Honda Crosstour: Attractive package inside and out

       By Lary Coppola

The 2010 Honda Crosstour is the newest Accord — and what’s known as a CUV — Crossover Utility Vehicle. In reality, it’s a hatchback Accord that fills the slot in between the CR-V and Pilot. However, this vehicle is aimed at a totally different buyer than the standard Accord.

The Crosstour comes in two versions and two trim levels, with front-wheel-drive standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optiona.l I’ve had the opportunity to drive both versions, and have to say, the Crosstour has a lot going for it.

. The Crosstour EX starts at $29,670, while the more upscale EX-L sells for $32,570. The AWD package is only available on the EX-L, starting at $34,020. Available navigation adds another $2,200 to the sticker, for a total of $34,770 with 2WD and $36,220 with AWD.

Walkaround: Although visually similar to the recently introduced Acura ZDX (Honda owns Acura), the Crosstour doesn’t share the ZDX's platform, instead, riding on a modified Accord chassis.

The Crosstour is what is known in Europe as a five-door — a four-door sedan with a hatch making five. It’s somewhat ironic, that after years of rejecting the hatchback (well, there was the Gremlin…), the auto industry is slowly moving back toward what's always been the most practical sedan design.

The Crosstour differs from the Accord sedan in several ways besides the obvious sloping roofline. There’s a beefier more aggressive looking grille, two-inch wider stance (although there’s about an inch less room inside), a 110.1-inch wheelbase, more weight — 299 to 487 pounds more than Accord sedans. It's the only Accord to offer AWD — as basic as Honda’s is — and has two additional inches of ground clearance than the Accord sedan for foul-weather and bad-road driving. The sloping rear roof gives the 2010 Accord Crosstour a very distinctive look — especially in contrast to the flat-roofed, Camry-based Toyota Venza or Ford Flex.

Interior: The Accord Crosstour EX comes pretty well-equipped, with standard features that include dual-zone automatic air conditioning with second row ventilation, auto up/down driver and front passenger side windows, moonroof, steering wheel-integrated audio controls, 360-Watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with seven speakers, compass and outside temperature indicator, cruise control, easy fold-down 60-40 split rear seat back, 17-inch aluminum wheels with 225/65 R17 all-season tires, hidden removable utility box, rear privacy glass, projector beam headlights with auto-off, fog lights, chrome door handles, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, and more.

Upgrades on the Accord Crosstour EX-L include leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, leather steering wheel, leather gear shift knob, memory driver-side seats, memory side mirrors with reverse tilting capability, auto day/night dimming rearview mirror, auto on/off headlights, Kevlar cone speakers, aluminum dome-type front tweeter speakers and a USB audio interface, 18-inch aluminum wheels with 225/60 R18 all-season tires, cargo privacy cover, and HomeLink transmitter.

The seats were unusually comfortable for a Honda, offering good lumbar support, and the instrumentation includes some cool blue lighting. The center control console, which houses the navigation system and backup camera display, looks like it came straight out of an Acura RL rather than the standard-issue Accord controls.

While its coupe-like styling somewhat limits cargo volume, the Crosstour was designed with cargo hauling in mind. It doesn't want for cubbies, bins and other storage, featuring an 8-inch deep under-floor Hidden Removable Utility Box with a reversible lid, and under-floor bins that mirror the popular feature in the Honda Ridgeline pickup. A big, removable and washable center bin is flanked by two smaller ones, and the covers of all three can be reversed, offering carpet or a durable hard-plastic surface.

The hatch is just much handier than a trunk, and space behind Crosstour's back seat is twice the size of an Accord sedan trunk.

Safety features include the Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, which enhances occupant protection and crash compatibility in frontal collisions. Additional safety equipment includes Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist; side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; driver's and front passenger's side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); dual-stage, multiple threshold front airbags; and active front seat head restraints.

Under The Hood: Power for the Crosstour is courtesy of Honda's 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine — the same motor as the Accord sedan. It delivers 271 horses and 254 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. It’s mated to a five-speed automatic that shifts briskly and smooth. No four-cylinder engine is offered.

