Honda Accord Crosstour
Just got this email from Honda
http://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/?SP_RID=MTc3MzUwMzAyMzIS1&SP_MID=268963- 9&PROGRAMID=RPABRAVO&CAMPAIGNCODE=AT1946&OFFERCODE=AT1946&CELLCODE=C2&PID=040101- 198&FROM=EMAIL
Unfortunate. Certainly not nearly as attractive as Venza
http://automobiles.honda.com/future-cars/?SP_RID=MTc3MzUwMzAyMzIS1&SP_MID=268963- 9&PROGRAMID=RPABRAVO&CAMPAIGNCODE=AT1946&OFFERCODE=AT1946&CELLCODE=C2&PID=040101- 198&FROM=EMAIL
Unfortunate. Certainly not nearly as attractive as Venza
Tagged:
0
Comments
It's still on my short list, though, as it may be nicer inside than the Venza, and more rewarding to drive. If Honda leaves out the 4-cylinder option, that'll propel me to the Toyota dealer for sure.
If only Honda would bring the European Accord (U.S. TSX) Tourer I'd be all set.
Next month when it's on the lot, I'll take a look. The front end of the Venza is a dog and this will be better looking than the Toyota.
I don't understand people thinking 196" in too long. It's a full-size vehicle, not mid-size. Ford's Taurus X is over 200" long.
Let's wait and see what the Crosstour looks like in person. Many a car, like many a person, are not photogenic.
Sorry Honda, I've defected.
Honda has really went weird on the styling. Styling is getting more apart of the car buying experience now. Actually so many cars are duplicating each others designs, and blowing up like a blimp. Because people want a bigger car rather than an SUV?
For example, even the new Subaru legacy is huge and sorta ugly, older looking.
So not just Honda is looking a bit off these days. Honda certainly played it safe with all of their cars, other than the Accord coupe, which should have been used on the Accord Sedan. Would I get the Accord Sedan? Yes I would.
This car? No, its not for me, but would love to see it in person. I love honda.
The 180" CRV is a Civic based compact. A different animal indeed. The new Crosstour will be a large car. I'm guessing 130 cu.ft. of interior volume at least and that's with the "lower" CUV roofline.
This opens up the question from a couple years ago when the new Accord was released. Honda doesn't really offer a true "mid-size" car anymore. The Accord is clearly LARGE by today's standards and the Civic is a Compact. This leaves Honda with a significant gap in their lineup.
The answer could be a next-generation Civic like Hyundai's Elantra or Nissan's Sentra with near mid-size volume or an entirely new mid-size model (which seems unlikely).
The European Accord is a smaller TSX sized car. Honda has to be reviewing their options at this point because their U.S. lineup has a hole in it. Toyota has a Corolla, Camry and Avalon. Honda is one vehicle short because the Accord can't cover a 115 cu.ft. Camry and a 125 cu.ft. Avalon with one car.
I've had two small, extra-cab pickup trucks, both 4-cylinder manual trans. Very practical, and economical. I'd like to buy another, but the Tacoma & Frontier have each grown by over 500 lbs. in their last re-design. The facts are there to see. For those that don't notice, or don't care, fine. Many folks do.
Hostile? No. Diappointed? Yes. Just not quietly disappointed. So, still driving my practical, sensibly-sized, economical 4-banger Toyota Highlander. It's not fun to drive though, and I had hoped for something from Honda to bring me back. I'm still hoping, but early signs are, well, disappointing.
What each individual likes is very subjective, so if you are disappointed that is your right. It is true that Honda's keep growing in size.
I'm interested in a mid-sized vehicle, I like hatchbacks, I like that the Crosstour sits up a little bit for ingress/egress, it has a little more clearance than a sedan for dealing with the occasional snow. (AWD available for those with lots of snow). So I will definitely check it out when the local dealer gets one.
It meets your size, power and price requirement.
Don't get me wrong, I like the design of the Venza better than I like that of the Crosstour in pictures, but I just don't see 7" being that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Crosstour / Venza
Length: 186.6 in. / 189 in.
Width: 72.4 in. / 75 in.
Height: 56.7 in. / 63.4 in.
WB: 106.5 in. / 109.3 in.
Cargo: 14.3 cf / 30.7 cf
Looks like the Crosstour is smaller than the Venza. The rear storage is not so good: only marginally bigger than the Accord, and less than half the Venza. So now we can have a discussion on how it's not big enough!
