2011 Honda Crosstour Los Angeles

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The Honda Accord has always been are roomy, comfortable and very easy to live with. For 2011, the Accord line-up offers some significant changes, with the biggest news being the all new Crosstour. The new 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour is a crossover wagon launched late in 2010 based on the Accord but with expanded cargo capacity. The Crosstour seats five, but is intended to be more versatile than the Accord sedan. The Accord Crosstour is larger than other Accord models, measuring two inches longer and nearly seven inches taller than the Accord sedan. The Crosstour's rear seat is split 60/40, and each half folds forward automatically by flipping a lever just inside the tailgate. With the rear seats folded, there's nearly seven feet of length from the front seatbacks to the tailgate, with tie down points to keep objects secure. For all its cargo advantages and trick features, the Accord Crosstour is nonetheless about style as much as anything else. At least compared to other models in Honda's line-up.

New Honda Crosstour Power

The 2011 Honda Accord Crosstour EX and EX-L are powered with V6 a engine and an automatic transmission. Honda's Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) comes standard in all Accord models except the base LX sedan, but we were hard-pressed to notice the noise difference between LX and EX. The Crosstour has an upgrade called Active Sound Control (ASC), which is more sophisticated than ANC, according to Honda. Whereas ANC deals specifically with the elimination of low decibel noise entering the cockpit, ASC has a much broader range, including the elimination of unwanted high frequency noise. Crosstour is the only Accord offered with Honda's fully automatic Real Time 4WD. This all-wheel-drive system sends power to the rear wheels only when there is insufficient traction at the front wheels to keep the Crosstour moving forward under full control. Most of the time, AWD-equipped Crosstours operate like a standard front-drive car. Honda's system adds less weight than many AWD systems, and it can add a noticeable element of control when driving in the rain, snow or on unpaved surfaces. The Crosstour has other enhancements not available on other Accords. Its standard automatic transmission, for example, is programmed for a more sporting character. It matches revs when the driver chooses to downshift manually, which makes it sound like the driver is a highly-skilled pro. It holds gears more aggressively in manual mode, and it's less likely to shift up to the next gear on its own.

 Design of the 2011 Honda Crosstour

The Accord Crosstour features an easy-fold rear seat and a maximum 51.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The Crosstours come with a few more features than EX and EX-L sedans, including a new Active Sound Control noise-canceling system. The Crosstour EX-L 4WD eatures Honda's Real Time 4WD system. Navigation and rearview camera are available on the Crosstour EX-L and EX-L 4WD. The Crosstour is built on the same foundation as the coupe and sedan, with similar lines and styling cues, but it shares no body panels with either of its siblings. There are two obvious differences between the Crosstour and other Accords. The distance between the Crosstour's floorpan and roof is substantially higher, and its roof slopes gradually from the middle of the passenger compartment into an expansive hatchback. The hatch allows easy access to the Crosstour's expanded cargo area, yet lift-over height at its rear bumper is no higher than the typical sedan's.

'11 Honda Crosstour Cabin

Inside, the Accord Crosstour is roomy and practical. Many of the Accord's design elements are a product of auto/pedestrian collision standards. The wiper arm mounts are designed to break away when hit, for example. The Crosstour wagon is very much like the sedan inside. The instrument panel is essentially identical in all Accords. The Crosstour isn't noticeably more spacious, and certainly not more comfortable, but it does have a slightly higher seat bottom, or hip point as it's called. The result is a slightly higher seating position, and a better view of the road ahead. Accord's standard tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel provides a good range of adjustment and compliments the driver's seat movement, so people of every size can find a good driving position. The Crosstour is a definite step up from the sedan in cargo capacity and flexibility. Hinges on its tailgate are designed such that the operator does not have to step backwards when it's opening or shutting. Cargo volume nearly doubles compared to the sedan. Crosstour provides 25.7 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats are up. With the seats folded, maximum cargo capacity increases to 51.3 cubic feet. The rear cargo area measures about 41 inches deep by 55 inches at its widest, and the carpeted floor can be flipped over to its plastic underliner, so wet or dirty items won't soil the carpet. There's also a couple more cubic feet of space under the Crosstour's cargo floor, divided into separate plastic bins. The largest measures two feet square by nearly a foot deep, with a built-in handle for easy removal.

Conclusions

Offered only in the highest trim levels, the Accord Crosstour competes with the Toyota Venza, which, is similarly based on the Camry. Unlike other Accord models, the Crosstour is available with all-wheel drive. The Accord Crosstour for 2011 has six airbags, including two-stage front airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags and head-protection curtains for all outboard seats. Other standard safety features include active front head restraints, electronic stability control, antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, and a tire pressure monitor. The optional navigation system includes a rearview camera, which can help the driver spot children and other hazards behind the car when backing up. For more on this model, visit the official Honda Crosstour website!

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com