Honda defends the controversial Crossover's styling

Honda has released more official pictures of its new Accord Crosstour, which is specifically for the North American market.

When Honda released the initial pictures last week, the Crosstour's looks came in for stinging criticism and Honda released a statement with the latest pictures defending the styling.

See the Honda Accord Crosstour picture gallery

"Arguably, the two studio photos we posted didn't give you enough detail, nor were they the best to showcase the vehicle," the company said. "Maybe it's like a bad yearbook photo or something, and we think the new photos will clear things up.

"Many of you don't like the styling; it may not be for everyone. Our research suggests that the styling does test well among people shopping for a crossover."

According to Honda, the saloon/SUV crossover mixes car-like ride quality and refinement, with a SUV-style raised ride height and driving position.

Styling changes over the regular Accord include a more pronounced front grille, large C-pillars and an aggressively-styled rear end.

Erik Berkman, vice president of American Honda Motor Company, said: “We know SUV buyers like the commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point and like the comforts of living with an SUV.

“This vehicle meets the needs of buyers looking for those attributes yet at the same time want an image that is different from a conventional SUV.”

Honda sources have previously told Autocar there were no immediate plans to launch the Accord Crosstour in the UK or Europe.

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LairdDrambeg 10 September 2009

Re: Honda Accord Crosstour launched

I suppose if we're going to have to have ugly front ends to fit the stupid EU-instigated regs we might as well have buggered up back ends as well... and throw in some gratuitous, disfiguring side-creases to complete the look. The blacked-out glass just finishes off the theme for the target market - makes it more difficult to see them with their cell-phones stuck to their ear or the dog sitting in their lap. Err, anonymous stupidity does not make you not stupid.

I'm sick to death of sharing the roads with those things/people which obstruct the view of the traffic situation ahead; too dense to understand that if everybody decided to have a "commanding view of the road that comes with a high eye-point" we'd all be at the same height and it wouldn't be uhh, "commanding" for anybody.

pandamonium 9 September 2009

Re: Honda Accord Crosstour launched

Arguably, the two studio photos we posted didn't give you enough detail, nor were they the best to showcase the vehicle," the company said. "Maybe it's like a bad yearbook photo or something, and we think the new photos will clear things up.

Yep it has cleared things up, it's ok looking if you compare it with a warthog, no I'm wrong that's insulting to a warthog, the car is still ugly. Please Honda don't bring it to Europe. The Jazz, Civic, S2000 are good looking cars, the current Accord is plain but ok, the CRV is weird but we can just about cope with but this Crosstour should have been terminated at birth. Spend the money on the forthcoming CRZ and also NSX and S2000 replacements instead, that's what we want.

kr38 8 September 2009

Re: Honda Accord Crosstour launched

shame they didn't stick a bmw badge on it. had they done so, everyone would love it. i agree that it's slightly more hideous than bmw's recent offerings (5 series hatchback/skoda boot and x6) but not by much!