The Honda Crosstour was introduced in 2010 as a crossover based on the familiar Accord sedan. Also related to the Acura TL, it was developed to slot below the Pilot in Honda's SUV lineup. Although longer than the Pilot, it has only two rows of seating and about 50 cubic feet less interior space. The crossover was updated for the 2013 model year before being discontinued in 2015 due to slow sales.

This intriguing vehicle suffers from a little bit of an identity crisis. Is it a wagon or is it a crossover? Honda classifies it as the latter, though, so that’s good enough for us. In some ways, the Crosstour has the qualities of both car types, yet it still behooves us to watch Honda peddle the vehicle when it already has a full lineup of models that customers to choose from.

But hey, give credit to the Japanese carmaker for venturing into the road less travelled. The Crosstour really is on a unique platform and to be fair to it, the vehicle does have some impressive qualities about it that should make for an intriguing purchase, even if you have to compromise on some things to make way for other things.

It’s confusing, we know, but then again, isn’t that the state of mind the Crosstour will leave you in?

Continue reading to learn more about the Honda Crosstour.

2014 Honda Crosstour

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Honda Crosstour
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 192 @ 7000
  • Torque: 162 @ 4400
  • Transmission: 6 speed Automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

Starting with the obvious, the Crosstour looks like a hybrid in an aesthetic sense. It's long enough to be a wagon, tall enough to be a crossover, and a stylistically designed to be a sedan. If it didn't carry the Honda name, the vehicle would probably be completely ignored.

But that's the cache of being a Honda: you know you're getting a car from one of the most reputable automakers in the world.

As far as its looks go, the Crosstour looks like a larger version of the Honda Accord->ke237, a not-so-strange coincidence considering that it traces its lineage to the Accord line. On that note, Honda playing around and making a car the equivalent of an oversized Accord with a fastback-style rear can be best described as designers probably having far too much downtime on their hands.

So what's the best way to describe the Crosstour's exterior appearance? A pupu platter of Honda models thrown into a singular design of what you'd expect from the lovechild of a wagon and a crossover.

2014 Honda Crosstour - Exterior Specification

Length (in)

196.6

Width (in)

74.7

Height (in)

61.5

Wheelbase (in)

110.1

Ground clearance

6.2


Interior

If you're wondering if the interior of the Crosstour looks familiar, it's because Honda based it on the Accord, which makes sense considering the former's roots. What that gives us is a pretty slick-looking cabin that's comes with a lot of high-quality materials. As far as function is concerned, the Crosstour has plenty to go by; none more important than the neatly-arranged center console and the pair of LCD screens that you can avail of as an added option.There's an identity to the interior setup of the Crosstour that should compensate for the exterior's confusing look.

On the other hand, space is an issue on the Crosstour, even if it comes with a 25.7-cubic-foot cargo area with reversible floor panels (that figure goes up to 51.3 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity once the rear seats are folded). So why is space an issue? Because if not for its design, specifically the low-lying fastback roof, the Crosstour could have had more space at its disposal. That's a pretty big deal if the vehicle wants to classify itself as a crossover.

Headroom (in, front/rear)

39.5 / 37.5

Legroom (in, front/rear)

42.2 / 37.4

Shoulder Room (in, front/rear)

57.8 / 56.2

Hiproom (in, front/rear)

55.3 / 53.9

Cargo Volume (cu ft, rear seat up/down)

25.7 / 51.3

Seating Capacity

5


Drivetrain

The Honda Crosstour comes with two distinct powertrains: a 2.4-liter, in-line-four engine and a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine. The four-cylinder carries an output of 192 horsepower at 7,000 rpm and 162 pound-feet of torque at 6,200 rpm whereas the V-6 has 278 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 252 pound-feet of torque at 4,900 rpm at its disposal.

No official performance numbers have been released but we expect the smaller engine to hit 60 mph in 7.2 seconds to go with a top speed of about 135 mph with the V-6 doing the 0-to-60 sprint in just 6.4 seconds to go with an estimated 150-mph top speed.

2014 Honda Crosstour - Drivetrain Specification

Trim

EX, EX-L

EX V-6, EX-L V-6

Engine Type

In-Line 4-Cylinder

V-6

Displacement (CC)

2354

3471

Power(HP @ RPM)

192 @ 7000

278 @ 6200

Torque(LB-FT @ RPM

162 @ 4400

252 @ 4900

Redline

7100

6800

Bore and Stroke (MM)

87 x 99

89 x 93

Compression Ratio

10.0 : 1

10.5 : 1

Valve Train

16-Valve DOHC i-VTEC®

24-Valve SOHC i-VTEC®


Prices

The Honda Crosstour's ranges from $27,380 for the 2WD EX base model all the way up to $37,240 for the top-of-the-line 4WD EX-L V-6 Navi.

Trim

Price

Trim

$27,380

Crosstour 2WD EX

$31,065

Crosstour 2WD EX-L

$31,065

Crosstour 2WD EX-L

$33,165

Crosstour 2WD EX-L Navi

$31,040

Crosstour 2WD EX-L Navi

$33,690

Crosstour 2WD EX V-6

$35,790

Crosstour 2WD EX-L V-6

$35,140

Crosstour 2WD EX-L V-6 Navi

$37,240


Competitors

Toyota Venza

Believe it or not, the Honda Crosstour was initially thought of as a competitor for the BMW X6. Yeah, well, you know... Once Honda smartened up and became realistic, it set its sights on a more attainable rival: the Toyota Venza. But in doing so, some of the flaws of the Crosstour was exposed when lined up against the Venza.

For one, the Venza is cheaper. It also has superior cargo capacity. Those two 'wins' for the Venza fully encompass the identity crisis of the Crosstour. To try to even the playing field a little bit, Honda gave the 2014 Crosstour a choice of two engines that can now rival the Venza's own pair of engine choices: a 2.7-liter, four-cylinder engine delivers 182 horsepower at 5,800 rpm and 182 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm and a 3.5-liter V-6 producing 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 246 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm.

Find out more about the Toyota Venza here.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a unique Honda, the Crosstour is for you. The Crosstour does have some good qualities about itself, particularly the Accord-like interior. But those looking for a crossover are more inclined to put a premium on cargo space, something the Crosstour doesn't have nearly enough of compared to some of its rivals.