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The 2012 Honda Crosstour, formerly called Accord Crosstour, shows a lot of promise as a family vehicle. The smooth hatchback design, taller body, and somewhat taller stance hint that there's more convenience and space within.
But the even if you are a fan of the butch-hatch styling, the Crosstour doesn't quite deliver the goods for an active family, so it gets a 7 out of 10 score at FamilyCarGuide. While we like its very carlike driving manners and reasonably good ride, its cargo space is a bit of a letdown and its safety performance hasn't been perfect.
The Crosstour is one of an increasing number of crossover wagons that offer a seating position that's higher than the typical sedan yet lower than a typical SUV; the Crosstour appeals to soon-arthritic Baby Boomers, though it could work well for a family.
But in execution, the Crosstour is a bit of a space oddity; you might expect a lot more of space in a vehicle that Honda is offering instead of an Accord Wagon. The back seat is tighter than you'd expect, and the downward-sloping roofline actually limits headroom for six-footers. But we do like the driving position a lot, and parents will find the slightly higher rear seat position to be helpful for getting the kids belted in. Cargo-wise, it's harder to forgive, as the low hatch glass, rather high cargo floor, and constraining strut towers limit the cargo area's usefulness, even when you fold down the back seats. But a sizable underfloor compartment is actually large enough for hiding a laptop case or small duffel.
Honda has made a few feature changes that do make the Crosstour more family-friendly for 2012. Bluetooth hands-free audio interface, USB audio connectivity, and a rearview camera system have been added to all Crosstour models—even the base Crosstour EX. And while all the safety content is here, the Crosstour gets an embarrassing 'marginal' score in the rollover-related roof-strength score from the IIHS—among so many crossover-wagon Top Safety Picks.
If you like the driving feel of Crosstour but can't get over some of its shortcomings, check out the Acura TSX Wagon; with much better gas mileage and better handling, the TSX feels like a missing (and luxurious) link in the Accord lineup.
For more about the Honda Crosstour, including related stories and highlights from other review sources, see The Car Connection's full review of the 2012 Honda Accord.
