2012 Honda Crosstour Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Honda Crosstour review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Crosstour, and includes Honda Crosstour safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

Perhaps enough Accord loyalists pined for the Accord station wagons of the past, or perhaps Honda’s market research showed that buyers wanted the utility of a crossover vehicle with the fuel economy of a sedan. Or maybe it’s because rival Toyota created the Venza crossover wagon based on the Camry platform. Whatever the case, Honda introduced the Accord-based Crosstour in 2010, offering buyers one more choice in the crossover segment.

Minimal changes are made to the 2012 Honda Crosstour. Honda also officially drops the “Accord” prefix, simplifying the name to “Crosstour.” A rearview camera (previously available only on the EX-L), a Bluetooth wireless cell phone link (also previously available only on the EX-L), and a USB port for portable MP3 players all come standard this year.

The 2012 Honda Crosstour comes in two trims, EX and EX-L. Only the Crosstour EX-L trim is available with all-wheel-drive.

Standard features on the Crosstour EX include 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps, automatic headlights, and heated side mirrors. A 10-way power driver’s seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel help to ensure a proper driving position, and dual-zone automatic climate control moderates cabin temperature. Other highlights include a power moonroof, a premium sound system with a CD changer, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB port, and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

The Crosstour EX-L adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, memory for the driver’s settings, satellite radio, and better stereo speakers. A HomeLink transmitter is also standard, along with a leather-trimmed steering wheel and shifter, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a cargo cover. A navigation system with a rearview camera is available on the EX-L.

The Crosstour’s sole engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 271 horsepower and is matched to a five-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive – dubbed Real Time 4WD by Honda – is available on the EX-L model. The system sends power to the rear wheels as conditions merit, but normally operates in front-wheel-drive mode. Fuel economy is rated at 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway by the EPA for front-wheel-drive models, and 18-mpg city/26-mpg highway for all-wheel-drive models.

Standard safety features for the 2012 Crosstour include antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, traction and stability control, and six airbags, including side-curtain airbags. Making the rearview camera standard for 2012 is a wise choice, since the rear roof pillars can obstruct vision.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet rated the 2012 Honda Crosstour for front or side impacts as this review is written, but the NHTSA gives the car 4 Stars out of 5 for rollover resistance, for both the front-wheel and all-wheel-drive models.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IHIS) hasn’t yet rated the 2012 Crosstour, either, but for 2011 it earned Good ratings in the offset frontal-, side-, and rear-impact tests, and a Marginal rating in the roof crush strength test, with that last score keeping it from earning a Top Safety Pick.

Neither Consumer Reports nor J.D. Power and Associates are making predictions about the 2012 Honda Crosstour’s reliability as this report is compiled, but based on 2011 results, Consumer Reports thinks that reliability will be above average while J.D. Power predicts that the Crosstour will be one of the most dependable midsize crossovers.

Like the Accord upon which it’s based, the Crosstour is built in Ohio, and for 2012, Honda has ditched the “Accord” part of the name – the Crosstour moniker now stands alone.

Wagon buyers like having lots of cargo room, and the Crosstour offers 25.7 cubic-feet of cargo storage with the rear seat up and 51.3 cu-ft with the rear seat down.

Primary competitors to the Honda Crosstour include the Ford Edge, the Nissan Murano, the Subaru Outback, and the Toyota Venza.

Like it or not, the Crosstour is the result of Honda’s recipe combining the station wagon of old and the crossover SUV of new. It’s an alternative to more traditional compact SUVs like the CR-V, and it will appeal to Accord buyers who need more cargo space or a bit more ride height. Unfortunately, the unappealing mish-mash of hatchback styling in the rear and Accord looks up front hasn’t helped sales. Of course, those who need more cargo space but love the Accord’s driving dynamics may not care what it looks like.

By Tim Healey