That’s an unfortunate first impression really, because in my week spent with the CrossTour, I was quite enamoured with its combination of easy driving manners, comfortable cabin, generous cargo utility, and all-weather capability. This is a vehicle for someone who wants a mid-size V6 sedan, but also needs the winter traction of all-wheel drive, and the cargo room of a hatchback. If you like the styling, or can at least overlook what you don’t like, there’s a lot to recommend the CrossTour.
Another positive point is a recent price-drop. 2011 Accord CrossTour FWD models start at $34,900, down from $36,450 in 2010. 2011 4WD models (all-wheel drive) are now $36,900, down from $38,450 last year. And top of the line 4WD models with Navigation are now $38,900, down from $40,450. As of this writing, 2012 Accord CrossTour MSRPs had not been announced but as there are no major changes for the 2012 CrossTour, it’s not likely prices will increase; particularly as the CrossTour’s nemesis at Toyota, the Venza, is priced considerably lower starting at $30,800.
Standard features
The CrossTour only comes in the top EX-L trim line with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, five-speed automatic transmission and a host of standard features including leather seats. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. A navigation system is optional on the top model.
The Honda Accord CrossTour is a bit of an odd duck. Part car, part utility vehicle, the CrossTour combines, or at least attempts to combine, the performance, comfort and driving manners of a car, the stylishness of a fastback, the utility of a hatchback/wagon, and the all-weather capability of a sport utility vehicle.
To a point, it does this successfully, but there are limitations to combining vehicle types: for example, its sloping fastback design isn’t as space-efficient as a wagon; and its tall hatchback design with a high ground clearance and a high centre of gravity isn’t capable of handling as well as a standard sedan.
As well, in Honda’s attempt to combine the stylishness of a fastback, the utility of a wagon and the toughness of an SUV, the CrossTour’s styling could be described as an uneasy mix of competing body styles: its tall nose, bold grille and high ground clearance seem to be at odds with its sweeping profile and wide stance.
It would be nice if the CrossTour were available in a lower trim level with Honda’s 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine – that might shave $5,000 off the price – but it’s not.
Standard features include 18-inch all-season tires and alloy wheels, front fog lights, automatic headlamps, power-folding heated mirrors, leather seats, power heated front seats, driver’s side memory, 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks with pass-through, dual-zone automatic climate control, premium six-CD/MP3 stereo with auxiliary, USB input and XM satellite radio, Bluetooth hands-free phone, tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, power sunroof, variable intermittent front wipers and intermittent rear wiper/washer, rear privacy glass, active noise cancellation, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rear cargo cover, compass, outside temperature display, garage door opener, keyless entry, auto up/down front windows, cruise control, floor mats. 2012 models add a rearview camera in the rearview mirror.
Interior impressions
Our test car was the top dog EX-L 4WD Navi model which includes a large colour screen buried deep in the upper instrument panel (to reduce glare) that displays navigation, audio, climate and driver information functions as well as a rear view when the transmission is put into Reverse gear. Scrolling between the functions is accomplished by turning, pushing, pulling and manhandling the extra large, and rather rude knob protruding out of the centre of the dash.
In general, I found the CrossTour’s cabin comfortable, luxurious and surprisingly spacious. You would expect the sloping roofline to hinder rear headroom, but there is sufficient headroom for adults of average height, and the sloping roofline doesn’t seem to hinder entering and exiting the rear seats either, in part because of an indented ceiling header. Rear legroom and hip room is also good for two adults, three in a squeeze.
According to Honda’s tech specs, the CrossTour FWD has more interior passenger volume than the Accord sedan, but the CrossTour 4WD has slightly less. In addition, the CrossTour FWD has 11 mm more rear legroom than the CrossTour 4WD. I’m not sure why this is, but it must have something to do with the all-wheel drive hardware.
The CrossTour’s front buckets are wide and supportive with driver’s power lumbar, recline, and height adjustments and two-position memory. Front passengers get power fore-aft and manual recline and no lumbar. Both front seats have Hi-Lo seat heaters, an absolute necessity for leather seats during Canadian winters!
Both doors and the centre armrest are padded for comfort and the leather-wrapped steering wheel tilts and telescopes. The driver has a large dead pedal to rest their left foot.
Our test car had attractive ivory coloured seats and lower dash, with a dark upper dash and doors separated by a tasteful strip of burl walnut trim. Wisely, Honda chose to go with black carpeting rather than ivory. Note that the ivory interior is only available in AWD models. Other available combinations are white/black, silver/black, polished metal/black, black/black, black/ivory (AWD only) and opal sage metallic/black.
CrossTours equipped with the navigation system also include a trip computer that displays useful information in the large screen, such as instant fuel economy, average fuel consumption, elapsed time, and range; you can also access a calendar, calculator, and Zagat ratings for hotels and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
Below the large screen is a smaller, narrow screen with bright white on black numerals displaying driver and passenger temperature settings, radio channel, time, fan speed and ventilation functions. When the navigation screen is being used to display a map, this smaller screen is handy for checking audio and climate functions without having to switch the big screen over.
