3300 Miles and Going
I’ve officially reached 3300
miles in my 2012 Black 6 cylinder AWD Crosstour and I’m still going with no
plans to stop! This car is my third Crosstour Demo and by far my favorite Honda
of all time. In the past I’ve enjoyed
the Prelude Si of the late 80’s, the Prelude 4 wheel steering of the 90’s, the
trucky Passport (a rebranded Isuzo Rodeo), and the Honda designed and built
Pilot (which blew away the Passport and was itself blown away by the 2nd
generation Pilot). I drove the latest
iteration of the CRV when I could get one out of inventory that wasn’t sold and
I even drove a black Fit sport for a year—I blacked out the rear windows to
give it an SUV/ CUV feel—it was fun—real zippy! As you can see I’ve had my fair share of rides
in many Honda cars and let me tell you I believe the best and most underrated
Honda is currently the Crosstour!
The Crosstour, originally part of
the Accord family, now has its own model.
The wide stance, six cylinder Crosstour equipped with a 3,4,6 cylinder
management, gives the car superior handling over many of the Hondas that have
come before it. I don’t know technical
numbers, ratios, or specs—I just know what I feel. It’s quick off the line and gives me complete
confidence when pulling out into traffic, which gives many of us anxiety. I’ve
added “ambience lights” under the dash, which provide a complimentary blue glow
underneath and a brightly lit backlight that sure is neat to look at when the
sun goes down. The standard center console houses a mini jack for aux audio, a
USB for Ipod or MP3 integration, and a power outlet to plug in my phone charger
without having it out in plain sight ruining an otherwise clean and sleek look.
The center console also delivers
airflow to the rear passengers, which is a nice feature appreciated by my kids—it
gets real hot back there during the summer months! Another bonus for the back seat passengers is
an optional center armrest with cup holders that can be pulled down to make
long trips with four people comfortable, but of course there are three seats
across with shoulder belts if needed.
Traveling with large cargo? Trunk
space is not a problem, the Crosstour’s large tailgate opens real wide. Simple silver handles to the left and right
allow the 60 40 split rear seats to drop down without even a push (they are
spring loaded), and makes putting the golf clubs in the car an easy feat. There is a removable storage bin under the
rear floor for whatever you want to throw at it: ice and beverages, jumper cables,
blankets, jackets...you name it. I added
a trunk organizer that can clip to any of the four floor eyelets. You can secure it against the back of the
front seats or along the back edge against the tailgate depending on your
needs. An area light sits against the
side to light the back at night. Another
notable feature is the power plug in the cargo area. I use it to keep a rechargeable flashlight
plugged in and charged in case of emergencies.
I love the 17 inch alloy
wheels. Honda has never been terrific at
wheel style and these are perfect for the Crosstour—a great look for a great
ride! I don’t know how wide the tires
are, but looking at the rear—they look meaty and wide. The grill has a macho feel that gives the
Crosstour more of an SUV look than a car look.
A kind of diamond plate pattern along the rocker panel compliments the
SUV-ness of the vehicle, as well.
Other somewhat expected yet neat
features include: XM Radio (90 days free), Bluetooth integration via Honda’s
Handsfree Link, auto dimming rearview mirror, rear camera on ALL models, one
touch open / close sunroof, projector beam headlights, fully adjustable
steering column (up/ down, in/ out), two position memory seat, two zone climate
control...The list of standard features is truly astounding for a Honda. This car could easily sold as is as an Acura,
but not it’s value priced as a Honda! I’m
telling you, it’ll exceed all your expectations and give you a smile every time
you sit in it—it does for me!
Written by Adam Barish
Follow him on Twitter: @abarish
