2014
Honda
Crosstour
The 2014 Honda Crosstour is big enough to schlep you stuff around but not the brawniest of the strip-mall parking lot. Size does matter.
BY JEANNE MCDOWELL
9 Things To Know About The 2014 Honda Crosstour
Are you a station wagon gal from way back? If so, the 2014 Honda Crosstour might do the trick for you. It boasts a lot of space in the back of the vehicle and a touch of off-road ability, but not the parking hassle or girth of a full-on SUV.
The 2014 Honda Crosstour has something of a vehicular identity crisis: it can’t seem to decide if it wants to look like a car or a crossover. If you can live with that, it’s the perfect size–big enough, but not too big. It’s a longer, wider, and taller version of the Honda Accord with a long, curved roof.
If you want lots of power and vroom, you’ll enjoy the 2014 Honda Crosstour with a V-6 engine. It’s quieter in the 2014 Crosstour than a comparable engine in the Honda Accord. There is also a four-cylinder engine available with less horsepower, but better mileage.
The Honda Crosstour’s EX and the more luxurious EX-L models are 5-door, 5-passenger workhorses loaded with amenities like dual-zone climate control, a one-touch-to-open moon-roof and a 7-speaker 360-watt sound system. The very luxe EX-L also features leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth and an optional navigation system.
One of the reasons we love Hondas is that they’re loaded with safety features. One of the features we like best is the Lane Watch camera, which comes in all Crosstours except the base model. The system has a camera hidden away in the right-side mirror, and when you put your turn signal on, a monitor on the dashboard gives you a wide-angle view of the lane next to the car — an even better view than you get when you look over your right shoulder.
If a crash does happen, the 2014 Honda Crosstour protects you well with six airbags. The front airbags are designed to inflate at different rates depending on the severity of the crash, whether the occupant is wearing a seat belt (which they always should do!), and other factors. The Crosstour’s ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) body structure is a Honda exclusive that keeps passengers protected by ensuring that the Crosstour’s energy-absorbing crumple zones do their job regardless of the size of vehicle it hits (or get hits by). In the event of a front-end collision it distributes crash energy throughout the vehicle and helps reduce the force of impact to the passenger as well as to other vehicles involved in the crash.
As far as interior roominess goes, this 2014 Honda Crosstour offers an abundance. The rear seatback’s 60/40 split adds versatility by letting the Crosstour carry both cargo, and either one or two rear-seat passengers. The Honda Crosstour outboard seats feature the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), so you know your ankle-biters will be safe and won’t go flying out of the car (unless you push them!).
The Crosstour is great for cargo as well as people. The rear hatch opens at an angle that gives terrific access to the carpeted trunk area. There’s a lot of storage here and the rear section of the floor flips up in three pieces, exposing a plastic-faced deck for muddy paws and sneakers. Hidden beneath the floor of the trunk is a secret compartment in the back, which holds a large container for tools, jewelry or whatever else you want to store there. It can easily be removed and rinsed if your kid decides to store a chocolate bar in it in the summertime.
And finally, the Honda Crosstour navigation system is full of goodies: Maps, direction, previous destinations and Zagat’s reviews. No, there’s no ATM, but we hear that’s coming in next year’s model.
Pricing and Trim Levels
2014 Honda Crosstour
The Crosstour is sold in two trim levels, EX and EX-L, with a choice of four-cylinder or V6 power. EX models get front-wheel-drive, while the EX-L V6s is available with all-wheel-drive.
Crosstour EX: 4-cylinder, front-wheel-drive: $28,210 V6, front-wheel-drive: $31,870
Crosstour EX-L: 4-cylinder, front-wheel-drive: $31,895
4-cylinder, front-wheel-drive with navigation: $33,995
V6, front-wheel-drive: $31,870
V6, front-wheel-drive with navigation: $36,620
V6, all-wheel-drive: $35,970
V6, all-wheel-drive with navigation: $38,120
Final Thoughts
I love the way the 2014 Honda Crosstour handles in terms of agility and easy maneuverability. But if you're a station wagon lover, just remember it's a crossover--so don’t expect a fun ride if you’re someone who likes a little more action when you’re behind the wheel.
When you shift the Crosstour EX-L into reverse the side mirrors automatically tilt down and give you a full view of the curb or parking area.
You can control the door locks, open the windows, and even open the moonroof, with your remote. So on a hot day you can air out the car before you get in.
Takes getting used to if you’re a driver who likes an expansive view when you look behind.