2010 Honda Crosstour
A New Kind of Crossover
A new kind of Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) has emerged recently. These cars are tall like other CUVs, but feature a fastback roofline. The BMW X6 is an example of one—the new Honda Crosstour is another. These vehicles are more substantial than a sedan, but are less bulky-looking than a typical SUV.
Honda drew a torrent of criticism from Facebook viewers when pictures of the Crosstour were first released. However, pictures don’t do this car justice—it’s very appealing when seen in the flesh. For those used to the Honda Accord sedan, it does seem big. And in fact, it is a couple of inches longer and wider, but mainly it is a lot taller—8.1 inches taller. Part of the height increase is due larger wheels and added road clearance.
A strong, almost truck-like grille, highlights the styling. Upsweeping character lines on the flanks conveys a sense of motion, and a recessed hatchback, with an integrated rear spoiler, softens the view of the Crosstour’s sizeable backside. Also of note are the fine lines on the rocker panels, which create a visual hint of running boards.
The interior of my test car featured warm, cream colored upholstery, with handsome leather-clad seats. The top of the dash and the upper door panels were done in contrasting black, which made for a pleasing combination. The dash itself is a smart-looking two-tier design, whose only flaw is that the audio and climate controls are crowded too closely together.
The cabin is spacious—six-footers have plenty of headroom, front and back. A large hatchback door opens up to 26-cu.-ft. of storage space in the rear—nearly twice the trunk space of an Accord sedan. Under the floor, there’s a removable plastic storage bin that can conceal valuables, or hold wet boots from a skiing trip.
Honda powers the Crosstour with its 3.5-liter, 271-hp, V-6. This engine pulls strongly, and delivers a throaty growl when you hit the gas, but is otherwise very quiet when cruising. The V-6 averages 21-23 mpg, which is only slightly less than a standard Accord, although this car is 300 lbs. heavier. Honda accomplishes this trick by using its Variable Cylinder Management system, which enables the Crosstour to run on three or four cylinders while cruising. The transition back and forth is virtually seamless.
Honda teams the V-6 with a five-speed automatic transmission that clicks off crisp shifts, and features a “gear-hold” function, which senses when you are cornering, and keeps the transmission in the same gear to maintain maximum grip. The Crosstour is available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
The Crossover is not as nimble as a typical Accord, but it does a credible job out on the road. Although the steering is light and a little remote, the Crosstour displays impressive poise negotiating turns with very little body-lean. The view to the rear through the split glass hatch is limited, but a rearview camera comes to the rescue when you engage reverse. The Crosstour is comfortable, even on bumpy roads. Its ride is compliant,yet well controlled. And on the highway, it’s a terrific all-day cruiser.
The base price for the Honda Crosstour is $30,380. My front-wheel drive test car with leather and a navigation system had an MSRP of $35,480. Honda expects the Crosstour to appeal mainly to empty nesters, but I’ll bet that it will attract a much broader audience.
Snapshot Review:
Innovative Styling
Roomy Cabin
Decent Handling
Good Ride
