2010 Honda Crosstour

The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour comes with a pleasant, car-like ride and a powerful V6 engine. In fact, reviewers’ only complaint about its performance concerns the brakes, which can take longer than expected to stop the heavy car. Fuel economy, while above average, also doesn’t measure up to top competitors.

• "With steering that's not as crisp, as well as a loftier perch and larger tires on 17- or 18-inch wheels, the Crosstour is no Accord sedan on the road. But it is not completely sensory depriving like most crossovers. That's because it is a wagon, and it retains most of the sedan's overall composure." -- Car and Driver
• “It feels like an Accord sedan (albeit with 300 extra pounds) right down to its accurate steering and predictable handling." -- Edmunds
• "Frankly, it rides more like a big Toyota or Lexus. The steering too, is more languid, with intentionally slower response than the Accord sedan. Again, Lexuslike." -- Motor Trend
• "As it is with the family sedan archrivals, Honda once again provides the more entertaining drive, with quicker, more direct steering; firmer brake pedal feel; reduced body roll and front-end plow - in general, a more dynamically 'connected' feel. All good stuff." -- Autoblog
• "Sure, the Crosstour is a far more engaging drive than the Venza, but it doesn't feel as sure-footed and solid on the road. We spent a long portion of our drive loop on the highway, too, and found the Crosstour to be smooth and comfortable. The ride is relatively firm, yet suspension damping is good, and the car is hardly fazed by potholes and pavement breaks." -- Next Autos

Acceleration and Power

The Crosstour comes with a V6 engine that makes 271 horsepower and is paired to a five-speed automatic transmission. Reviewers appreciate the engine’s ample power --  which beats most competitors, including the more affordable Venza. Still, several wonder why Honda doesn’t offer a more fuel-efficient four-cylinder option or a sporty manual transmission option.

Unfortunately, the Crosstour’s fuel economy isn’t as impressive as its Toyota rival’s. According to Honda’s estimates, it’s expected to achieve 18/27 mpg city/highway in 2WD configuration and 17/25 mpg in 4WD. The Venza’s V6 engine has a 19/26 rating.

• "The Crosstour is a runner right out of the box, with the V6 pulling hard and the transmission snapping off quick shifts. We'd like even more control and the responsiveness of an auto-manual shift mode, but that's not offered." -- AutoWeek
• "Despite a 300-pound weight addition to the Accord chassis, the Crosstour accelerates with ease. The engine delivers a powerful surge as valve timing and lift change at high rpms while the transmission shifts smoothly." -- Automobile Magazine
• "Low-end torque is weak just like in the V6 Accord sedan. Even when the engine hits its stride at 5,000 rpm, Honda doesn't allow much personality to come through, so the soundtrack remains dull." -- Edmunds
• “Acceleration comes smoothly enough, though it feels a few protein shakes shy of Toyota's 3.5-liter Venza and a full training regimen short of the Nissan Murano -- really this league's Rocky Balboa." -- Cars.com
• “It's a lovely engine that runs smoothly and quietly at low speeds and gives off a racy snarl at full throttle. Power is more than adequate for the Crosstour's two-ton-or-so heft." -- About.com
• "The 275-hp V6 engine drives a five-speed automatic transmission with a G-force cornering feature: If it senses you're driving through corners, it delays upshifts or downshifts because drivers may find them unsettling. If you downshift manually, it more carefully matches engine speed to avoid little jolts." -- Gear Log

Handling and Braking

Reviewers love the Crosstour’s comfortable, sedan-like ride, but a few of them criticize the sluggish brakes.

• "The ride feels just slightly softer than that of the sedan, but handling is still respectable. For the added weight and height, the Crosstour corners commendably, especially when compared to the Venza. Steering in the Honda, though, is quite lifeless." -- Automobile Magazine
• "And it's not light; about 300 pounds more than a V-6 Accord to start and an additional couple hundred pounds for all-wheel drive, which overtaxes the CR-V-size brakes under heavy use.” -- Car and Driver
• "Still, the weakest dynamic link on this 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour EX-L Navi is the brakes. … Our Crosstour stops from 60 mph in 131 feet, but fades to 135 feet on the second stop.” -- Edmunds
• “Honda tuned the Crosstour's suspension for better comfort versus the sedan -- itself on the firmer side of family cars -- and the resulting ride should suit most drivers. I drove a Venza with 20-inch wheels back-to-back with a Crosstour wearing 18s, and ride comfort seemed about even." -- Cars.com
• "We tossed the Crosstour into some 90-degree corners at twice the posted limit, with little drama and nary a tire squealing, thanks to stability control and Honda's attention to properly managing the extra 300 pounds compared with an Accord sedan. There's noticeable feel for the road through the steering wheel." -- AutoWeek

All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel drive is available on the EX-L model only. Several reviewers say the system makes the car even heavier and doesn’t do much to enhance handling.

• "Optional on the EX-L, [the all-wheel drive system] adds 183 pounds. I evaluated front- and all-wheel-drive Crosstours, and the extra weight doesn't render a major difference in acceleration." -- Cars.com
• "The all-wheel-drive system, which delivers power to the front wheels and shifts it rearward (up to a 50/50 split) when traction is low, doesn't seem to enhance the handling; if anything, its extra weight (about 180 lbs) makes the Crosstour feel a tad more slovenly in the corners. Unless you live in snow country, I'd skip it." -- About.com
• "Unless you've got a country ski lodge or a spouse who's terrified of snow, you should be okay with the front-drive version, saving $1,450 and about $100 a year in fuel…" -- Gear Log