2012 Honda Crosstour - Review

The Basics:

The Honda Crosstour, also sometimes called the Honda Accord Crosstour, is a really polarizing vehicle. At first sight, you're likely to either pronounce your love, or give a puzzled shrug of distaste.

Underneath, the Crosstour has components that are mostly shared with the V-6 Honda Accord Sedan, but much of the rest is very different. For starters, the Crosstour is taller, rides higher, and is quite a bit heavier; and its hatchback body style, at least at first look, teases a lot more utility and versatility than Accord Sedans.

With respect to seating, the Crosstour has a second chance to earn your appreciation, even if you're not a convert to its pumped-up-hatch styling ethos. The Crosstour rides a couple of inches higher than the Accord Sedan yet is 7.6 inches taller—which should, in theory, make the interior a more pleasant place. It is easier to get into and out of, but the downward slope of its roofline, as well as the fact that it curves inward, makes headroom a potential issue for six-footers in back. Cargo-wise, it's not a great situation either; between the strut towers, the higher-than-expected cargo floor, and the low glass, the space isn't all that useful. Backseats to flip forward, though.

At a whopping 650 pounds heavier than a base Accord Sedan, the Crosstour's heft is impossible to disguise. You feel it in stop-and-go driving, and all the nimble feel of the Accord Sedan is missing here. Gas mileage is also much lower—just 17/25 mpg with available all-wheel drive.

The 2012 Honda Crosstour comes equipped as well as an Accord V-6, and then some. A 360-watt sound system and dual-zone climate control are standard. And this year it's a better value with the addition of standard USB connectivity, Bluetooth hands-free, and a rear-view camera system. That rear camera will come in handy for shorter drivers, though taller ones will find visibility okay, thanks to the small, Insight-like rear window at the back. Honda has also adjusted a couple of its exterior paint hues for 2012.

For more, see either this review of the 2010 Honda Crosstour, or the full review of the 2012 Honda Accord Sedan.