Just In: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
The Crosstour’s debut has been anything but quiet, with nearly universal distain for the car’s styling on Internet forums and a mini-Facebook controversy. (Then again, it can be argued that any publicity is good publicity, except if you’re Tiger Woods right now.) Of course, Internet comments don’t always come necessarily from buyers. So who does […]
The Crosstour’s debut has been anything but quiet, with nearly universal distain for the car’s styling on Internet forums and a mini-Facebook controversy. (Then again, it can be argued that any publicity is good publicity, except if you’re Tiger Woods right now.)
Of course, Internet comments don’t always come necessarily from buyers. So who does Honda think will buy the Crosstour? After all, this is something of a niche vehicle. Not surprisingly, quite a few slides a Honda media presentation for the Crosstour were dedicated to demographics and explaining the Crosstour’s unique market positioning. If you stay awake through all of those slides, it becomes apparent that Honda thinks there are plenty of baby boomers who are prime buyers for the Crosstour.
Our decidedly non-scientific experience with the car shows that Honda might be on to something. Viewing the car in the real world generates a different response than the online negativity. While out and about with the Crosstour, we’ve heard quite a few positive comments about the styling and not just from the target demographic.
Still, there is plenty of divergent opinion about the Crosstour among our staff. Some of us view the car as a competitor for a made-for-a-long-trip large sedan with the added benefit of more cargo flexibility. Others of us wish that Honda had simply built an Accord wagon (like the upcoming Acura TSX wagon), with the better cargo volume and driver visibility that a more conventional wagon greenhouse would have allowed.
We bought an Accord Crosstour EX-L with all-wheel drive. Our car stickered for $34,730. Given the somewhat upscale intentions of the Crosstour, we’re a bit surprised to find no fuel economy/distance to empty readout or backup camera (which it really needs) for that price.
First impressions: This is indeed a comfortable road trip “tourer.” Road noise is reduced from the Accord sedan, impressive given the open cargo area in back. But the Prius-like split rear window and sloping roof line do restrict visibility out back. The hidden lift-out cargo box in the floor is clever and useful, a nice touch.
We’ll let you know more as we “active”-ly put a few “grand” in miles on this “tourer.”
V-6 Exhilaration
A 271-hp 3.5-liter V-6 utilizes i-VTEC® for abundant power and efficiency[1] at all engine speeds, while the latest generation of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) activates the engine’s cylinders as needed, providing both brisk acceleration and fuel savings[1].
A Good Grip
You will welcome the added confidence of available 4WD when taking your Crosstour through snowy, wet or other tricky terrain.
Enhanced Handling
The Accord Crosstour’s innovative shifting feature knows when you’re taking a curve, and will hold your gear so you can accelerate through the turn without an unwanted upshift or downshift.
[1] 18 city/27 highway/21 combined mpg for 2WD models. 17 city/25 highway/20 combined mpg for 4WD models. Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
Pack It All In
The sloping rear tailgate opens to reveal a spacious, 25.7 cu ft of cargo space. Fold the rear seats down for even more—51.3 cubic feet, to be exact.
Configurable Seating
The easy fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback is spring-activated, and levers can easily be accessed from either the rear door or through the cargo area.
More Storage
Located under the cargo floor is a hidden, removable utility box. It’s water-resistant and just right for stashing your stuff.
Turn It Inside Out
The carpeted floor panels of the cargo area are reversible, with a durable surface that makes clean-up easy.
[1] The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on EX-L models in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
Active Systems: Control
To help keep you on course and away from danger, Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) helps sense oversteer or understeer in an emergency situation, and then adjusts brake pressure at each wheel and/or reduces engine power to help restore driver control. Standard 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), help you maintain control during hard braking. Properly inflated tires are crucial for safe operation, so the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)[2] alerts the driver when a tire’s pressure reaches a significantly low level.
Passive Systems: Protection
The Crosstour has been engineered to help protect you and your passengers when a collision just cannot be avoided. The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure disperses frontal crash energy over a wide area, helping to keep it away from passengers.
Airbags and More
Standard front, front side and side curtain airbags with rollover sensor help reduce the likelihood of injuries in a collision. Driver’s and front passenger’s active head restraints help reduce the likelihood of whiplash injuries in a sufficient rear impact.
Honda’s Safety Philosophy
Honda is committed to providing safety for everyone—that means crash protection not only for our own drivers and passengers, but also for other vehicle occupants, and injury mitigation for pedestrians. We are dedicated to identifying and implementing advanced designs and features that help enhance the safety of vehicles on the road. Learn more.
[1] The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on EX-L models in the United States, except Alaska. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
[2] For optimal tire wear and performance, tire pressure should be checked regularly with a gauge. Do not rely solely on the monitor system. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
Standard Audio System Features For Crosstour
[1] The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
[2] Required XM Radio subscription sold separately after 90-day trial period. Subscriptions are governed by the XM Customer Agreement available at xmradio.com/serviceterms. Other fees and taxes apply after trial period; see XM Customer Agreement for details. Fees and programming subject to change. Service not available in Canada, Alaska, or Hawaii. © 2009 SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. SIRIUS, XM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SIRIUS XM Radio Inc. and its subsidiaries.