The Honda Accord has been a bulletproof family car benchmark for over a generation. Well, now Honda infuses their line-up with a serious dose of modern versatility with the Accord Crosstour. Crosstour is their take on the swoopy five-door coupe-like crossover that’s a current styling trend. So, let’s see if the Crosstour deserves to be called Accord.
The 2010 Honda Crosstour is just the latest super-slick five-door utility to invade the crossover market. BMW started it all with the X6, followed by the Toyota Venza, and most recently the Acura ZDX. So, now it’s Honda’s turn to go after a piece of this reformulated hatchback pie. But don’t be confused-the Crosstour is not a rebodied Acura ZDX. The ZDX is based on Honda’s truck chassis, while the Crosstour has genuine Accord DNA.
Crosstour’s wheelbase is virtually the same as the Accord sedan, with less than 3 inches extra length. But styling is a major departure from the mainstream Accord. The Crosstour’s thick-faced front-end is aggressive and polarizing, headlighted by a big, blunt grille.
From side view, the Crosstour’s short glass, high beltline, and fast roof give it a muscular and hunkered down look. Dental-trimmed rocker panels add lots of styling activity to the lower body. The cinched back end’s boat-tail shape features a dual-glass rear hatch, a la Insight, and dual chrome exhaust outlets. With premium EX trim for starters, all Crosstours ride on either 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels.
But the 5-seat Crosstour’s interior styling carries over from the Accord with few changes. The upswept dash and smart, intuitive layout add unique blue gauge needles inside chrome rings, and premium woody dash and door trim.
The standard dual-zone automatic climate includes a new low humidity sensor that cycles the air conditioning to save fuel.
Seats are supportive, with standard 10-way power for the driver, 4-way power for the front passenger. Our EX-L adds leather, memory, and heat. Steering wheel controls for audio and climate are standard. Navigation adds switchgear for GPS and Bluetooth. The Nav screen itself sits atop the many-buttoned center stack where it also services the back-up camera.
Caring for the family includes six airbags, and a back seat that is ample for a pretty big trio. But, compared to the rival Toyota Venza, it comes up short in rear head, leg, and shoulder room. There is a fold-down armrest and the seatbacks are split 60/40. Each section quickly folds by release levers just inside the hatch.
Indeed, cargo management is a Crosstour strong suit. The cargo lip is low for easy loading and, seats down, the cargo floor is long and inviting. While Crosstour’s maximum cargo volume is well short of Venza’s, it’s still a useful 51.3 cubic feet. The rear cargo floor is also reversible for carrying nastier items. And putting the spare tire under the chassis makes way for a deep under-floor removable tray.
The Crosstour is powered by Accord’s 3.5-liter V6 with 271 horsepower and 254 pound-feet of torque, tied to a front-drive 5-speed automatic. Our car’s optional-single speed four-wheel drive system is borrowed from the CR-V. Out on the roads, the Crosstour feels strong from a standstill, with ample acceleration overall.
Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the Crosstour peak at a respectable 18 city/27 highway on regular gas.
Suspension design is also akin to the Accord-double-wishbone front and multi-link rear-but beefed up to carry the Crosstour’s extra 300 pounds of weight.
The front dampers add rebound springs to help roll control. Stability control is standard and the all-disc ABS brakes are upgraded with dual-piston front calipers. So, the driving experience is a solid one. It’s an agile handler that basically feels like a heavy Accord. The ride is smooth and comfortable, though slightly harsher than the sedan. Compared to the softer Venza, the Crosstour is more responsive and fun to drive.
Pricewise, the base Crosstour starts at $30,380. The uplevel EX-L with four-wheel drive stickers at $34,730. That sets the Accord flagship a couple of grand above a comparable Venza.
Honda calls the Crosstour a “modern crossover.” And it certainly is a rock-solid attempt at being a progressive blend of car and utility. Now, there’s always going to be trade-offs. But for Accord fans who want a good measure more versatility than what a sedan can offer, and like leading-edge styling, the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is just the right idea.
Specifications
- Engine: 3.5-Liter V6
- Horsepower: 271
- Torque: 254 Lb Feet
- EPA: 18 MPG City/ 27 MPG Highway
Long Term Updates
Mileage: n/aWhile I can’t say we are passionate about our Honda Accord Crosstour, we do appreciate its value as one of the most versatile crossover vehicles around.
