Review: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, an Accord with AWD and some utility

Review: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour certainly has a design all its own. While the aesthetics are a tad awkward, this car possesses an air of sophisticated refinement. With its abundance of extra space and ground clearance, Honda”s first foray into the Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) segment offers considerable competition to the Toyota Venza, which is the ToMoCo’s Camry-based crossover.

While both vehicles offer much of the same comfort of their top-selling sedan counterparts (Toyota being based on the Camry and the Accord Crosstour being based on the Accord sedan), they also offer a tremendous deal of utility in that they both offer extra ground clearance, more cargo space, and all-wheel drive option.

Click through to read more and to view our high-res image gallery (at the bottom of the post).

Review: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour:

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour Specifications:

  • Base Price: $29,670.
  • Price as Tested: $36,930.
  • Engine: 3.5L VTEC V6 – 271-hp / 254 lb-ft of torque.
  • Transmission: 5-speed automatic.
  • Curb Weight: 3,852 lbs for 2WD, 4,070 lbs for AWD.
  • 0 to 60 mph: 7.3 seconds.
  • Top Speed: 121 mph.
  • Fuel-Economy (city/highway): 18/27 mpg for 2WD, 17/25 mpg for AWD.

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Exterior

Exterior:

Public reception of the earliest Crosstour pictures was less than warm. The community on Facebook, Twitter and other social networks said it was downright hideous and looked something similar to a Tyrannosaurs Rex. While we didn”t necessarily disagree with this sentiment, this car isn”t all that unattractive in person. The Crosstour represents the largest Accord model to date, and in many ways comes off as a wagon or hatchback variant of the Accord with a raised suspension. Such an observation is not entirely wrong.

While this car did evolve from the standard Accord, it shares no exterior panels with its evolutionary parent, and has a distinctly separate front-fascia design with its oversized grille. The 8.1″ underbody clearance and sloping rear-end which accommodates the hatch are the most noticeable differences, however.

The most important feature is not one that is apparent to the eye; the Crosstour is designed for a smooth and quiet driving experience, with a heavily insulated floor, doors, and firewall, and triple door-seal system to minimize wind and road noise. Strategically insulated rear-fender wells and active systems that work with engine and audio systems bolster the noise canceling features as well.

While the Crosstour may sound like something you want to stay away on paper, we said it earlier and we”ll say it again – this car is quite attractive in real life.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Interior

Interior:

Given the nature of the car, the Crosstour is certainly going to have some marked differences from the standard Accord. The three main differences are the 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space (The Honda CR-V and Toyota Venza each have more than 70 cubic feet), 60/40 easy-fold rear seat, and more seating space. If none of those three features appeal to you, than we recommend you stop considering this car and opt instead for the standard Accord. Other than the aforementioned difference, the cabin to the Crosstour is very much like that of the Accord sedan, save for the better quality leather, quieter cabin, and seating for five.

Considering the starting MSRP of $29,670, the 2010 Accord Crosstour comes stock with plenty of options; dual-zone automatic climate control, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise controls, one-touch power moonroof, heated power side mirrors, 10-way adjustable power driver”s seat with power lumbar support, 4-way adjustable power front passenger seat, 360 watt audio system with in-dash 6-disc CD changer and MP3/AUX connectivity, and other bells and whistles.

For those who want to further outfit the interior of their Crosstour, there is always the EX-L package which adds; leather-trim heated seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, driver”s seat with 2-position memory, projector-beam halogen headlights with auto on/off functionality, USB Audi interface, XM Radio, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite-linked navigation with voice-recognition and rearview camera with guidelines.

Our favorite feature on the Crosstour was the hidden removable utility box in the cargo area under the floor. As the name implies, the box is easily removable via a collapsible arm , and features two interior dividers so that you can divvy up the 1.9 cubic feet of space within to your liking.

Overall, the interior definitely exudes a solid, rich, luxurious feel; far more than any other Accord.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Powertrain

Performance:

The “10 Accord Crosstour draws its power from a 3.5-liter -VTEC V-6 engine with VCM. This equates to 271-hp and a maximum torque of 254 lb-ft; certainly an engine that delivers a punch when needed. We did however, find ourselves longing for a manual shift mode.

Mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission, the Accord Crosstour averages an EPA estimated 18/27 mpg, or 21 mpg combined rating. The 4WD option sees a drop in fuel economy to about 17/25 mpg, or 20 mpg combined. The AWD model that we tested averaged 16 mpg over our week-long drive. Another bonus; Honda recommends regular unleaded 87 octane fuel, so you won”t need that second mortgage just to cover a tank of gas.

When it comes to performance the Accord Crosstour runs from 0-60 mph in about 7.3 seconds, which is not that bad considering a curb weight of 3,852 lbs for the FWD model and 4,070 lbs for the AWD model. As we mentioned earlier, the Crosstour was designed to give a pleasurable touring experience. The fully independent design of the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension that allows the tires to maintain great contact with the road.

The fully-automatic Real Time 4WD system is also designed to enhance all-weather and light-duty off-road performance when driving in most conditions. Nonetheless, keep in mind that ground clearance measures only 6-inches, much less than its competitors, so driving the Accord Crosstour in heavy snow may still require some labor.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour - Rear End

Overall:

While there may be nothing about the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour that makes us want to jump out of our seats and go buy one, especially when looking at the competition, it does do the whole crossover thing pretty well. Buyers in this segment aren’t looking to have aggressive fun behind the wheel or tow massive amounts of equipment. In terms of being a utility vehicle, the Honda Accord Crosstour is competent in that regard.

Prices for the 2010 Honda Accord start at $29,670 for the base 2WD EX model and top out at $36,220 for the Accord Crosstour 4WD EX-L with Navigation. When compared to its biggest rival, the Toyota Venza, which starts at $26,275 and tops out at $29,550 for the AWD V6, the Accord Crosstour has some tough competition. Not to mention, Toyota’s Venza also offers a FWD 4-cylinder option, which gets an EPA-rated fuel-economy of 21/29 mpg (city/highway).

At the end of the day, the face-off between these two may come down to brand loyalty.

Review: 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour:

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

– By: Stephen Calogera