Despite moribund luxury sales, automakers continue to debut all-new upscale crossovers. The excitement of a new market segment outweighs the risks of a new-car launch to manufacturers such as Honda, which just rolled out the line-topping Accord Crosstour. A melding of polite sedan manners with rough-road capabilities and an SUV-like cargo capacity, the Crosstour is aimed at both young families and active empty-nesters searching for comfortable transportation for themselves and plenty of gear, in any weather.

Model Lineup
Sharing the same V6 engine and longish, 110-inch-wheelbase chassis, the Accord Crosstour EX and more luxurious EX-L are 5-door, 5-passenger people movers. Designed to top the Accord line, the base Crosstour EX is already nicely equipped with features such as dual-zone climate control, a moonroof, a 7-speaker 360-watt sound system, and enough detailing and chrome to take its place ahead of mainstream traffic. The EX rides on 225/65R 17-inch all-season tires, and all EXs are front-wheel drive.

View Pictures:  2010 Honda Accord Crosstour

Upscale EX-L Crosstours add luxury with leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth support, a cargo privacy cover and upgraded stereo speakers. They also ride on a unique aluminum wheel with 225/60R-18 tires. Significant stand-alone options exclusive to the EX-L are all-wheel drive and a navigation system with a backup camera.

Under the Hood
The sole Crosstour engine is a 24-valve 3.5-liter V6. Rated at 271 horsepower at 6200 rpm and 254 lb-ft of torque at 5000 rpm, the single-overhead-cam engine benefits from Honda's impressively imperceptible Variable Cylinder Management system. It operates the V6 on six, four or three cylinders as appropriate to increase fuel economy. Interestingly, active noise reduction via the sound system effectively eliminates the annoying "boom" associated with partial-cylinder operation.

Burning regular gasoline, the Crosstour returns EPA estimates of 18 mpg city/27 mpg highway in FWD trim and 17/25 mpg as an AWD vehicle.

Sophisticated electronics holds the Crosstour's 5-speed automatic transmission in gear longer on hills and between corners on twisty roads. This helps maintain good acceleration and reduces shift busyness. There are no paddle shifters, but the Crosstour does match revs when manually downshifted with the traditional console-mounted shifter.

On the other hand, the AWD system is all mechanical. It normally drives only the front wheels, but if they slip, a ramp-and-ball mechanism and a multiplate clutch progressively lock to drive the rear wheels. The system provides surefooted traction in rain and snow and on dirt roads with no driver input and minimal maintenance. There is no low-range gearing, and while the Crosstour offers an ample real-world ground clearance of 8 inches, it is not designed for hard-core off-roading. A Honda accessory hitch and other hardware provide towing capacity of 1,500 pounds.

Compare: Honda Accord Crosstour vs. Toyota Venza vs. Subaru Outback

Inner Space
As the Accord flagship, the Crosstour is upscale without resorting to luxury pretension. Both the EX and EX-L interiors are similar in initial greeting, with a touch of wood trim highlighting the curving dash and pleasant soft-touch materials on the armrests. Legroom is especially generous in the large cabin for both front- and rear-seaters, with headroom not far behind. Even the sloping rear roofline does not intrude unnecessarily on the rear seats, which are accessed through large doors. Small touches such as grab handles above all four doors and multiple cupholders are impressive.

Leather is the main attraction in the EX-L, along with the optional navigation system. The hides do blend better with the door and dash trim, giving a more cohesive feel to the EX-L.

It's behind the rear seats where the Crosstour's unique personality takes over. The rear hatch opens at an angle reminiscent of a teardrop trailer's, giving excellent access to the carpeted cargo area. It offers a good 25.7 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats up and 51.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The rear section of the floor flips up in three pieces, reversing to a wipeable plastic-faced deck for muddy paws and boots. Under the floor, a cargo hold features a large, lift-out tray for easy toting or cleaning. At the sides, nicely detailed handles release the rear 60/40 split-folding seatbacks, which then automatically flip forward to make a large, flat loading floor. Four tie-down points and a 12-volt outlet complete this large, adaptable cargo space.

Discuss:  Does the Crosstour's mix of off-road capability and on-road manners appeal to you?

One way Honda kept the interior storage so open was by mounting the spare tire under the car. It lives in a plastic box for cleanliness and lowers via a crank.

On the Road
Thanks to its 2-inch-taller ride height, sliding in and out of the Crosstour is a little easier than the lower Accord sedans, and, at least looking forward, there are some of the improved sightlines associated with small SUVs. Rear vision is slightly hampered by the lowering roofline and twin rear-window hatchback glass, but large side mirrors mean there are no rearview mysteries. Sightseeing is good through the side windows.

Bing: More Pictures of the Accord Crosstour

Engine power is better than acceptable but relies on rpm. With such a smooth engine and silky shifting, listening to the V6 snarl to life is easy duty, and it will zip along if you keep your foot in it. The FWD models exhibit a touch of torque steer, and even the AWD will politely spin the front tires for an instant before the rear tires come online if you trounce the throttle from a dead stop.

Handling is fine for an all-around crossover, and while the Crosstour never feels ponderous and hides its length well on the road, its all-season tires are happier on the interstate than on twisting secondary roads. The steering is not overly communicative. In fact, the overall fun of driving is muted; the Crosstour delivers you to exciting destinations in comfort and style, rather than engaging you with the road just traveled.

There's a definite difference between the EX FWD and EX-L AWD ride quality as well. The EX rocks lightly side-to-side on its softer suspenders; the EX-L has a more controlled, less head-shaking gait.

Right for You?
Honda's Crosstour covers a lot of ground - and well, too. It's handy in town and has a touch of class, and it offers long-distance touring comfort with the option of exploring dirt roads while carrying more than an average carload of gear. We should also say we found the Crosstour stylish and attention-getting; more so than in photos.

Discuss:  Does the Crosstour's mix of off-road capability and on-road manners appeal to you?

The price for this intriguing versatility is price. Starting at $29,670 (plus $710 destination charges) for the EX, the Crosstour begins just about where the Accord sedan leaves off ($31,305). That said, the meat of Crosstour sales is sure to be the best-value, $32,570 EX-L in FWD trim.

Adding AWD means a $34,020 EX-L sticker, and all-up with the Navi option puts the price at $36,220. That's a new high for Accord by about $5,000, so the styling, versatility and AWD capability need to be worth it - they are.

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Longtime Road & Track contributor Tom Wilson's credits include local racing championships, three technical engine books and hundreds of freelance articles.

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