Honda Releases 2013 Honda Crosstour Details

The 2013 Honda Crosstour has been given a refresh that the Japanese brand is hoping will spur new interest in the crossover vehicle. With an eye towards streamlining the first generation model's awkward looks, the new Crosstour features fender bulges and lower skirts that seem lifted right out of the Subaru Outback playbook. A more purposeful front fascia also gives a new strength that was lacking in earlier editions of the vehicle, and overall the automobile looks more like an SUV than a stretched, hatchback wagon - a restyling that should better appeal to family buyers.

The Honda Crosstour's drivetrain remains familiar, presenting a choice between a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder (192 horsepower) and a 3.5-liter V6 (278 horsepower). A six-speed automatic transmission is available with the latter mill, but four-cylinder buyers will have to make do with a five-speed auto gearbox. Entry-level Crosstour buyers will also be disappointed to discover that only top-tier V6 models can be had with all-wheel drive. This is a distinct difference between the Honda crossover and its Subaru competitors.

Check out the press release below for full details on the 2013 Honda Crosstour.

2013 Honda Crosstour Now Offers Class-Leading Fuel Efficiency, More V-6 Power, Refined Styling, Enhanced Visibility and New Lower Base Price

Extensive updates, lower MSRP and improved fuel economy provide premium crossover with added value

TORRANCE, Calif.

The 2013 Honda Crosstour goes on sale November 20, 2012, with pricing beginning at $27,230 – a starting MSRP $525 lower than in 2012. Receiving extensive updates, the 2013 Honda Crosstour introduces more purposeful exterior styling, significant upgrades to the interior design and materials, and a more powerful, fuel-efficient Earth Dreams™ V-6 engine coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift control. The rugged new styling, teamed with class-leading fuel-efficiency and a lower MSRP on the base four-cylinder model make the 2013 Honda Crosstour the smartest choice in a premium mid-size crossover.

Standard equipment on all Crosstour models includes a rearview camera with guidelines, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™, USB/iPod® connection, fog lights, one-touch turn signals and an Expanded View Driver's Mirror. The front-wheel-drive Crosstour offers two trim levels (EX, EX-L) available with four-cylinder or V-6 powertrains, with Real Time™ 4WD available on the EX-L V-6 model. Rich new exterior colors for 2013 include Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic.

The 2013 Crosstour is one of the first Honda models available with the new keyless Smart Entry with Push Button start. The 2013 Crosstour also features Honda's LaneWatch™ blind-spot display, which uses a camera system mounted on the passenger mirror to provide an enhanced rearward view of the passenger-side roadway. Other standard visibility-enhancing features include the rearview camera and new re-shaped rear headrests.

The 2013 Honda Crosstour also receives enhancements on the safety front including available Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). Other safety upgrades to the 2013 Crosstour are designed to help it earn top IIHS roof-crush safety scores, as well as a 5-Star NCAP rating.

Summary of Changes

-More rugged and premium exterior styling

-Upgraded interior design and materials

-More powerful available Earth Dreams™ 3.5-liter V-6 engine

-Class-leading EPA-estimated fuel economy – up to an estimated 31 mpg2 highway

-Standard visibility enhancements including rearview camera, re-shaped rear headrests and Expanded View Driver's Mirror

-Available 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters (V-6)

-Available Honda LaneWatch™ blind-spot display

-Available HondaLink™ featuring Aha™ compatibility

-Available Smart Entry with Push Button start

-Available Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW)

-New Kona Coffee Metallic and Mountain Air Metallic exterior colors

-Powertrain

The two different four-cylinder Crosstour models, the 2-wheel-drive EX and EX-L, are powered by a 2.4-liter, 16-valve DOHC i-VTEC® engine. The four-cylinder models significantly broaden the Crosstour's appeal through a lower price point and EPA-estimated fuel economy rating1 of 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. The 4-cylinder engine produces 192 horsepower at 7000 rpm and 162 lb-ft. of torque at 4400 rpm. A technologically advanced 5-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic Control is standard equipment.