Storage locations in the CrossTour are limited: in addition to the centre storage box under the armrest, there are two small lidded bins and a 12-volt powerpoint in front of the shift lever, a passenger glovebox, four door pockets, and two map pockets on the back of the front seats. Front passengers have two covered cupholders with flexible cup grippers between the front seats, and rear passengers have two cupholders in the fold-down centre rear armrest.
Of course, the CrossTour has plenty of storage room in the cargo area. Cargo volume behind the rear seats is 728 litres (25.7 cu. ft.) compared to 397 litres (14.0 cu. ft.) in the Accord sedan. With the big hatchback raised, the cargo opening is large and the rear hatch door reaches right down to the bumper height for a low liftover height. With the split rear seatbacks folded down, the cargo area is ideal for long objects like skis, however, the width of the cargo area is limited by the two strut towers for the independent rear suspension: it’s not designed for four by eight sheets of plywood. As well, though the floor is carpeted, the walls are made of soft plastic. A neat feature is a large, removeable, plastic storage box beneath the cargo floor, great for drinks, groceries or valuables you want to keep hidden.
Driving impressions
Honda’s 3.5-litre SOHC 24-valve i-VTEC V6 is one of the sweetest and smoothest six-cylinder engines you’ll find in the mid-size sedan class, and it happily revs to 6,200 rpm, where it develops maximum horsepower of 271, while maximum torque of 254 lb.-ft. comes in at 5,000 rpm. This engine also features Honda’s Advanced Variable Cylinder Management, a fancy term for automatic cylinder de-activation when the engine is under a light load. This engine can operate on three, four or six cylinders, depending on conditions, and it’s almost imperceptible from the driver’s seat.
Still, the CrossTour’s official fuel economy ratings of (City/Hwy) 11.5/7.2 (FWD) and 12.3/8.0 (4WD), are higher than the standard Accord sedan’s 11.0/6.7. That’s mostly because the CrossTour FWD is 118 kg (260 lb) heavier, and the CrossTour 4WD adds another 90 kg (198 lb) to that.
In a mix of city and highway driving, my onboard fuel consumption display showed an average of 10.2 L/100 km (28 mpg Imp.), but that was during dry, sunny weather; I could see this going up by two or three L/100 km in city traffic and winter weather. The CrossTour V6 uses regular grade gasoline.
The standard five-speed automatic transmission is quick, responsive and smooth, and in top gear, the engine purrs along at just 2,000 r.p.m. at 100 km/h. This transmission does not include a manual shift capability, but it does have a “grade-logic” feature which automatically gears down on downhill slopes when the brake pedal is applied and remains in a lower gear when ascending a hill.
Interestingly, Consumer Reports acceleration tests indicate that the CrossTour is no slower than the Accord sedan. The 0 to 60 mph times of the Accord EX-L sedan and Accord CrossTour EX-L FWD models are both just 7.4 seconds – that’s quick!
Where they differ is in handling at the limit. Because of the CrossTour’s higher ground clearance and taller body, there is considerably more lean during high speed cornering. But realistically, most CrossTour drivers won’t be driving it like a racing car. In every day driving, I found that it handles surprisingly well, with quick easy steering, powerful brakes, and excellent body control. Downsides include a turning circle that is rather wide and rear visibility when changing lanes that’s hindered by a thick pillar. Fortunately, the upper rear window has an intermittent wiper and washer, and the lower vertical window helps when backing into a parking space. As well, the rearview camera (standard for 2012) makes parking much easier.
Honda’s “Real-time 4WD” all-wheel drive system operates invisibly. Using dual hydraulic pumps, it automatically transfers torque from the front wheels to the rear wheels when slippage is detected. This is not as sophisticated a system as full-time AWD systems like those used by Subaru and Audi, but it does provide more traction and stability on icy or snow-covered roads, or gravel roads. As well, the CrossTour has 205 mm (8.0 in.) of ground clearance compared to the Accord sedan’s 114 mm (4.5 in.) making it more versatile in deep snow or back country roads.
The CrossTour EX-L 4WD has few comparable competitors, but the most likely are the Toyota Venza V6 AWD ($32,250), Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited ($38,495), and the Ford Flex Limited AWD ($43,199). The Venza and Outback have the advantage of the availability of four-cylinder engines in a lower trim level at a lower price; and the Venza and Flex offer a third row of seats which the CrossTour does not. But in terms of styling, they’re more like wagons than fastbacks, leaving the CrossTour in its own unique styling niche.
Verdict
If you can get past its segment-defying styling, the Accord CrossTour 4WD is a great combination of car-like driveability and comfort, all-weather traction, and hatchback utility. But it’s only available in the top EX-L V6 trim level.
