2013 Crosstour: Honda’s large hatch offers big utility

It was one of those one-night car-camping trips that seems to require a week’s-worth of gear. Fortunately, we had the rig for the job. Honda’s Crosstour ($28,060, including destination) is an odd duck. A full-size hatchback based on the Accord sedan, but with elevated ride height and available all-wheel-drive, it’s designed to appeal to couples, both young and old, with active lifestyles. Families are welcome, or course, but the Crosstour’s strengths cater to two-and-their-stuff. So we folded the rear seatbacks and crammed the cargo hold with lawn chairs, down comforters, aircraft-carrier-size sleeping pads, a jumbo cooler and half the contents of the kitchen cupboards. We nudged the start button (yes, Honda now offers keyless entry and ignition) and headed north. Our destination; a remote mountainside north of Addy. On the paved portion of our travels, the Crosstour acquitted itself in the manner of a quiet, comfortable and nicely equipped family sedan. It swallowed railroad crossings and broken pavement with smooth aplomb and cruised through the winding sections with the composure of its donor car. Then we ventured onto a bumpy, boulder-strewn two-lane track, where its 6.2 inches of ride height saved the vulnerable bits below. When the damp, uphill sections grew soft and slippery, the on-demand AWD system curbed wheel spin. Badged the Accord Crosstour upon its 2009 introduction, the large hatchback moves out from under the Accord umbrella and becomes own model this year, with a choice of two powerplants and either front- or all-wheel-drive. Redesigned front and rear fascias ruggedize the Crosstour’s appearance and provide a bit of visual separation from the Accord. A new 278-horsepower V-6 debuts and is mated with a new six-speed automatic transmission. The base engine, a 192-hp 2.4-liter four paired with a five-speed automatic, carries on unchanged. All-wheel-drive is available only on six-cylinder trims, with a starting price of $32,819. The revised Crosstour adds a standard rearview camera. Honda’s invaluable LaneWatch blind-spot display, which captures a live image of the roadway alongside the car’s passenger side, is standard on all but the base EX trim. Cyclists everywhere should cheer this technology. Other newly available safety systems include forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and lane-departure warning. The Crosstour is a bit larger than the Accord, though its cabin loses a smidgeon of passenger space. Four adults will travel comfortably and the split folding rear seats allow seating-chart flexibility. A clever trio of underfloor bins in the cargo area expands storage and hides smaller items from prying eyes. Cabin design is based on that of the previous-generation Accord. Upper and lower displays — one for navigation, the other for audio and other functions — share space in the instrument panel. Old-school buttons supplement a handful of touch-screen controls. For the most part, the system is tidy and intuitive, though a modest learning curve accompanies a few functions. In the end, the Crosstour adds to the Honda’s crossover family without replacing an existing model. With sedan-level comfort and cargo space enough for the most indulgent camper, it occupies a niche of its own. Don Adair is a Spokane-based freelance writer. Contact him at don@dadair.com. 2013 Honda Crosstour AWD EXLN V-6 Vehicle base price: $27,230 Trim level base price: $37,090 As tested: $37,920 Options: The AWD EXLN V-6 is a fully equipped trim; our tester included no optional equipment. EPA rating: 19 city/28 highway Unleaded regular fuel specified