The AWD system, which Honda dubs Real Time, is the same one used on its CR-V and Element small SUVs. Basically, it’s a front-drive system that transfers some power to the back wheels when, and only when, the front wheels slip. While it responds quickly, AWD always provides better stability and traction if it anticipates, and can power all the wheels a moment before they lose traction, rather than after. The system is lighter and cheaper than more sophisticated AWD setups used by other manufacturers, but it worked fine in some very wet winter weather.

Behind The Wheel: The Crosstour offers one of the best combinations of ride comfort and bump-smoothing I’ve found in almost any test car I’ve driven in awhile. It handled some tight, two-lane blacktop twisties at speed surprisingly well — especially with AWD — and acceleration was adequate in freeway traffic. Both are surprising, given that extra weight usually degrades handling and slows acceleration.

Steering had a comfortable feeling of quick turning response, and wasn’t too heavy or sluggish, while the 4-wheel disc brakes felt above average. Towing capacity is 1,500 pounds.

Whines: There’s no stowage for the covers if you overfill the storage bins. You have to leave them loose in the vehicle, or at home. The navigation system was annoyingly slow to load, but worked well otherwise. An old-school type parking brake handle, rather than a pedal, hugs the center tunnel.

Bottom Line: I liked the Crosstour a lot. It drives great and is stylish, comfortable and practical. Although the Crosstour is anywhere from $2,865 to $3,665 more than a  equipped Accord sedan, you get the flexibility and convenience of a hatchback, and even more capability with AWD. You just can’t beat its bang for the buck — especially when you factor in Honda dependability and resale value.

Cadillac Debuts Long-Awaited CTS Coupe

One of the most anticipated new models of the year, the Cadillac CTS Coupe, recently began arriving at dealerships.

The CTS Coupe is expected to attract a new generation of luxury sports car enthusiasts to Cadillac and go head-to-head with the BMW 335i Coupe, Mercedes-Benz E350 Coupe and Audi A5. “Cadillac is once again ready to compete with the world’s best,” Autoblog wrote in its review of the CTS Coupe.

The CTS Coupe has been cited by the automotive press for its groundbreaking design and outstanding performance. “It’s safe to say the coupe is positively gorgeous,” Automobile magazine wrote in a review. “Pictures simply don’t do it justice, which is saying quite a bit.”

“The CTS Coupe is one of the most significant automobiles to enter the market this year,” said Kurt McNeil, vice president of Cadillac sales and service. “It represents the new focal point for Cadillac in terms of design and performance. Cadillac and its dealers want to make sure customers are given a chance to get an up-close look at this stunning new vehicle.”

 The CTS Coupe extends the CTS line, which has been named to Car and Driver’s 10 Best list for three straight years. It shares design cues with the CTS Sport Sedan, but the CTS Coupe has a wider track, lower roofline and shorter length, giving it an aggressive stance and sleek, athletic profile. 

The CTS Coupe starts  at $38,990 and comes standard with a 3.6L Direct Injection V6 engine that produces 304 horsepower, six-speed auto tap up/down shifting, rear-park assist and Bose audio.  A high-performance CTS-V Coupe model also is available with a 6.2L Supercharged V8 that produces 556 horsepower, dual-mode magnetic ride control suspension and Brembo brakes.

Volvo C30 Wins 2010 Motorist Choice Award

Named Premium Brand Winner, Cute Category by IntelliChoice and AutoPacific
 

The Volvo C30 has been honored with the 2010 Motorist Choice Award for its top scores in ownership satisfaction and overall ownership costs in the Premium Brand, Cute category by car buying information site, IntelliCoice and automotive market research firm, AutoPacific.

The Motorist Choice Awards are the result of 42,000 customer surveys and analysis and are designed to direct consumers towards vehicles that fit their lifestyles and pocketbook. The awards were calculated by merging IntelliChoice's empirical cost of ownership data and owner satisfaction data from AutoPacific's survey of new car and light truck buyers.

"This award showcases Volvo's commitment to not only creating cars that are leading the industry in safety - but creating ones that people will want to show off and are proud to own," said Art Battaglia, Volvo's lifecycle, business and brand strategy manager. "The Volvo C30 truly looks like nothing else on the road, and to receive this award from our own customers means a lot to us."
 

