Honda CrossStour test drive since 2009 SUV
Mr. Unicum
Meet CrossStour Unique Full-wheel drive Hatchback Crossover It has long been accepted throughout the world that each car belongs to a certain class, so any car has at least several competitors. This theory was destroyed by Honda, releasing its new CrossStour model to the Russian market.
Everything went to this. First, the so -called four -door coupe like Mercedes -Benz CLS appeared. The ideology is strange, but we accepted it and are gradually used to such machines. Then the ranks of indefinite cars were replenished by even more wonderful, extraclasses like BMW X6, GT or AUDI A7. We dutifully nodded in response. And here is the apogee: Honda CrossStour became the first one of its kind Hatchback-Crossover. The world has not yet seen this. Therefore, it is not surprising that CrossStour today simply does not have direct competitors: this Honda is unique.
CrossStour is essentially unique, unique in appearance, but in its filling it is a set of quotes from different modern Honda models (which is a little lower). And in appearance, in truth, there are borrowings from the popular Accord sedan. By the way, in the USA, in the homeland of this hatchback-clerk, its full name sounds like Honda Accord CrossStour.
The extraordinary shell of CrossStour, as it turned out, not everyone likes it. Well, the new to many at first seems non -casual. Personally, I liked the new crossover from Honda. It has some kind of swiftness and a healthy fraction of aggression, so fashionable in our time. Even despite impressive dimensions, the length of exactly 5 meters CrossStour looks dynamic. Only the back is heavy, but this is the fate of all the big hatchbacks.
From the chord there is not only a general stylistic direction, but also a suspension. Structurally, they are similar, but the CrossStour is wider than the track, the levers are more powerful, and the front shock absorbers have gained the springs of the end of the end that the sedan does not have.
Salon from the American Accord. Audio system management and navigation is slightly confused. The quality of the mats are not bad, but it is difficult to compete with modern European classmates in this indicator of CrossStour
CrossStour suspension is an enhanced version of one from the Accord sedan with an advanced track
The CrossStour engine is similar to the V-shaped 3.5-lit Six Pilot. But its power is slightly higher, and the moment, on the contrary, is lower. As well as on the pilot, the motor is equipped with a VCM system, which allows you to automatically turn off part of the cylinders (2 or 3) in certain modes, thereby reducing fuel consumption
CrossStour has a rather spacious luggage compartment of 728 liters. The rear seats can be folded with special handles inside the trunk and increased useful volume to almost one and a half cubic meters. In the underground, a special container (54 l) for dirty things
For a hatchback, CrossStour has a very impressive road clearance of 205 mm. For comparison: the Volvo XC70 210 mm, and the Skoda Octavia Scout has only 180 mm. Such a clearance in combination with rather highly profile tires and all-wheel drive from CR-V allows you to confidently move on easy off-road. Of course, CrossStour is not a full -fledged SUV. Although the CR-V-V system was reinforced with a larger torque, and the speed of its operation is increased, in fact, we have the same Torque-on-Demand under normal conditions of the front-wheel drive. Let us recall America again: they also have versions with the drive only to the front axle. There will be no such in Russia.
Conveniently sitting in the wide CrossStour chair. On the dashboard from the American chord, everything is clear, understandable and quite convenient, except for an abstruse joystick control of the audio system and navigation. However, the quality of the interior of European machines still seems higher to me.
To be honest: translating the machine lever in Drive, I did not expect miracles. In memory, the sensations of driving on a pilot with the same V-shaped six and a five-speed automatic is still quite fresh: it seems to be enough power, but the heavy SUV was not impressive with dynamics. CrossStour is going much more fun! Either the weight dropped by almost 150 kg affected, or the gearbox was successfully reconfigured (finally, at least someone taught the machine to switch in corners!), But the fact remains: the hatchback on the dispersal is very fast.
And what about the turns? CrossStour is not some American firing there. He willingly accepts the maneuver, does not heal much for such a giant, and steering is quite informative even on winter tires. The suspension is traditionally tough for Honda, but here it works softerly than on Accord. The delicious sound of the motor is not a couple of a lower 2 -lit -fingered 4 -cylinder buzzing and spurges to transfer the machine to a sports, or even honest manual mode. All this, of course, does not mean that CrossStour should be classified as real Drivers Car, but you can quickly go to it and even pleasant.
Who can become a potential buyer of this unusual car? A car that combines seemingly incompatible things: a hatchback body, a high road clearance, a spacious salon, good handling, comfort and all -wheel drive? It’s hard to say, especially since there has been nothing like that yet. But, as experience shows, for example, Mercedes R-class, the uncertainty in our country is not very held in high esteem. Representatives of Honda are planned to sell 100 cars per month. Let's hope that their forecasts will be justified, even despite a fairly high price. After all, the car came out very good. And, importantly, perfectly suitable for our conditions.
Source: Cars
