 |
Sponsored by:
|
| The Toyota Camry |
 |
|
 Is it a car, is it a hatchback, or is it a crossover utility wagon? That’s exactly the sequence of questions I asked when I arrived at my New England home recently to discover the all-new 2010 Honda Accord CrossTour parked in my driveway. One of the top-selling models in the U.S., Honda’s Accord has been repackaged, and now comes in crossover wagon styling, with greater functionality with its rear hatch and the availability of Real Time 4-Wheel Drive. The new model is 2.5-inches longer and 300 pounds heavier than the Accord sedan; it also has a different suspension and larger brakes.
The Honda Accord CrossTour is a blend of car, hatchback and utility wagon; our model was the 4WD EX-L that is priced starting at $34,020, and has an estimated fuel economy of 17mpg city/25 mpg highway. A front-wheel-drive version starts at $29, 670 and achieves 18/27.
I like the somewhat novel looks of the CrossTour, but what I love is its full-time all-wheel drive (AWD) because I live in a region of the country that gets snow and ice. But, what I’ve also learned, over two decades of test-driving new vehicles, is that AWD is more than a safety issue for drivers who live in cold climes. Four-wheel drive traction is also a smart driving choice even in “the smile belt”, or southern regions of the country. Why, you might ask? Because there are many other conditions that make roads surfaces slick-such as heavy rains and sleet; a build-up of pollutants and oil on tarmac, especially on urban beltways; and, in general, dirt and gravel roadways. The new CrossTour also comes with vehicle stability assist and traction control to also improve handling, along with 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS, Brake Assist, and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). This high-tech set of systems means the CrossTour has some of the greatest braking and traction technology on the road today. I also like the 8.1 inches of ground clearance at the vehicle’s differentials, although this slims to 6-inches at the front fascia.
 The exterior styling of the 2010 CrossTour is sleek and attractive. From the side, this 4-door mid-sized model has swept coupe-like lines, with a bustled look at the back, with a slightly upturned hatchback liftgate. The rear end is punctuated by chrome exhaust tips. The new model rides on 18-inch alloy wheels (17s for the 2WD), and is appointed with auto off/on projector halogen headlights and fog lamps; chrome door handles; body-colored, and heated and folding power side mirrors that tilt down when the vehicle is in reverse gear. Other features include a one-touch power moonroof w/ tilt and a rear window wiper/washer, along with a remote entry system and power window control. It also comes with Honda’s Satellite-Linked Navigation System, that has voice recognition and a rear-view camera.
Under the hood of the CrossTour, you’ll find Honda’s 271-hp, 3.5-Liter,
V-6 Engine, which has variable cylinder management to improve fuel economy and gets a ULEV-2 emissions rating. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission; steering is power-assisted rack-and-pinion. It can travel up to 100,000 miles with no scheduled tune-ups.
A long list of safety features includes 3-point seat belts at all seating positions (front belts w/ automatic tensioning system); dual-stage, multi-threshold front airbags and front side airbags w/ an occupant detection system; side curtain airbags w/ rollover sensor; driver and front passenger's active head restraints, and an advanced body structure, with side impact door beams. Other safety features are lower anchors and tethers for children’s car seats, daytime running lights, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
 Inside this well-appointed new model, you’ll find leather-trimmed and heated front seats, along with other leather trim touches; the driver’s seat has 10-way power adjustment, with lumbar and 2-position memory while the front passenger seat has 4-way power adjustment. Also up front is dual-zone climate control, and there are second-row climate vents. Second-row seats have a 60/40 split rear to increase stowage and utility. With the CrossTour seats up, there is 25.7 cu-ft. of cargo room; when down, stowage grows to 51.3 cu-ft of utility room.
Other interior features include a tilt/telescoping steering wheel to accommodate different-sized drivers. It has illuminated cruise, audio and phone controls, with Bluetooth. Audiophiles will enjoy the 360-Watt AM/FM/6-Disc in-dash system with 6 premium speakers and subwoofer; USB Interface; XM satellite radio; MP3/Windows Media playback capability; an MP3/auxiliary input jack; and speed-sensitive volume control.
|
|
|
