On the road
Even though it’s not that high off the ground (with 152 mm of ground clearance), the initial impression from the driver’s seat is that Crosstour is definitely a crossover, not a sedan.
But once underway, it impresses with Honda’s usual attention to agile handling. According to Honda, engineers made sure the heavy powertrain components were placed low in the vehicle, to facilitate a lower centre of gravity.
Lots of competitors have 6-speed automatics, but you won’t feel hard done by with this 5-speed, which is superbly mated to the only available engine — the 271-hp, 3.5-litre, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V6, with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM).
Power delivery is very smooth; the transmission always feels like it’s in the proper gear. It also features two Honda firsts: If the transmission senses you are cornering, and you let off the throttle a bit (which most people do when they enter a corner), it doesn’t downshift, (which often cause abruptness). This tranny holds the gear you were in. It also has automatic rpm rev-matching, for smoother downshifts. I thought both features worked great.
When you’re easy on the throttle, you can coax the “eco” light to come on the dash, signifying that the VCM system has shut down some of the six cylinders. Like other Honda vehicles with VCM, Crosstour employs “active” engine mounts to counteract some of the harshness of running on three or four cylinders. You can feel it, but the fuel economy gains are definitely worth the small price in refinement.
The Crosstour is 100 percent front-wheel drive, until one of the front wheels starts spinning, then the “reactive” system engages the rear axle, and ultimately, the rear wheels. If you were looking for full-time all-wheel-drive, check out Subaru or Audi and a few others, but not Honda. Crosstour’s “Real Time 4WD” components are similar to those found on the CRV.
Simple Model Line-up
Prices are yet to be released, but Honda told us Crosstour would be positioned above Accord V6 models — so expect fully equipped models to retail somewhere in the mid $30Ks, when they go on sale in late November.
The model hierarchy in Canada will be EX-L 2WD, EX-L 4WD, EX-L 4WD Nav.
Honda Canada is planning to sell about 3,000 per year.
Even though it’s not that high off the ground (with 152 mm of ground clearance), the initial impression from the driver’s seat is that Crosstour is definitely a crossover, not a sedan.
 |
| Power delivery is very smooth; the transmission always feels like it’s in the proper gear. |
But once underway, it impresses with Honda’s usual attention to agile handling. According to Honda, engineers made sure the heavy powertrain components were placed low in the vehicle, to facilitate a lower centre of gravity.
Lots of competitors have 6-speed automatics, but you won’t feel hard done by with this 5-speed, which is superbly mated to the only available engine — the 271-hp, 3.5-litre, 24-valve, SOHC, i-VTEC V6, with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM).
Power delivery is very smooth; the transmission always feels like it’s in the proper gear. It also features two Honda firsts: If the transmission senses you are cornering, and you let off the throttle a bit (which most people do when they enter a corner), it doesn’t downshift, (which often cause abruptness). This tranny holds the gear you were in. It also has automatic rpm rev-matching, for smoother downshifts. I thought both features worked great.
When you’re easy on the throttle, you can coax the “eco” light to come on the dash, signifying that the VCM system has shut down some of the six cylinders. Like other Honda vehicles with VCM, Crosstour employs “active” engine mounts to counteract some of the harshness of running on three or four cylinders. You can feel it, but the fuel economy gains are definitely worth the small price in refinement.
The Crosstour is 100 percent front-wheel drive, until one of the front wheels starts spinning, then the “reactive” system engages the rear axle, and ultimately, the rear wheels. If you were looking for full-time all-wheel-drive, check out Subaru or Audi and a few others, but not Honda. Crosstour’s “Real Time 4WD” components are similar to those found on the CRV.
Simple Model Line-up
Prices are yet to be released, but Honda told us Crosstour would be positioned above Accord V6 models — so expect fully equipped models to retail somewhere in the mid $30Ks, when they go on sale in late November.
The model hierarchy in Canada will be EX-L 2WD, EX-L 4WD, EX-L 4WD Nav.
Honda Canada is planning to sell about 3,000 per year.
 |
| Prices are yet to be released, but Honda told us Crosstour would be positioned above Accord V6 models. |