Overview & Reviews

Over eight generations, the Honda Accord has morphed from a spunky compact hatchback into a critically acclaimed, best-selling midsize sedan. Along the way it's also managed to spin off coupe, wagon and hybrid-powered variants. More recently, Honda took the opportunity to catch the burgeoning fastback crossover wave with a novel Accord-based offering called the Accord Crosstour.

The Crosstour is a wagonlike conveyance that features increased ride height, extra room out back and available all-wheel drive (AWD). But despite its expanded cargo area relative to the Accord, the Crosstour delivers considerably less cargo space than most rivals. If you like the Accord sedan but need more space or all-wheel drive, the composed and carlike Honda Accord Crosstour is worth checking out. But if you aren't sold on the design or don't carry lots of stuff, there are better crossovers to consider.

Most Recent Honda Accord Crosstour
Note: After just two years of marketing this model as the Accord Crosstour, Honda renamed it just "Crosstour" for the 2012 model year. It's the same car, however, and a review of the 2012-and-up Crosstour can be found here.

The Honda Accord Crosstour was produced for 2010 and 2011. Two upscale trim levels of this crossover wagon were offered -- EX and EX-L. The EX came with a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats, a 60/40-split-folding rear seat and a six-CD changer. The EX-L added bigger wheels, leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth and premium audio. A navigation system with voice activation and a back-up camera was the only option, and it was only available on the EX-L.

The Accord Crosstour was front-wheel drive by default, with all-wheel drive an option on the EX-L only. All Accord Crosstours were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 271 horsepower. A five-speed automatic was the sole available transmission. In performance testing, a front-wheel-drive Crosstour went from zero to 60 mph in a class-competitive 7.5 seconds.

In reviews, we noted that while overall acceleration was adequate, off-the-mark performance was a little soft due to a lack of torque. Also, the transmission was reluctant to downshift at highway speeds. But despite the Crosstour's elevated center of gravity and extra 300 pounds compared to the Accord sedan, it was still pleasant to drive, with predictable steering and composed handling. The Crosstour's cabin was actually quieter over the road than the sedan's, a welcome upgrade.

Those familiar with the Accord sedan of the same time period will feel right at home in the Crosstour's cabin. The center stack had an attractive high-tech appearance, though an abundance of similar-looking buttons made it look overly busy. The optional navigation system only added to the clutter, but it was easy to operate using voice commands and the multipurpose controller. The Honda Accord Crosstour's sloping roof line ate into rear cargo space -- there was only a bit over 51 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded -- though rear passengers enjoyed ample leg- and headroom.

User Reviews:

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  Frustrated and Disappointed!! - 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
  By WR - May 22 - 4:48 am

  The VCM system is a disaster. I have 2010 accord crosstour with cylinder misfire, oil consumption, and fouled plugs. While driving to work, I experienced a loss of power and check engine light came on. I limped to a local garage that services asian vehicles. He read the code (misfire cylinder 1), pulled the plug (fouled), and checked oil (2.25 quarts low). Within 10 minutes he diagnosed the problem and told me there was a class action lawsuit forcing Honda to extend the warranty for this condition. Great I will visit the local Honda Dealership. Upon arriving I spoke with the service manager, explained the situation and he was well aware of the issue but wouldnt do anything because the code had to be read at the dealership with their equipment (code had been cleared by previous mechanic). I called Hondas corporate office and spoke with a representative and the response was the same: must read code at the dealership. Wow! How could I possibly benefit from fixing this issue (I felt like I had done something wrong). This issue has been known by Honda and it took losing a law suit for a resolution (which is difficult - hopefully breakdown occurs near a dealership) to be reached. I feel the company is chasing the bottom dollar and the customer is 2nd. My question: if this were the 1st vehicle Honda had built, where would this company be today? The representative I spoke with said she would make note - what does that even mean? She told me I could submit a request for reimbursement of my costs from the previous shop (would I really be reimbursed after experiencing the above behavior). This is not about the $70 I spent, it is about doing the RIGHT thing. Sincerely, Frustrated and Disappointed!!