The C30 T5 and C30 R-Design are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 5-cylinder engine that produces 227 horsepower and 236 lb.-ft. of torque. Yet, beneath its revolutionary style and power lies the heart of a true Volvo, embodying a fastidious devotion to safety that remains at the cornerstone of Volvo's core commitments to its customers.

The Volvo C30 was previously awarded the 2009 SmartChoice Award from IntelliChoice in the Cost of Ownership, Near Luxury Class category.

Modern Electric Car Era Begins In November at the LA Auto Show

Mass-Production Electric Vehicles Become Available to Consumers

A new era of modern, electric drive transportation begins at the Los Angeles Auto Show this November. Worldwide, nearly all major automakers have announced plans for an electric car in the next few years and Los Angeles will receive the first arrivals in the next several months.

Auto manufacturers are looking to Los Angeles to lead the charge in early electric vehicle adoption, much as Los Angeles continues to lead in hybrid vehicles sales. Since Los Angeles is recognized as a trendsetter for the automotive industry, it makes sense that at least a half-dozen electric vehicles will make news during the LA Auto Show Press Days, Nov. 17 and 18.

The first electric cars to kick-off this new era are the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf, expected to arrive in November and December of this year, respectively.

Several other electric vehicles will debut at the LA Auto Show including the North American, production version of Mitsubishi's i-MiEV and Toyota's RAV4 EV concept. Expected to be one of the next electric vehicles to hit dealerships, the i-MiEV model debuting at the LA Show will be wider and will also include an upgraded list of standard and optional interior features to make it more attractive to the U.S. buyer. Toyota's RAV4 EV will use Tesla's lithium-ion battery packs, which will be modified to become more aerodynamic. Toyota has been testing prototypes of the car, which is scheduled to hit the market in 2012.

This drive toward the electrification of the automobile has also spawned new manufacturers focused exclusively on the electric vehicle market. Expected to reveal important news are at least two leaders in this category, including Santa Monica, California-based Coda Automotive and luxury electric car maker, Fisker Automotive. Both manufacturers are expected to make customer deliveries in 2011.

"After years of anticipation, electric vehicles are finally here," said Andy Fuzesi, LA Auto Show general manager. "It may take years for electric vehicles to be accepted broadly, but it's undeniable that an electric era has officially begun."

For the first time ever, the coveted Green Car of the Year® award nominees will feature electric vehicles. The focus of the Green Car of the Year® award is to recognize significant environmental achievement in a production vehicle. Having electric vehicles qualify for the prestigious award is further evidence that the modern electric car era is finally beginning in earnest.  The winner will once again be unveiled at an LA Auto Show press conference on Nov. 18.

Significant announcements about infrastructure are also expected at the show. Specifically, one of the region's major utility providers, Southern California Edison, will address important questions about the costs of operating this new generation of plug-in vehicle. Also, PEP charging stations will be on hand to demonstrate what is required for both in-home and commercial charging of electric vehicles.

Puget Sound Energy Ready to Support Deployment of Electric Vehicles

Utility’s President Tells Elected Officials, Manufacturers and Transportation Groups During Regional Planning Workshop

Puget Sound Energy President Kimberly Harris recently told a gathering of elected officials, transportation planners and auto-industry representatives in Bellevue that her utility is prepared to support the integration of plug-in electric vehicles into Western Washington’s transportation system.


During a one-day regional workshop at PSE’s Bellevue headquarters, Harris said PSE intends to actively help manufacturers, municipalities and electric-vehicle purchasers enhance their deployment of plug-in automobiles as the vehicles start entering the Puget Sound marketplace this fall. The “Get Plug-In Ready – Now!” workshop was coordinated by Puget Sound New Energy Solutions, a partnership of Central Puget Sound municipalities, utilities, housing and transit authorities, and others that addresses energy, economic and environmental challenges.

In her remarks, Harris told attendees, “Half of our region’s greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation. We will need to focus on examining our distribution infrastructure and collaborate with local governments, vehicle manufacturers, and charging developers to help support and educate our customers about the benefits of new vehicle technologies.

“At PSE, we are committed to doing our part to ensure that consumers and businesses can connect their new vehicles and power them with our regional electric grid. Vehicles run on PSE’s electricity will have roughly half the greenhouse gas emissions and one-third of the fuel cost of those run on conventional gasoline.”


