Is the Honda Crosstour a sedan or SUV?
The Honda Crosstour is a crossover SUV, not a traditional sedan. It was sold by Honda from 2009 through 2015 and was designed to blend car-like comfort with SUV practicality.
Launched as a bridge between a conventional sedan and an SUV, the Crosstour sits on the Accord platform, features a taller ride height, and uses a hatchback rear door to expand cargo versatility. It was discontinued after the 2015 model year and remains a niche in Honda’s historical lineups.
Classification and market positioning
To understand how Honda labeled the Crosstour, here are the core traits that set it apart from conventional sedans.
- Higher ride height and SUV-like stance compared with a typical sedan
- Rear hatch door with versatile cargo space, rather than a traditional trunk
- Based on the Honda Accord platform, aligning with car-based construction
- Five-seat interior designed for family and everyday practicality
- Available with front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive
Taken together, these design choices reflect its classification as a crossover SUV rather than a traditional sedan.
Design and engineering
Body style and platform
The Crosstour is a five-passenger, two-row crossover characterized by its hatchback rear and wagon-like silhouette. Built on the Accord platform, it prioritized interior space and flexibility over the styling cues typical of a pure sedan.
Drivetrain and performance
Most Crosstour models used a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a multi-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard and an optional all-wheel drive system. The setup favored on-road comfort and reliability, aligning it more with car-based crossovers than with traditional sport-utility vehicles designed for rugged off-road use.
Production timeline and current status
Understanding its lifecycle helps clarify why the Crosstour sits outside the standard sedan lineup in Honda’s recent history.
- Introduced for the 2009 model year as a coupe-like crossover
- Sold through the 2015 model year, then discontinued
- Built on the Honda Accord architecture rather than a standalone SUV frame
- Marketed as a crossover rather than a conventional sedan
- No direct successor in Honda’s current lineup; its niche was filled by other crossovers and SUVs
Since its discontinuation, Honda has continued to emphasize crossovers and SUVs in its global lineup, with models like the CR-V and Passport occupying the space the Crosstour once attempted to serve.
Summary
The Honda Crosstour is best described as a crossover SUV, not a sedan. It combined sedan-like comfort with SUV practicality in a five-seat, hatchback-bodied package and was produced from 2009 through 2015. Its niche was short-lived, but it remains a notable example of Honda’s explorations into blending car-based handling with SUV versatility.
