Honda Crosstour Hatchback-2013

PREVIEW

More a large fastback-roofed hatchback than a true crossover, the 2013 Honda Crosstour offers a few perks over the related Accord sedan. There are about 10 more cubic feet of seats-up cargo capacity, and it's easily accessed thanks to that hatchback design. There's also the availability of all-wheel drive and handling that's more carlike than the typical crossover's.

This year's Crosstour also features a number of improvements, including a more powerful V6 engine paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission, available keyless ignition/entry and newly available driver aids such as blind-spot display and lane-departure/forward collision warning. Additionally, front and rear end styling has been revised for a more rugged look.

But the reality is that we still think there's more to be gained from some of the Crosstour's more practical wagon- and SUV-style crossover competitors. Models such as the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox or 2013 Nissan Murano provide considerably greater (and more easily accessed) cargo space thanks to their more functional, boxy shapes and still drive quite competently. We also like the more wagon like 2013 Toyota Venza if for nothing else than its more graceful styling. But if you have a soft spot for Hondas and want something between a sedan and crossover, the Crosstour should be a satisfying choice.

FEATURES

The 2013 Honda Crosstour hatchback is available in EX and EX-L trim levels.

The EX comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, foglamps, a sunroof, keyless entry, eight-way power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, automatic air-conditioning, a 60/40-split-folding rear seatback, a rearview camera (with its monitor embedded in the rearview mirror), Bluetooth and a seven-speaker sound system with a six-CD changer, auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The EX V6 adds 18-inch wheels, keyless ignition/entry, an 8-inch monitor for the rearview camera, a blind-spot monitor, dual-zone automatic climate control, a four-way power passenger seat, Bluetooth streaming audio and an upgraded sound system with Pandora radio.

The EX-L includes the EX V6 features (less the 18-inch wheels and keyless ignition/entry) and adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver seat memory functions, a cargo cover, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a hidden removable utility box and satellite radio. The EX-L V6 further adds the 18-inch wheels and keyless ignition/entry. The sole option for the EX-L is a voice-activated navigation system.

INTERIOR

When it comes to the look of its cabin, the 2013 Honda Crosstour is a dead ringer for the previous-generation Accord sedan on which it is based. This means that the center stack is crowded with a plethora of buttons -- opting for the navigation system only adds to the button overload. Fortunately, the combination of a high-mounted screen, voice activation and a multipurpose control knob serves to simplify operation of the many systems.

The Crosstour offers a roomy cabin, with respectable head- and legroom in the front and rear seats. The seats themselves are comfortable and supportive, though some may find the lumbar support too aggressive.

Compared to an Accord sedan, the Crosstour is indeed more versatile, with the hatchback allowing one to load bulky items easily. However, there are only 25.7 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seats and 51.3 cubes with them folded. Intrusive wells for the rear wheels further impede usefulness. More traditional wagons and crossovers can accommodate quite a bit more.

UNDER THE HOOD

The 2013 Honda Crosstour offers a choice of two engines. One is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that produces 192 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The other is a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed automatic is standard on the four while a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters comes with the V6. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available on the EX-L V6.

In Autoexpress performance testing, a previous V6/five-speed automatic front-wheel-drive Crosstour accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a class-competitive 7.5 seconds. We'd expect the current, slightly more powerful V6 with the six-speed to be a few tenths quicker.

The EPA fuel economy estimates range from 22 mpg city/31 mpg highway and 25 mpg in combined driving for a four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive version down to a still respectable 19/28/22 for a V6 with all-wheel drive.