It's spring, so it's time to be away to the races, even one as stupid (and wonderfully successful) as Jay Lamm's 24 Hours of LeMons. This one took place at Sears Point.
About 420 miles door-to-door, 860 for the weekend and 24.4 mpg. Orchards along Interstate 5 were blooming, white for the usual almond trees and then pink for a few groves of cherries planted next to vineyards. A great time to drive in California, except for the major insect homicides.
Turns out that the Honda Crosstour drives a lot better than expected.
It settles into its suspension on the road, so you feel like the ride motions are being controlled by the dampers, not the springs. There's a lot less of that thing that makes every other Honda or Acura feel like there's 80 psi in the tires. It gives this cut-down MDX a poise that you won't find either in a Honda Accord or an Acura TL. It's like a different ride engineer at Honda R&D did the job. Hope he gets more work.
The car part of the Crosstour works pretty well, too. The low Honda-style beltline accentuates visibility, which keeps you relaxed on a long drive. Seats are great. There are plenty of interface solutions for infotainment systems, but the button-style approach of Honda works best for me (am probably alone in this preference). Large back seat. And cargo hold is easy to access, with the right liftover height and a hatch that doesn't require an NBA-type reach to pull it down and close it.
This could quickly become a preferred cross-country device around here. Only trouble is, the Crosstour's various personalities haven't been stitched together with much style. Maybe it would be more effective if it had a giant plasic replica of a hamburger and fries attached to the roof, like one of the comedy $500 cars at the 24 Hours of LeMons (jeez, it's like Halloween night in Berkeley out there).
Our guys won in their turbocharged FrankenMiata. It was Alice in Wonderland costumes for everybody this time.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 2080 miles
lowmilelude says:
06:51 PM, 03/12/10
Good to know this odd-looking Honda mishmash is actually a well-mannered vehicle. The Wife and I are looking at a Flex or something else, like this, for her next vehicle. The way Flex prices are, my checkbook is pleaded for ANYTHING else.
sgtroyer says:
07:20 PM, 03/12/10
At what point are they going to crush that Miata just to keep you guys from running away with it every time?
carguy622 says:
07:57 PM, 03/12/10
@lowmiledude: As you know, the Crosstour is not cheap either. Granted the Flex can get pricey when you start adding options and climbing up the trim levels, but it's also a much more utilitarian vehicle.
Also, let me fix that last sentence for you: "The way the Crosstour looks, my gag reflex is pleading for ANYTHING else." ;)
banhugh says:
04:18 AM, 03/13/10
@lowmiledude: Look for the comparison with the Toyota Vensa...
hybris says:
05:56 AM, 03/13/10
@lowmiledude
Have you considered a Taurus?
On the crosstour I only see it becoming the preferred cross country road trip car if the Flex is either gone or disabled other wise I think in practice most families will find this a bit restrictive on long trips when fully loaded.
captainvw says:
06:12 AM, 03/13/10
So....whatever the Crosstour is, its good at it...I can dig it
I still think its absolutely fugly though, Honda has gotta do something about that rump...
billt9 says:
06:57 AM, 03/13/10
My "preferred cross-country" machine would require decent cargo room to boot.
This car has the cargo room of a small wagon, inferior to even what a typical compact crossover has.
A CR-V has 35 / 73 cu ft cargo, a Crosstour has 25 / 51 cu ft cargo.
Totally owned by a cheaper, better compact crossover.
Said cheaper better compact crossover gets the exact same mileage of this more expensive, SMALLER crosstour.
WTF. Die wagons. Crossovers cannot be beaten.
aspade says:
08:33 AM, 03/13/10
If your only metric is cargo space and mileage look no further than the Sienna.
txmatt1 says:
08:41 AM, 03/13/10
>WTF. Die wagons. Crossovers cannot be beaten.
Stupid statement of the week. You're comparing a CUV to a sport hatch/sport activity vehicle, whatever you want to call this segment. Real wagons without the sloping rear do everything a comparable CUV will while handling better and likely getting better gas mileage. CUV's are for people that are so fearful of the wagon stereotype that they choose a less capable vehicle just to be able to claim it's not a wagon.
05mazda6hatch says:
08:41 AM, 03/13/10
I can't believe how little cargo space this thing has. My Mazda 6 hatch has 23/58 cu ft and manages not to look like Shrek at the same time. I'm disappointed in Honda's packaging here.
oohno says:
08:43 AM, 03/13/10
just a reminder: this isn't a cut-down MDX. (that's the ZDX) this is a jacked-up Accord.
oohno says:
08:46 AM, 03/13/10
(also, Michael Jordan loves the Hondas.)
jdbosmaus says:
09:47 AM, 03/13/10
> The low Honda-style beltline ...
Compared with what? The Camaro?
Cars with slit windows are asinine... both ugly (subjective, admittedly) and dysfunctional (objective)
bankerdanny says:
09:49 AM, 03/13/10
Txmatt, I agree. And in some cases, my Forester for example, they call it a "crossover" but it's really a station wagon. The auto parts stores insist on listing the Forester as a truck, but, ground clearance aside, its a car, not a truck/SUV/CUV.
jaeger1 says:
11:38 AM, 03/13/10
IS there a flattering angle for this thing? Ugh.
firstwagon says:
12:17 PM, 03/13/10
"WTF. Die wagons. Crossovers cannot be beaten."
I agree with the others, lame statement.
First of all it's not a wagon, or a CUV or SUV. The Crosstour is a 5 door hatchback sedan.
Basically a much heavier version of my dad's old 88 LeBaron GTS.
Crossovers are much closer to wagons and many are 100% wagons with just a name change to protect the insecure.
flyusmc says:
03:39 PM, 03/13/10
You know I remember when the Pontiac Aztec came out there were plenty of reviews that gushed how nice of a cross-country cruiser it was. However nobody EVER got over how ugly that vehicle was. I wonder if this vehicle will get a pass because of the Honda name.
firstwagon says:
06:08 PM, 03/13/10
I know it's trendy right now to complain the Crosstour is ugly and I'll admit it's doubtful anyone will buy it for it's looks.
However by no stretch of the imagination is it in the same league as the Aztec.
If it's not a big hit it's more likely to be because Americans don't like hatchbacks rather then the looks.
bimmerjay says:
04:59 AM, 03/14/10
Underneath the Aztek's (yes it was spelled with a 'k') "unique" styling was a warmed-over Pontiac Montana, which itself was a lousy minivan. The Aztek largely failed not just because of its styling but it was very expensive - priced far too high for its intended audience. Honda's Element actually went for a similar idea but at a price point its target market could afford.
tomm250 says:
08:07 AM, 03/14/10
The Aztek created a new category for ugly. Others have tried, but no other vehicle has yet to achieve that lofty level of ugly.
tomm250 says:
12:22 PM, 03/14/10
Funny, the picture kinda looks like a modern, 4 door Pinto.
skw0123 says:
11:02 PM, 03/14/10
Funny, I did exactly the same drive this weekend (but from Northern California to Disneyland) and my CX-9 that the same bugbeard (that's what I call it, anyhow). Only I have a gray car which hides the effect (except for the front plate).
rlyon says:
08:19 AM, 03/18/10
Title should just read 'Pointless'
charlesb says:
09:37 AM, 03/20/10
If this vehicle had a high squared off rear like a traditional wagon it would be so much more practical. The sight lines out would be much better and the cargo capacity would swell too.