sedan characteristics with impressive versatility. This Honda crossover sits on 18-inch alloy rims and it gets a 6-inch lift to deliver extra ground clearance. I drove the Crosstour during one of Chicago's worst snow storms of the year and it performed admirably in horrible road conditions.
My first impression of the Crosstour's exterior was that it looked a bit awkward.
But I found myself warming up to it as I drove it throughout the week. I really do like crossover styling in general, and if you look at the front half of the Crosstour it looks like a sedan with an attractive, even athletic, stance. Meanwhile, the rear seems to me to be conveniently completed by a rounded enclosure that had little to offer in excitement. The Crosstour's most dramatic styling cue is the diving roofline just south of the B-pillar.
Overall, popular opinion held me in the minority on the exterior styling. People really liked the Crosstour from the get-go and that was before they got to the best part - the cabin.
I tested the 4WD EX-L. As the loftier trim level, it was bothersome to not have an in-cabin release for the hatch. I had to go around to the rear of the vehicle to manually release the hatch door. This Crosstour really needs a power hatch door, especially at a price tag north of $30,000.
My Crosstour EX-L tester featured fine leather-trimmed surfaces, heated front seats, heated side-view mirrors with reverse tilt and an easy-to-use navigation system with backup camera tire-track guidance.
Standard safety includes electronic stability control with antilock braking system/traction control and six airbags.
Something I noticed with the Crosstour, as opposed to larger SUVs, is that I have become accustomed to relying on the backup camera. At first it was just a toy, an impressive tech option that still had me all over my mirrors. Lately, though, having driven more and more vehicles with backup cameras, I must admit, at least for sedans and the smaller crossovers, I like this feature more each time I use it.
Front-row comfort for the driver comes via a 10-way adjustable power seat; front passengers get a four-way adjustable power seat. The second-row seats offer a flip-and-fold movement that is activated by pulling on levers on both sides of the interior cargo walls. The 60/40 second-row seats will flip forward to increase access to the rear and dramatically increase utility space.
The Crosstour has serious cargo space measuring 56 inches wide by 42 inches long. Another impressive feature was the hidden removable utility box that is recessed into the floor and offers a convenient way to store or move items.
The Accord Crosstour offers both a 2.4-liter I-4 (177 horsepower) and the engine in my tester, the 24-valve single overhead cam 3.6-liter V-6. The V-6, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, delivers 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque.
The 4WD model gets fuel economy ratings of 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway; the 2WD gets 18/27 mpg. The V-6 engine features variable cylinder management technology to assist with fuel efficiency; cylinders within the engine will shut down when not needed.
Overall, the Crosstour seems to be headed for open arms among consumers.
People like the unique styling and certainly the Accord platform is one that is reliable and a big selling point.
2010 HONDA ACCORD CROSSTOUR EX-LENGINE: 271-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6
TRANSMISSION: five-speed automatic
DRIVETRAIN: four-wheel drive
FUEL ECONOMY: 17 city/25 highway
BASE PRICE: $36,220
www.Honda.com