Boyland Honda

Flagship or spaceship?
Honda shows us the funky, big-boned hatchback that will top the Accord range.



BY STEVE SILER, PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL BALISKY AND CHRIS DOANE FOR BRENDA PRIDDY & COMPANY AND THE MANUFACTURER

September 2009
We've finally received the first set of images of the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, the upcoming plus-size hatchback to be positioned above the Accord sedan and coupe this fall as the flagship of the range.

Although Honda has yet to provide complete product information, tech specs, or interior photos, it is clear that it wanted to make the vehicle's close relationship to the Accord clear at first glance. Riding higher than the sedan, the Accord Crosstour greets the world in a big way, its front-end graphics virtually the same as those of the four-door, only magnified about one-and-a-half times. The profile of the vehicle follows the same thick-body/slim-greenhouse trend that picked up steam a few years ago when the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum were launched. Completely unexpected, however, is the Chrysler Crossfire-like negative-to-positive body crease that leads into the Crosstour's muscular gluteus. That's some real style from a company that usually shies away from controversy.
But controversy it will stir, especially on account of Honda's decision to make the Crosstour a rakish hatchback and not a more conventional wagon as with its main competition, the Toyota Venza and Subaru Outback. The sloping back end appears to blend bits of the Honda Insight and the Porsche Panamera (neither a cause célèbre of rear-end styling), but that said, we think it is better looking than either of those cars. Indeed, there are lots of clever tricks in the bodywork to mask the height of the rear end-the spoiler appears to be chest high-but as with the Insight, the tall tail should impart the Crosstour with both spectacular aerodynamic properties as well as a nice tall cargo area. Unfortunately, it also necessitated one of those annoying split-surface rear window treatments that kill rearward vision.

Buyers Coming Back to Earth-Literally
Why does this car exist? Honda appears to think that buyers are really over trucks, and the more carlike, the better, even when it comes to crossovers. "Our concept is to broaden the appeal of the Accord lineup by leveraging traditional Accord strengths of fun-to-drive performance and handling while also adapting to dramatic shifts in the light truck marketplace," said Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda. "The Accord Crosstour accomplishes that by offering a modern interpretation of a CUV while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan."
We won't argue with that sort of thinking. But we'll see how well Honda accomplished all of its goals-particularly the "fun-to-drive-performance and handling" bit-once we spend some time behind the wheel.

At Boyland Honda in Greenfield, Wisconsin, we are closer than you think.  That includes Milwaukee, South Milwaukee, Cudahy, West Allis, Wauwatosa, Oak Creek, Glendale, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay, Menomonee Falls, Greendale, Kenosha, River Hills, Brookfield, New Berlin, Pewaukee, Fox Point, Bayside, Racine and St. Francis.  Your new Honda is just minutes from anywhere in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area.

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