While Crosstour’s slick, 5-door shape tries to hide its flexibility, you only have to open the hatch, and attempt to top off the unusually deep cargo bay, to realize the intelligence of the design.
Plus, you get all the comforts and security of a Honda Accord, and that’s no small thing.
The 271-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 delivers plenty of power, and fuel economy has even ticked up to 20.9 miles per gallon of regular. And, it’s so quiet on the highway.
We like our EX-L’s tilt-down mirrors for backing. And controls in general feel expansive with just the right resistance. The intermittent Cruise Control was fixed, and no other problems have arisen.
So, while it’s no RV, the Honda Accord Crosstour still makes a great vacation, and all-around companion.
Mileage: 7,000Few mainstream cars evoke as much “What is it?” as our long-term Honda Accord Crosstour. Most gawkers are surprised that normally conservative Honda would launch a steroidal, coupe-shaped five-door.
But, this swoopy crossover is proving its merit with us. The Crosstour has a deceptively large cargo bay, some 51.3 cubic feet with all seats down. The rear cargo floor is very low, thanks to mounting the spare under the car.
Our Crosstour EX-L’s 5-passenger interior is just as roomy for people as cargo, with rear seat headroom not the issue, as it is in some other swoop-roofed crossovers.
All Crosstours are equipped with Honda’s robust 271-horsepower 3.5-liter V6. It includes cylinder cutoff and, after 3 months, and nearly 7,000 miles is delivering a respectable 21.6 miles per gallon of regular. On par with other mid-size crossover utilities.
During late winter snows, our car’s all-wheel drive system managed fine, but if we lived in a more northern climate, we’d switch OUR Crosstour to more aggressive tires.
Mileage: 15,300We think this Honda Accord Crosstour is a great alternative to the boxy crossover utility.
This versatile vehicle certainly isn’t square, although not everyone warms to the oversized grille and boat-tail-like 5-door profile.
With the spare tire tucked underneath, though, the cargo bay is deep and long.
Passengers fare well, too, since the Crosstour takes the idea of a premium Accord to a new level.
It’s a great ride for a long trip. Tires aren’t the grippiest, but braking is solid.
The 3.5-liter V6 delivers plenty of power. And after 10 months and 15,300 miles, fuel economy is stable at 20.6 miles per gallon of regular.
Early on we had problems with an intermittent Cruise Control, but since then, our CrossTour has been trouble-free.
Mileage: 16,300If you’ve been following our long-term tests over the last year, you know that we have something of a love-hate relationship with this 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour.
We love its usefulness. It’s a clever alternative to just another crossover. We also give high marks to its premium level comfort, strong V6 all-wheel drive powertrain, and deep cargo bay.
The hates, really, are more like gripes. This big grille, boat-tail five-door will never win any beauty contests. And, the price you pay for lots of cargo room is a spare tire under the rear that’s always messy.
We’re neutral on fuel economy. After 12 months and 16,300 miles, 20.4 miles per gallon of regular is about the crossover norm.
The only problem we had was an intermittent Cruise Control. But, for the last 10,000 miles, our CrossTour has been flawless. And, that, in the end, is the thing we love about the Honda CrossTour the most.
Mileage: 19,000We end a year with one of the most polarizing vehicles we’ve ever had in our long term fleet, the Honda Accord Crosstour.
That’s mostly due to its overly bold face. On the other hand, its sleek five-door profile cleverly hides a very comfortable five-place interior and surprisingly large cargo bay. Honda managed that by hanging the spare tire under the chassis. A neat trick, but it does get dirty.
After nearly 19,000 miles, fuel economy stands at 20.6 per gallon of regular, or about what the government says to expect in mixed driving. Highway ride is excellent as the Crosstour is a great cross country tourer. But, in towns, a 40-foot turning diameter impedes maneuverability.
Early on we had an intermittent Cruise Control, and the Blue Tooth system is too fussy. But, that’s it for problems.
So, despite appearances, we think the Honda Accord Crosstour is very well executed, and a creative choice for larger hauling needs.
