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Outback vs. Accord CrossTour
The lease on my Subaru Tribeca is coming to an end, and I wanted something a bit better on gas.
The MotorTrend SUV of the year thing got my attention, and I am seriously considering the 2011 Outback.
Initially, I only considered the 6cyl because I've been driving 6 cyls for many years, and I didn't think I'd be happy with a 4 cyl.
I just test drove the 4 cyl Outback, in real world conditions, and it seemed fine.
I also just test drove the Accord CrossTour. It is soo pretty and upscale, and at $34,000 the MSRP is pretty darn close to a 6 cyl Outback (which is much more utilitarian and station wagon-y).
The Honda Dealer is offering $399 /month leases, no money down, 12k / year, including tax. That seems like an awesome price.
So, has anyone agonized between a crosstour and an outback like I am presently doing?
If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks,
Mike
The MotorTrend SUV of the year thing got my attention, and I am seriously considering the 2011 Outback.
Initially, I only considered the 6cyl because I've been driving 6 cyls for many years, and I didn't think I'd be happy with a 4 cyl.
I just test drove the 4 cyl Outback, in real world conditions, and it seemed fine.
I also just test drove the Accord CrossTour. It is soo pretty and upscale, and at $34,000 the MSRP is pretty darn close to a 6 cyl Outback (which is much more utilitarian and station wagon-y).
The Honda Dealer is offering $399 /month leases, no money down, 12k / year, including tax. That seems like an awesome price.
So, has anyone agonized between a crosstour and an outback like I am presently doing?
If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks,
Mike
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Comments
An Outback can be had for less money (even 6-cylinder models), has a more useful and user-friendly cargo area, much better rear visibility, and a superior AWD system.
No thanks. I'll take an AWD 4-cylinder (or 6-cylinder) Outback wagon any day over the CrossTour. It's a simple choice for me.
Bob
$34K for an AWD hatchback with awful rear visibility.
As for less money, I don't yet have a quote for the v6 outback (3 years, 12k/year, no money down).
Do you think it's less than $399 / month?
Mike
Any idea about the handling characteristics between crosstour & outback?
specifically, if you gun a 6cyl outback, can you make it peel out?
Just curious,
Mike
You probably will have to pay bank fee and first month up front.
Is this a 2010 loaner or demo?
I too, have a Tribeca lease ending in November.
The crosstour is not even on my long list. Very inefficient use of space in the rear.
It will never be as secure as your tribeca. The Honda is FWD until the the wheels loose traction. with Subaru's 3.6 you ALWAYS have 2 wheels (one front/one back) moving the car.
But 399/mo - if you don't need AWD - is a great price.
Good luck
But at 399/mo -
http://automobiles.honda.com/current-offers-detail.aspx?ModelName=Accord+Crossto- ur
Take the $3,000 / 36 added to $249 = $332 plus tax.
The AWD model I was looking at was NOT a demo. The 2011's are not out yet, so everyone has 2010.
I got $399 &$410 at 2 different dealers, so it seems like that's the current honda lease deal.
'
BTW, what else have you looked at as a fellow Tribeca driver?
My requirements was 5 Stars / 5 Stars safety, which ruled out edge & nissan. I ruled out cx7 based on turbo lag and same terrible gas mileage.
I really have it down to only the outback 4 or 6 (not sure yet) or crosstour.
Thanks,
Mike
The lease is for the base FWD car. What is the sell price that their figuring the lease on?
I've looked at the 11' Jeep Grand Cherokee - less room than the outback !
also - the Audi Q5
I'm also interested in the new BMW x3 - but that wont be out until January.
These are the only brands that have real full time AWD systems.
The only reason I even look at other brands is because Subaru does not have a lot of creature comforts..........push button start, cooled seats, 10 way power passenger seats..etc.
However for cost of ownership, AWD, safety, and functionality Subaru can't be beat.
You know, I can turn my own key.
I'll stay with Subaru.
So should you.
