Honda to Introduce Wagon-Van Crosstour

2010 Honda Crosstour

Washington DC July 9, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that following in the footsteps of Chrysler and Toyota, which fielded the Pacifica and Venza, Honda has announced that it will sell a vehicle it calls the Accord Crosstour beginning this fall as a 2010 model.

According to Automotive News, Honda declined to give additional specifics for the vehicle, which is not quite a wagon and not quite a crossover. It will be based on the Honda Accord platform, with a roofline higher than that of an Accord sedan but lower than that of an Odyssey minivan or Pilot crossover.

Spy photos of the vehicle show two rows of seats, similar to the Venza. The photos also show two tailpipes, meaning the test mules likely carry the same 271-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 engine as the Accord.

A source said the vehicle will be built at Honda's East Liberty, Ohio, assembly plant. Honda is jumping late into a segment that has been having some problems. Chrysler was so disappointed by sales of the Pacifica that it killed production of the vehicle in 2007.

Toyota had hoped to sell about 50,000 Venzas in 2009, but year-to-date sales are slightly below target, at 20,463 units.