Honda’s 2010 Accord Crosstour is part of an emerging automotive segment of vehicles that have the qualities of a station wagon, a utility vehicle and a minivan but can’t be categorized as either.
Like its cousin, the Acura ZDX, and the BMW X6, that arguable started it all, the Accord Crosstour is a fastback luxury tourer aimed at mature buyers with time, money and leisure on their minds.
Sit in the driver’s seat and any previous Honda owner will feel at home right down to the shape and feel of the steering wheel. Like a BMW, everything is where you expect to find it.
But there is also a big difference.
The Crosstour is more like the Acura with the use of premium quality materials such as wood trim separating the upper and lower, two-tone or monotone interior.
Seating is leather with surprising few options because most amenities like the 360-watt sound system with an array of speakers, USB device and MP3 jack, to name a few, are standard.
Because the sharp rearward rake of the back hatch appears to rob cargo room, Honda Canada officials made a big thing about capacity at the press launch.
Behind the 60/40 split/fold rear seat there are 728 litres with the cargo floor flat. Lift this up and there is a 54-litre bin concealed which has two, four-litre cubbies on each side. The floor panel is carpeted on one side and plastic on the other so it can be used to haul stuff like plants and soil and then be hosed off after use.
If they decided to go down a rutted cottage country path, the Accord Crosstour has all-wheel-drive (AWD) as an option.
There is one engine offered in the form of a 3.5-litre, SOHC V6 producing 271 hp and 254 lb/ft of torque.
It features Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management that lets it run on 3-4-6 cylinders for cruising efficiency, moderate power need, and full power needs respectively.
With the standard five-speed automatic transmission, fuel economy is rated at 11.5/7.2L/100 km city/highway for the front-wheel-drive version (FWD) and 12.3/8.0L/100 km city/highway for the AWD.
The Crosstour is fully fitted out with safety features like six airbags, active front seat headrests (which is crucial in my opinion), four-wheel disc brakes with ABS (with brake assist and electronic brake force distribution), tire pressure monitoring, and Honda Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control.
On the highway it feels solid, but not heavy. It tracks and sticks with the blend of handling and braking that keeps people coming back to buy another Honda.
Cruising long distances is what the Accord Crosstour is really good at, although it acquits itself just fine in urban settings.
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
Type: Crossover station wagon
Price: from $36,000 (estimate)
Engine: 3.5-litre SOHC, V6 (271 hp, 254 lb/ft)
Highlights
• Luxury look with Honda feel
• Solid on road
• AWD option