What I've learned is dealer incentives can make a huge difference. One shouldn't exclude a car from consideration because the sticker price is more.
BTW, the AWD sticker is $34k.
I live in philly, and it's not like I do a ton of snow driving, so if the AWD is only on when it's needed, that doesn't sound soo terrible, especially if it saves a bit on gas.
-Mike
I was going to bring up fuel economy as well. Consumer Reports recently tested the V6 Accord and H6 Legacy, and surprise - the Subaru was more fuel efficient, even with the AWD handicap.
For me though, it's this: take a tape measure with you, and measure between the wheel wells. The CrossTour only give you 31" of cargo width. Even the compact Forester gives you 42". The Outback has a whopping 43" between them, a whole foot wider.
If the whole point is the great utility these things offer, why make major sacrifices in the cargo area? In fact while you're at it, measure an Accord sedan, I bet the cargo area is more useful.
You may also want to check out a CR-V/Forester, or Acura RD-X.
Let's not forget the sloped roof that the CrossTour has. That could limit some large items being put back there; and again, the rear visibility of the CrossTour is terrible.
Speaking of which... the rear wiper becomes pretty a moonroof wiper, as that (upper) rear window is almost horizontal. Plus the lower rear window (below) the spoiler, is useless in the rain, as there is no wiper for it.
The design aft the C-pillar is very poor, and not well thought out.
Bob
You can't get AWD, though.
BTW, another option is the Venza, if you like cushy isolation.
Hi guys, welcome to the party. how are you?
I may purchase rather than lease. That is why I'm considering other models. I will keep this for as long as it runs - which you know can be a long time.
Should I be waiting for 2012?
Charlie
2012? I don't know. Rumor has it that at the Sydney Motor Show (next month), Subaru may be announcing something. Most people think it might be a Forester WRX, but I'm not so sure. Why? Because SOA recently sent at least one executive to Australia, for a 3,000-mile drive into the Outback—driving an Outback. Now why would they do that, with the current Outback only a year old?
My guess is it may be a stretched 7-passenger version, to replace the Tribeca. We'll know more in a few weeks. The show opens 10/15.
Bob
I think the new boxer 4 motor is going in the Outback. Either way the 3.6 has to get direct injection. It needs more HP to move a 7P car.
Charlie
The Honda Crosstour has the 2nd worst rating for roof strength in a roll over, failing to get the IIHS 'safe-pick' status:
http://www.iihs.org/ratings/
Though the Honda leased great, it's now off my list.
Just wanted to let you know,
Mike
I presume the IIHS changed the criteria?
All Subarus have performed well on that test, so every model was on the list in 2009 and remained on for 2010.
Exception - the fixed headrests on the WRX do not pass the rear impact tests because they lack the active headrests other models have.
I currently work at Subaru in sales and have worked at Honda for four years selling as well.
I could give you a personal opinion as well having driven them on an almost daily basis.
Laurence
If you plan on doing any sort of off-pavement driving, the Outback is the clear choice; but that good off-road ability (more ground clearance) hurts it a little bit in terms of on-road driving. It's not that the Outback is bad on road, because it's not. It's just that the CrossTour is better. It's a shame that Subaru has stopped importing the Legacy wagon, as that model has the same advantages of the Outback, plus excellent on-road capability.
Bob
And in my opinion, that really may not be an issue. I don't know the statistics but I would guess most buyers of the Cross Tour are less interested in utility and more interested in styling and features. I see the Cross Tour as an attainable BMW X6.
The X6 is the BMW I like the least, yuck.
Toss in the Acura ZDX, and even the Porsche Panamera and BMW 5 series Touring. What it is with the pregnant egg shapes?
Coupe = cool.
Hatchback = dorky.
Style is subjective, but ugly is running rampant lately.
At least the Outback looks wagon/SUVish and avoided the ugly hatch trend.
...and BMW 5 series Touring.
I presume you mean the GT. The 5 series Touring was the station wagon which is no longer coming to our shores.