The new available Earth Dreams™ 3.5-liter, 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6 engine utilizes Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) to maximize efficiency, allowing the engine to run on 3 or 6 cylinders, depending on engine load and speed. For 2013, power output climbs to 278 horsepower at 6200 rpm, a 7-hp gain over the 2012 Crosstour V-6. Peak torque output is now 252 lb-ft. at 4900 rpm with a much wider torque spread. The net result is a more responsive engine across the rev range that drivers use every day, combined with better peak power for quick acceleration, passing, and climbing grades. The Crosstour V-6's new 6-speed automatic transmission also includes new steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Fuel efficiency for the V-6 is also significantly improved, with it now achieving an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined fuel economy rating1 of 20/29/23 mpg on Crosstour 2WD models and 18/28/22 mpg1 for the Crosstour EX-L with Real Time™ 4WD. Compared to the 2WD 2012 Crosstour V-6, this represents a 2 mpg improvement in city/highway/combined fuel economy.

Body

Since its debut as a 2010 model, the Honda Crosstour has created its own unique crossover SUV identity with a distinctively sleek, sporty and fuel-efficient style. This continues for 2013 with a newly refreshed exterior that provides a more rugged, active, and premium look, while still concealing an accommodating rear cargo area with a large tailgate. An under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle adds even more functionality, while reversible floor panels accommodate messy cargo.

Standard exterior features on Crosstour EX include chrome door handles, 17-inch alloy wheels and P225/65R-17 all-season tires. Additional exterior features on the Crosstour EX include auto-on/off projector-beam headlights, a one-touch power moonroof with tilt, body-colored folding power side mirrors with defrost, auto-up/down driver's and front passenger's windows, and rear privacy glass. The top-of-the-line Crosstour EX-L V-6 model adds 18-inch alloy wheels with P225/60R-18 all-season tires.

Chassis

The Crosstour has inspired handling, thanks to its double-wishbone front and independent multi-link rear suspension, front and rear stabilizer bars, and front strut tower bar. All Crosstour models include power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes. For true utility-vehicle capability, the Crosstour provides 6.2 inches of maximum ground clearance in addition to the available Real Time™ 4WD system.

Interior

Premium interior styling, appointments and details extend throughout the Crosstour's versatile passenger compartment, which is further improved for 2013 with upgraded interior design and materials. Inside the Crosstour EX are automatic air conditioning with an air-filtration system (dual-zone automatic climate control on EX-L V-6), a 360-watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, Bluetooth™ HandsFreeLink®, a USB audio interface, steering wheel-mounted cruise, audio and phone controls, an auto day/night dimming rearview mirror, an easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seatback, a hidden removable utility box and more.

Crosstour EX-L models add leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, memory driver's seat and memory side mirrors with reverse tilting capability, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, Kevlar® cone audio speakers, front aluminum dome-type tweeter speakers, HondaLink™ with Aha™ compatibility, Pandora® Internet radio compatibility, XM® Radio, compass and outside temperature indicator (also included on EX V-6), and more. The EX-L V-6 model also adds a HomeLink™ transmitter.

The Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System2 is available on Crosstour EX-L models, and all EX-L and above Crosstour models feature an upgraded multi-view rearview camera with guidance lines integrated into the display. Real Time™ 4WD is available on the Crosstour EX-L V-6.

Safety

Crosstour safety technology includes the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, a Honda-exclusive body design that enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment on the Crosstour includes Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor, driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, and active front seat head restraints.

Standard on Crosstour EX-L models is Honda's new Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) systems. FCW can alert the driver when a potential collision with another vehicle ahead is detected, where LDW can alert the driver when lane drift is detected without a turn signal in use.

A series of visibility enhancements on the 2013 Crosstour can improve safety by increasing the driver's awareness of other vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles that are around the Crosstour. Standard on all Crosstour models, save the four-cylinder EX, is Honda's exclusive new LaneWatch blind spot camera. Other improvements on all Crosstour models include reshaped rear headrests that enhance rearward visibility, a standard rearview camera, and a new Expanded View Driver's Mirror.

Manufacturing

The Crosstour is produced3 at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant in East Liberty, Ohio. At its introduction, the Crosstour was named one of the "Top 10 Family Cars" by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. Consumer Guide then added "Recommended Buy" honors to the Crosstour.

Warranty

The 2013 Honda Crosstour is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile new-car limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion limited warranty.