Why did Honda discontinue the Crosstour?
The Crosstour was discontinued largely because it failed to attract a sustainable number of buyers and didn’t fit clearly into Honda’s evolving lineup.
Background and market reception
The Crosstour arrived in Honda’s range as a 2010 model year, aiming to blend the practicality of an SUV with the styling of a coupe-like hatchback based on the Accord sedan platform. It offered all-wheel drive in certain trims and pulled from a well-regarded chassis, but its unconventional styling and mixed messaging limited its appeal. Critics and consumers often questioned what the vehicle was supposed to be—wagon, coupe, or SUV—and this ambiguity, coupled with comparatively limited cargo space and interior practicality versus traditional crossovers, hampered its competitiveness. Over time, sales remained well below Honda’s mainstream crossovers, signaling a weak return on the model’s investment for the brand.
Here are the main factors that contributed to Honda's decision to discontinue the Crosstour.
- Weak sales relative to Honda’s other crossovers and models
- Unclear market niche and polarizing styling
- Overlap with better-selling models like the CR-V, reducing distinctive value
- Perceived lower practicality and value compared with rivals
Taken together, weak demand and a lack of a distinct, compelling market position made the Crosstour a poor long-term fit for Honda’s lineup.
Strategic rationale and lineup shifts
In the mid-2010s, Honda reoriented its SUV and crossover portfolio toward volume sellers with broad consumer appeal. The Crosstour occupied a niche that sat між the brand’s best-selling models and didn’t offer a strong enough advantage to justify ongoing production. By redirecting development and marketing focus to models with clearer value propositions—such as the CR-V, HR-V, Pilot, and Passport—Honda prioritized consistency and profitability across its SUV lineup. The Crosstour’s niche simply ceased to be viable within that strategy.
Here are the strategic shifts in Honda's lineup that affected the Crosstour’s fate.
- Reallocation of resources to high-volume crossovers (CR-V, HR-V, Pilot, Passport)
- Emphasis on traditional SUV utility and mainstream styling over niche configurations
- No direct successor planned; the Crosstour’s roles were absorbed by other models
In short, the Crosstour was retired as part of a broader push toward simpler, more broadly appealing SUVs and crossovers.
Context in Honda's broader strategy
Industry observers note that Honda’s mid-decade shift prioritized vehicles with clear utility, strong resale value, and broad market appeal. The Crosstour’s blend of attributes—sedan-based platform with a hatchback and a coupe-like roofline—struck many as a difficult value proposition next to more versatile offerings. By retiring the model, Honda freed engineering and marketing resources to support its core SUV family and conserve margins across its lineup. As of 2025, Honda has not revived the Crosstour or introduced a direct replacement with a similar market proposition.
Summary
Honda discontinued the Crosstour primarily due to weak demand, a murky market position, and a strategic pivot toward more popular, conventional crossovers. The move reflected a broader industry trend of prioritizing vehicles with clear utility and mass appeal, and Honda has continued to focus on its core SUV lineup without a Crosstour successor.
What took the place of the Honda Crosstour?
The Crosstour was not the sales success Honda hoped for. The maker eventually replaced it with the Passport, a far more conventional sport utility.
Why did Honda stop making the Accord Crosstour?
Sales began in November 2009 for the 2010 model year, and the vehicle was discontinued after the 2015 model year due to slow sales.
Is Honda making a 2025 Crosstour?
And finally wireless across both Apple CarPlay. And Android Auto ambient lighting and a panoramic roof seal the deal it's upscale without screaming luxury.
What is the common problem with Honda Crosstour?
Brake problems in the Honda Crosstour often involve premature wear or pulsation during braking, typically from warped rotors or low-quality pads, leading to reduced stopping power and safety concerns. Power steering failure can result in stiff or jerky steering response, commonly due to pump or fluid issues.