The workshop to help public and private entities prepare for this fall’s market arrival of electric vehicles included a parade of electric vehicles driven to the event by attendees. More than a dozen local elected officials as well as representatives from the King County Executive’s Office, state Department of Transportation, state Department of Commerce and the C7 New Energy Partnership (the Cities of Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Mercer Island, Redmond, Renton, and Sammamish), major car manufacturers and other organizations involved in the deployment of electric vehicles participated.

Also on the day’s agenda with Harris were King County Executive Dow Constantine, EPA Regional Administrator Dennis McLerran and Congressman Jay Inslee, D-Wash.


Constantine announced the county’s plans to work with local city governments and Charge Northwest to install 125 charging stations in King County. “This is the first step in creating a public and private network of charging stations that will put King County at the forefront of the electric vehicle revolution,” Constantine told attendees. “This will give drivers more confidence that the infrastructure will be in place before they purchase an electric vehicle, and it will help local auto dealers convince customers that an electric vehicle is a practical investment.”

EPA Regional Administrator Dennis McLerran noted that emissions standards will only get more rigorous in coming years. “To meet tougher air quality standards, we will have to cut more vehicle emissions,” said McLerran. “Our transportation system will have to transform in order to do that.”


Congressman Inslee recapped the policies to support electric vehicles that are already included in a national energy bill and cited electric vehicle-related projects that have benefited from federal stimulus funding, noting that they have created new jobs. According to Inslee, electric vehicles are key to rebuilding the U.S. economy. “It’s not just a transportation or environmental imperative; it’s an economic imperative that the U.S. be a leader in these new technologies,” he said.

Harris said PSE supports the use of electric vehicles and other alternative-fueled vehicles by its customers. The utility expects to see several thousand electric vehicles purchased and over 1,000 public charging stations installed in its electric service area over the coming two years. As new electric vehicles come on the market in late 2010 and beyond, Harris said, PSE will work with residents and businesses, government agencies, and automakers to ensure that Western Washington can smoothly integrate the next generation of technologies into its transportation system.

For more information on PSE’s involvement with electric vehicles, visit PSE.com/electricvehicles.

Hyundai Recalls 139,500 Sonatas in U.S. For Steering Problem

Hyundai Motor Co. said it is voluntarily recalling 139,500 Sonata sedans in the U.S. because of a manufacturing defect that could cause drivers to lose steering control.

From The Associated Press
Hyundai Motor Co. said it is voluntarily recalling 139,500 Sonata sedans in the U.S. because of a manufacturing defect that could cause drivers to lose steering control. The recall affects 2011 models built between Dec. 11, 2009 and Sept. 10, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration noted on its website. 

Some of the cars have steering column shafts with connections that may not have been tightened enough or were improperly assembled. As a result, the steering wheel could become separated from the column or a driver could lose the ability to properly steer the car.

The U.S. government had opened an investigation into possible steering problems in the vehicle in August. Hyundai, South Korea's top automaker, has said there have been no related injuries or crashes reported. Owners of affected vehicles can go to their dealers for inspection. Dealers also will update power steering software. Owners may also call NHTSA at 888-327-4236 for more information.

The recall comes as automakers ramp up their focus on safety and quality control in the wake of Toyota Motor Corp.'s massive global recall last year over gas pedal and floor mat problems. In February, Hyundai announced a recall of about 47,000 Sonata midsize sedans, mostly sold in South Korea, to replace front door latches following a handful of customer complaints. The company said it had discovered a mechanical problem with the latches which, in rare instances, would not close properly.

Earlier this month, Hyundai affiliate Kia Motors said Chung Sung-eun resigned as vice chairman following a global recall of more than 100,000 vehicles due to defective wiring. Of that total, 35,185 vehicles were recalled in the United States. Together, Kia and Hyundai form the world's fifth-largest automotive group.

So far this year, U.S. sales are up 17 percent for Hyundai Motor America, though August sales fell 11 percent from a year-earlier record sparked by federal Cash for Clunkers rebates. The new Sonata has been selling well and nearly doubled its sales numbers to 21,399 in August.