Personally, I'd like a trimmer, more agile ride than the Venza. But, if I can't get my golf clubs to fit East-West in the trunk of the Honda, then 2010 Venza moves back up the list - again.
I'm with you on liking a torquey motor. Don't get me wrong, I love to hear my 4-cylinder spin up to 5k+ rpm, but after climbing a local "mountain (about 1,500 feet) in my parents 3.5L Taurus with three in the car at 2,000 RPM, where my 166hp, 160lb-ft Accord would be spinning at twice that at the same speed, I loved the six cylinder. Gets about 24MPG in my driving route; my 4-cyl Accord brings about 29 these days. Some days, I wouldn't trade for a V6. Some days, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
The Accord Crosstour will have to compete with the redesigned 2010 Subaru Outback. One big advantage for the Outback - AWD is standard. The Outback will be a lot cheaper than the comparable Crosstour trim level with AWD.
AWD adds more weight, more friction/driveline loss, and delivers a considerable MPG penalty. Give me FWD any day.
Different strokes for different folks. As for me, PLEASE make it optional. I wouldn't buy any car that came standard with something that only cost me MORE money.
Maybe a diesel with 6 spd, and AWD?
I'm hoping for a I4 FWD model around $27K in LX trim. I like the look of the CT and laugh about all the comments regarding it's 196" length. It's a full-size car for pete's sake.
First of all: quote me the cargo volume on the new CT then take a picture of the Venza's grille. Maybe Honda should price the CT below the CR-V?
The CR-V is a Civic-based compact. The CT is a full sized vehicle.
///////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Reminds me of a joke: What is the difference between a woman with PMS and a pitbull?
Lipstick! :P
I want to see the real specs....direct from Honda. I might be interested in looking at it further if the length comes in at 186" and not 196". (196" is just too long for me). The MPG will be a factor as well. Backseat room will also be important. I am not thrilled with the look of the front-end (same designer who redesigned the Acura front-ends?) but that should make them less desired and thus less expensive.
Is anyone making a well-appointed wagon that is reliable, durable, of a decent family size (read: enough backseat legroom) and gets great gas-mileage? (A hybrid would be nice). I am surprised there are no hybrid mini-vans out there either......I don't want one but many, many families probably would.........
The new Cross-tour is another abomination that some newbie, right out of design school, came up with, and managed to get past all the censors and right into production. This particularly offensive creation should not see the light of day at a dealership and Honda should apologize to their clientele to even have thought of introducing it and withdraw it from the market. I feel THAT strongly about it.
How difficult would it have been for Honda to ape the European makers like BMW or Audi for once, and create a slick looking Accord based large wagon ? Why would they go and create this mess with its stupidly slopy and bulbous rear (which takes away usable space) and expect it to be well received by the people who would be its potential buyers ? Why would the manufacturer who created the Honda Fit, which is a marvel of Interior packaging and slick design, go ahead and create this embarassment ?
From the front until the B-pillar, the design is good and then swiftly goes downhill from there. Honda used to be known to prioritize function over form. The Accord Sedan in particular has both form and function and is a very slick design. Why would this nasty "cross-tour" creation then take birth, as an off-shoot from the slick-looking Accord platform, to then reside along these other nice Hondas ? I am personally embarassed for Honda for having created this 2010 version of the Pontiac Aztek. :sick:
I felt sure Honda would offer the 190HP I4 from the EX Accord Sedan. No such luck.
Any guesses on a starting price for the LX V6 CrossTour? I'm thinking $28K if there is an LX version and $29K if they start at EX trim.
Then, in the 90's Honda had Accord Station wagons. Problem was that people buying cars at the time have grown up riding in the back of Buick Estate Wagon and had a rebellion against station wagons. The SUV craze of the late 90's killed station wagons except for a few from Volvo and BMW.
I think, I am ready for a mid-size station wagon (European Accord Tourer?), especially if they offered it with 4-cylinder diesel, AWD, and Manual priced around $25,000 with the EX-level ameneties.
Honda was late with the station wagons in the 80's, and got burned by having them in the 90's. Now, they are missing their opportunity to sieze the market rebellion against SUV's. Many people would gladly ditch the gas guzzling SUV's for a more fuel efficiant Station wagon, IMHO.