Blended delineation
What I particularly admire about the Crosstour is the way that it has blurred the traditional lines of automotive delineation by blending the properties of one of Canada’s favourite sedans with the benefits and advantages that accompany crossover ownership.
That sort of amalgamation really extends the versatility of a vehicle such as the Accord. It means that one can enjoy Accord-like driving dynamics while knowing that in the morning you can throw a ton of ski gear into the Crosstour and head for the hills with the security of 4WD. And yes, Honda does refer to the Crosstour’s all-wheel-drive setup as a 4-wheel-drive system.
Rather than debate the legitimacy of its 4WD terminology, I’ll just say that on wet roads, the system allows just a hint of front wheel spin before the rear wheels engage to maximize traction. I didn’t get the opportunity to put the technology through the paces of a snowstorm, so I’ll withhold comment on that facet and simply advise that the base Crosstour is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) affair.
What attracts me to this vehicle more than its size and shape is the availability of 4WD. I doubt there will be a groundswell of interest in the FWD format but hey, I’ve been to be wrong when it comes to automotive trends and fashionable clothing.
On the road
I enjoyed driving the Crosstour. It sits a wee bit higher than a conventional sedan, and that helps somewhat with visibility, but only when looking ahead or side to side. Rearward visibility is in a word: dreadful. The side mirrors help enormously to see objects to the rear, and if equipped with a navigation system, the back-up camera enables precision parking.
A short drive over rough roads quickly confirmed the Crosstour’s rock-solid structural integrity. It’s from rigid foundation such as this, that suspension systems do their best work. The underpinnings of the Crosstour exemplify this axiom.
What I particularly admire about the Crosstour is the way that it has blurred the traditional lines of automotive delineation by blending the properties of one of Canada’s favourite sedans with the benefits and advantages that accompany crossover ownership.
 |
| Honda does refer to the Crosstour’s all-wheel-drive setup as a 4-wheel-drive system. |
That sort of amalgamation really extends the versatility of a vehicle such as the Accord. It means that one can enjoy Accord-like driving dynamics while knowing that in the morning you can throw a ton of ski gear into the Crosstour and head for the hills with the security of 4WD. And yes, Honda does refer to the Crosstour’s all-wheel-drive setup as a 4-wheel-drive system.
Rather than debate the legitimacy of its 4WD terminology, I’ll just say that on wet roads, the system allows just a hint of front wheel spin before the rear wheels engage to maximize traction. I didn’t get the opportunity to put the technology through the paces of a snowstorm, so I’ll withhold comment on that facet and simply advise that the base Crosstour is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) affair.
What attracts me to this vehicle more than its size and shape is the availability of 4WD. I doubt there will be a groundswell of interest in the FWD format but hey, I’ve been to be wrong when it comes to automotive trends and fashionable clothing.
On the road
I enjoyed driving the Crosstour. It sits a wee bit higher than a conventional sedan, and that helps somewhat with visibility, but only when looking ahead or side to side. Rearward visibility is in a word: dreadful. The side mirrors help enormously to see objects to the rear, and if equipped with a navigation system, the back-up camera enables precision parking.
A short drive over rough roads quickly confirmed the Crosstour’s rock-solid structural integrity. It’s from rigid foundation such as this, that suspension systems do their best work. The underpinnings of the Crosstour exemplify this axiom.
 |
| The Crosstour utilizes the Accord’s polished powertrain, which includes its 3.5-litre 271 horsepower i-VTEC SOHC V6 engine fused to a 5-speed automatic transmission. |