Vehicle: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L 4WD Navi
Price as tested: CDN$40450

Performance: Considering the Crosstour weights at 2 tons, it doesn’t come as a surprise its lack of a 4-cylinder available. That’s despite the fact that Honda’s 2.4 liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder has more than enough to move Crosstour off adequately with 200 ponies. With the only availability of 3.5 liter SOHC V6 with i-VTEC variable valve timing technology, it certainly able to move Crosstour willingly if not breathtakingly with 271 hp and 254 lb/ft of torque. As one expects from Honda, the powertrain is silky smooth with exceptional refinement and flexability. Something the world’s best engine builder that has been well-known for years. Its not only the bottom end is willing to pick-up swiftly, both mid and upper ranges are very willing and eager as with all Honda engines. 5-speed automatic is the only gearbox available with the Crosstour. The gear ratios are well-spaced, both up and downshifts are coordinated without any drama. The 5th gear is tall enough to give Crosstour a great highway cruising ability for its purpose. What it lacks is the manumatic mode.

Handling: Honda’s chassis rigidty and stiffness have always been highly regarded as some of the best enginnered in the world. Given Crosstour is based on Accord platform, which has always been judged as the benchmark in the mid-size family sedan segment. The Crosstour certainly won’t be disappointed. While Crosstour’s ride is firmer than regular Accord sedan, it certainly far from being harsh. It has managed to absorb all the bumps and roughness with ease. Its suspension is comfortably compliant with a sense of European suppleness as one expects from latest Honda product, which is always good on our books. The steering is precise and responsive, with a sense of driver feel and feedback only received from Honda. However, Crosstour’s RealTime 4WD is a FWD until it detects slippage before it delivers power to the offending wheel. That means its a reactive instead a proactive system. What the saving grace is whenever the RealTime 4WD won’t be able to save anyone from rearing its ugly heads, there is always a Vehicle Stability Control waiting in the wings. When pushed Crosstour through its paces, there are some safe understeer from its reactive AWD system while body rolls are quite pronounced given its center-of-gravity.

Brakes: Once again, considering Crosstour’s hefty weight, its braking performance is much better than average. Both the stopping distance and pedal feel are all within Honda’s usual high standards. The stopping distance is short while pedal feels alive. The hallmark of the system is the ABS doesn’t step in unnecessarily.

Interior: Instead of fold down the 60/40 rear seats with switches on top of those seats, Honda has cleverly placed the release buttons on top of the cargo area. Its more initutive considering when anyone is lifting cargos, they don’t need to go back-and-forth to fold the whole lot down. There are 25.7 cubin feet when all the rear seats fold down which are huge. However, what’s limiting the cargo capacity is the sloppy D-pillars.

Just like the Insight, the rear wiper only clears the top portion of the window. That means it doesn’t clean the small one before. Combined the sloppy pillars and window, Crosstour’s rear sightlines are simply poor at best. Without the assistance of back-up camera and parking sensors, one can always reserve an appointment at bodyshop for repainting the rear bumper.

The sloppy D-pillars have cut into the rear headroom at the same time. It makes the headroom at a premium for anyone over 6 feet tall.

On the front, its everything you expect from a flgaship Accord. That means world-class use of plastic and leather materials in the cabin. The instrumentation gauges are clear and analog. On the other hand, we found the center console too button-happy. We count no less than 50 buttons for the auto climate control and stereo alone, not to mention the multi-functions steering.

Conclusion: If you can get pass Crosstour’s controversial looks and limited rear headroom, its certainly an Accord “station wagon” that is worth considering. It got a decent enough V6 engine which its smaller CR-V silibing lack, handles relatively well despite of its reactive RealTime 4WD and more than generous cargo space for most needed.

OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
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Performance: 4/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Interior/ergonomics/user-friendliness: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 3/5
Value-for-money: 3/5

Overall rating: 3.5/5