Toss in the Acura ZDX, and even the Porsche Panamera...
The ZDX I will agree with but the Panamera is one of the most beautifully styled vehicles I have ever seen.
YMMV
Bob
The Panamera looks find until you see the back, then it looks overweight.
What do I know? It's the best selling Porsche...
- I don't mind the styling, and the front end looks pretty nice, but I think I like the appearance of my Outback a bit more
- It seems well put together, and perhaps exudes a slightly more upscale feel (comparing higher end equipages to my Limited).
- The reduction in cargo space due to the sloping hatch was a real negative for me.
- The rear shock towers intrude a lot into the cargo space, making it even less useful.
- I'm convinced that the Subaru AWD system is superior.
- It seemed like a similarly-equipped Crosstour was going to cost a couple/few $k more than I paid for my vehicle.
I DID think that the interior materials were very nice in the Honda, and they did make a larger under-floor cargo space/cubby than the one in the Outback.
Perhaps this is silly, but I got the light (cream color, basically) leather interior in my Outback, and would have wanted a tan/biege/cream interior in the Crosstour. But the Crosstour's tan leather is very yellow-looking. That by itself would have been a deal-breaker for me... In any case, nothing about the Crosstour gives me cause for regret at having bought the Outback.
I think the OB weighs a bunch less and the keeps the engine in the sweet spot. That compensates for the lack of 6 cylinders. Unless you got a manual?
It does....about 700 pounds less than an AWD Crosstour .
No argument that if you need more cargo room, the Outback is better. I've found the CT to be very good in snow, but have not compared it to the the Outback. Maybe the Suby's noticeably better?
Per Edmunds, the Crosstour is 1.9 sec faster 0-60, 5.2 mph faster through the slalom. J D Power's IQ survey gives the CT a 5.0 vs. 2.5 for the Outback. Not saying this is conclusive, but worth paying SOME attention to.....Most of the IL staff admitted the CT's a good driving roadtripper, even if they didn't like the way it looks, and its looks do have fans. Personally ,I think it looks good on alternate days.
Sure the 6-cylinder 3.5L Crosstour will out-accelerate the 4-cylinder 2.5L Outback. You need to compare the Crosstour to the 6-cylinder 3.6L Outback.
Bob
I'm sure the 3.6 has a lot more grunt, and costs considerably more.
The 2.5 that has been highlighted refers to a SCORE of 2.5 out of 5 in an initial quality survey. You can give it as much or as little credence as you want.......
However, a 3.6 H6 Outback with (standard) AWD starts at $28,195. That is considerably less than a 3.5 Crosstour with (optional) 4WD, which starts at $34,140. In fact the 3.6 Outback is even less expensive than the base-level 2WD Crosstour ($29,790).
http://www.subaru.com/vehicles/outback/index.html
http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-crosstour/price.aspx
Bob
The CVT in the 2013 is decent and smooth albeit a bit whiny. It is responsive and Subaru has pretty much done away with the "rubber band" sensation when you demand passing power.
If it's looks, well, that's a matter of opinion. I'm not a fan of either the Crosstour or the Outback in terms of styling.
If it's function, the Outback wins hands down. The cargo area is better shaped for large bulky objects. The rear wheel wheel intrusion is less than in the Crosstour, and the rear visibility is far better in the Outback. The Crosstour is big on the outside, but small (relatively speaking) on the inside. Also, AWD is only available on the top-trim model, whereas every Ouctback has AWD. The Outback also has more ground clearance to better cope with deep snow and bad roads.
The Crosstour may (?) be the sportier ride, but Honda is having a very hard time selling them. Most people just don't like the car. The Outback is a far better seller, simply because it makes more sense.
Bob
Before the Crosstour he had a Volvo Cross Country.
DRIVE these cars, then get back to us.
Big fan of the new V6 / 6spd....the CT got the same powertrain treatment as the new Accord. The drive ain't everything, but its pretty big on my personal list.