Why was Crosstour discontinued?
The Crosstour was discontinued after the 2015 model year due to weak sales and an unclear market niche, with Honda redirecting its resources toward more popular SUVs and crossovers like the CR-V and Pilot.
Historically viewed as a wagon-meets-SUV, the Crosstour never established a clear, compelling role in Honda’s lineup. This article outlines the factors behind its end, the timeline of events, and the broader shift in Honda’s product strategy that followed.
Background and launch
Introduced in 2009 for the 2010 model year, the Crosstour was designed to blend the practicality of a wagon with the styling cues of an SUV. Built on the Accord platform, it aimed to attract buyers seeking more cargo space and a higher ride height without stepping up to a larger SUV.
Design goals
Honda pitched the Crosstour as a versatile, two-row crossover with a lower, sporty profile than traditional SUVs. This positioning was intended to appeal to urban buyers who wanted utility without a trucky silhouette.
Market expectations
Despite brand prestige and a strong Honda reputation, the Crosstour faced skepticism from customers who questioned its cargo practicality, rear-seat space, and overall value compared with the CR-V or Accord sedan family.
Sales performance and market reception
From its debut, the Crosstour struggled to achieve sales that justified its continued production. While early curiosity gave way to slower-than-expected demand, Honda faced a broader market shift toward traditional SUVs and crossovers with well-defined purposes and spacious interiors.
Before the following list, note that the Crosstour’s fate reflected both internal strategy decisions and external market trends, not only a single attribute of the car.
- Weak sales relative to Honda's expectations and to competing crossovers in the same class.
- Ambiguity of the model's niche, producing a perception that it was neither a practical wagon nor a true SUV.
- Overlap with other Honda models (notably the CR-V and, to a lesser extent, the Pilot), which cannibalized demand and reduced overall profitability.
- Strategic shift within Honda toward core, high-volume SUVs and crossovers that offered clearer value propositions to buyers.
These factors collectively contributed to Honda’s decision to discontinue the Crosstour after the 2015 model year and reallocate resources to more popular and profitable vehicles.
What followed and impact on Honda’s lineup
With the Crosstour sunset, Honda doubled down on its successful SUV/crossover family. The CR-V, HR-V, and Passport emerged as central elements of Honda’s utility-vehicle strategy, while the brand continued to refine sedan options for traditional buyers. The Crosstour’s gap was eventually filled by a broader shift toward compact and mid-size crossovers with clear mission statements and practical cargo space.
Replacement and strategic shifts
Industry observers note that Honda’s post-Crosstour strategy emphasized straightforward, roomy crossovers and SUVs that appeal to families and urban drivers alike, rather than niche variants that blend wagon traits with SUV styling.
Summary
The Honda Crosstour was discontinued because it failed to achieve strong sales and lacked a distinct market position, while Honda redirected emphasis toward its best-selling SUVs and crossovers. The move reflected a broader industry trend toward practical, high-demand utility vehicles and a strategic pivot within Honda to strengthen its core lineup for buyers seeking space, versatility, and reliability.
