VIDEO: Should Honda's Crosstour Just Have Been An Accord Wagon?

Likely one of the most controversial designs of 2010, the Honda Accord Crosstour is not for the faint of heart. It is one of those polarizing vehicles that is being designed for a niche audience.

The same goes for BMW's X6 and Acura's ZDX, which are both chasing after a new look that no one can truly define.

I am going to go with a futuristic wagon that people will try to pass off as a sport-utility vehicle. Ironically, those too are wagons, albeit simply jacked up and given some light off-roading capabilities -- most SUVs can't off-road to save their lives.

Simply put, Consumer Reports has completed its testing of the 2010 Honda Crosstour and are going to weigh in.

**To hear what Consumer Reports has to say, watch the video down below...


...The concept for the Crosstour is intriguing, but the final execution falls short of its potential. Shoppers should spend extra time test driving this model, before committing as it defies common car-type categorizations and expectations. Many of us on the staff wonder what would have happened Honda had simply built an Accord wagon with more practical styling...



[Source: Consumer Reports]








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Larrybel2000 - 8/18/2010 1:04:30 AM

+2 Boost

It's only a niche vehicle if people want it. For example. Mini Cooper, Scion, Lotus Elise, and the Ford GT. No customer, no go.

Larry B.
Key West.

edeus123 - 8/18/2010 2:39:09 AM

+4 Boost

I actually seen it in person and its not that bad as I thought it would be. More or less rather unique as in a new breed. I still wouldn't buy it.

nguyenvuminh - 8/18/2010 2:55:09 AM

+1 Boost

At the risk of sounding like an old fart, I do not think highly of any "crossover" since the inception of this class of vehicle. I consider it to be nothing more than a marketing gimmick to try and sell the notion of product differentiation by relabeling an existing product. There have been SUVs with 2-row seating (cab) and station wagon and minivans with all-wheel drive for years and they work perfectly well. I would apply the suggestion of calling these things station wagons and be done with it.

edeus123 - 8/18/2010 3:04:46 AM

+1 Boost

Agreed

MorePower - 8/18/2010 3:49:32 AM

+1 Boost

Two points:

- If Honda thought an Accord Wagon would be profitable in the US, it would be here.

- Honda learned from Ford & GM, suv's are highly profitable.

Stevez - 8/18/2010 6:55:00 AM

+2 Boost

I don't understand why anyone would WANT a crosstour, it's more expensive than its competition at 34,000 MSRP in Cananda, and it is smaller than its competition and I haven't even touched on the styling yet. So I wouldn't understand how Honda would think that we would sell better than a conventional wagon. Conventional wagons, although uncool, a ton of people still buy (Volvo). So Honda, you made a bad move this time.

Stevez

Agent00R - 8/18/2010 12:34:19 PM

-1 Boost

@Enforcement

Not quite following.

We're asking if Honda should have built an Accord wagon instead of this Crosstour...

klipprand - 8/18/2010 9:26:13 AM

+1 Boost

I call it the "fat ass" Honda. What I really wanted was just an all-wheel-drive Accord. When it comes to crossovers however, I really do like the styling of the BMW X6. None of the others really appeal to me though.

Agent00R - 8/18/2010 10:02:26 AM

0 Boost

Halberstram!

I've been putting in those banker hours crushin' it. Just wanted to let you know I'll be more responsible with my turnaround next time.

[high five]!

gkearns56 - 8/18/2010 9:43:29 AM

+1 Boost

It's an ugly Crossover vehicle. There are plenty of beautiful cars besides this thing. Honda needs to figure out the direction they're going with these design. Their Acura lineup has the "birdbeaks" going on. A car should be beautiful, turn your head back as you walk away, sculpted piece of machinery.

4wheelsfan - 8/18/2010 10:26:52 AM

+1 Boost

I think it should have been at all!

1uberaudiR8 - 8/18/2010 12:12:43 PM

+1 Boost

Remember, this is a psuedo nonprofit organization doing this road test. So, this guy really has no idea what he's talking about and is just following a script. Could Consumer Reports just go away and let the for profit organization's do there job?

Agent00R - 8/18/2010 12:36:30 PM

-2 Boost

@1uberaudiR8

I disagree.

CR has good testing for its own demographic. CR doesn't care about the enthusiast; however, they do bring up several KEY points about the Crosstour that are important.

1uberaudiR8 - 8/18/2010 12:13:11 PM

0 Boost

Remember, this is a psuedo nonprofit organization doing this road test. So, this guy really has no idea what he's talking about and is just following a script. Could Consumer Reports just go away and let the for profit organization's do there job?

thstone - 8/18/2010 12:13:27 PM

+2 Boost

Let's face it, wagons are about as uncool as can be.

Thus, car makers AND buyers have been trying to recreate the advantages of the conventional wagon in every way possible without actually making a wagon.

And so now we have SUV's, SAV's, crossovers, GT's, and every other imaginable configuration to recreate what is essentially a wagon.

Maybe we should just scrap the lot and simply go back to the basic wagon.

Shredmo - 8/18/2010 12:35:17 PM

0 Boost

I agree (I think). While the general public is offended by the simple title "station wagon", I am offended by the title "CUV (or other hip synonyms). I despise that everything needs to be sugar coated for the sake of pop culture.

Taamnaai - 8/18/2010 1:00:44 PM

0 Boost

The Japanese have turned their backs on station wagons. Even Subaru offers there mid-sized wagon as an Outback only. The Crosstour is a hatchback with a new name to make it marketable in North America.

Soon there will only be European manufacturers and Cadillac with a "driveable" wagon.

I love my 04 Mazda 6 wagon with space, a V6, manual transission and a some zoom-zoom built-in. Is it perfect? by no means but at least it knows what it is!

veyron1001 - 8/18/2010 9:49:30 PM

+1 Boost

Looks like Hondas version of a civilian warthog from halo.