Those would be, Honda speculated, folks beginning a family or folks whose kids have flown. Crosstour is intended to be their new best friend.

You're forgiven if you can't quite place the type of vehicle. Is it a coupe-ish, utility-ish, what-ish ... ?

No. It's a hatchback. Period.

It sits 2 inches higher off the ground than the Accord sedan on which it's based, for foul-weather and bad-road ground clearance, and it offers very basic all-wheel drive as an option.

It is what in the European market is called a five-door – a four-door sedan with a hatch making the fifth door. You can say the same about the BMW X6 or Honda's Acura ZDX. Remarkable, really, that after years of hatch rejection, the industry's inching back toward what's always been the best, most practical way to configure a sedan.

Besides the obvious – a sharply sloping roofline – Crosstour differs from the Accord sedan several ways: beefier grille, nifty blue instrument pointer lighting, 299 to 487 more pounds than similar Accord sedans, 2 inches wider than the sedan outside (though, strangely, an inch or so less inside). And it's the only Accord to offer AWD, though a more primitive type than, say, the Subaru Legacy provides.

The sloping rear roof makes the 2010 Accord Crosstour distinctive, unlike, say, the flat-roofed Toyota Venza based on the Camry sedan. But the styling is color-dependent. A white test car looked as if it had been eating bonbons on the couch all day. A dark gray tester looked trimmer.

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

Honda's brought its best cargo-consciousness to the stowage area. Under-floor bins ape the feature in the Honda Ridgeline pickup. A big removable and washable center bin is flanked by two smaller ones. The covers of all three tubs can be reversed, offering carpet or a durable hard-plastic surface.

But there's no stash site for the covers if you overfill the bins. You have to leave them loose in the car or in your garage.

The all-wheel drive, which Honda calls Real Time, is like that on its Element and CR-V small SUVs. Mainly a front-drive system, it transfers some power to the back wheels when, and only when, the fronts slip, Honda says.

Honda, Hyundai, Toyota Tops in Fuel Efficiency

Honda has the most fuel-efficient U.S. fleet with an average of 23.6 mpg, followed by Hyundai and Toyota in second and third place, respectively, according to preliminary figures released by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hyundai averaged 23.4 mpg and Toyota had 23.2 mpg — close on the heels of Honda. Volkswagen came in fourth with 22.3 mpg, while Nissan and BMW tied for fifth with an average of 21.6 mpg. Of those, only Toyota and Nissan offer both full-size pickups and SUVs.

Highlighting the gap that has plagued the Detroit Three’s gas-guzzler habit, the American automakers finished in the last three slots of the study. Ford averaged 20.5 mpg, GM had 19.9 mpg and Chrysler had just 18.7 mpg.

The official figures won’t be released until October or November of next year, but the final verdict seems to be an average of 21.1 mpg for all vehicles sold in the 2009 model year. This is a one-tenth improvement on 2008’s average and a 0.5 mpg improvement from 2007.

These EPA figures are based on real-world fuel-economy rankings and sales versus the EPA ratings on window stickers, which are based solely on the EPA’s testing methods.

Honda tops list for fuel efficiency

2010 Honda Insight hybrid
The Environmental Protection Administration says Honda has the most fuel efficient fleet in the U.S. for 2009, with a fleet-wide average of 23.6 mpg. Hyundai is in second place, with 23.4 mpg, edging out Toyota, which used to be in first place, by a slim margin, at 23.2 mpg.

The rankings are based on 2009 model vehicles sold for the first ten months of this year. The numbers include the Cash for Clunkers rebate program this summer, which gave buyers a tax rebate of up to $4,500 to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle than what they were driving. Imports topped the list then, too.

I'm pretty sure that Honda's number one fuel efficiency ranking was boosted by the re-launch earlier in 2009 of the 2010 Honda Insight hybrid, which may or may not have stolen sales from the 2009 Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid on the planet. But let's give some credit to Hyundai which has no hybrid for sale in the U.S. to boost overall fleet-wide fuel efficienty numbers, just a garage full of energy efficient and affordable gas-powered cars.

2010 Honda Accord Crosstour priced from $29,670

If you’d like a new way to carry your motorized sleigh full of goodies over the river, snow banks and slush to Grandma’s house, consider the 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour, which had an official on sale date of Nov. 20 with an MSRP of $29,670. Delivery and handling will be another $710.

Obviously a cross-over vehicle, thus the purposeful use of the word “cross” in the vehicle name, it appears as a cross of the sedan and the old Accord station wagon from years ago. Of course, using imagery of the ages old wagon or beach wagon to some and the minivan to others brings up instant images of scorn and worse.

Thus, Honda adds the verbiage to include the versatility of an SUV with the refinement of a premium sedan to create a different CUV or Crossover Utility Vehicle. (This is the exact blend of change that Subaru brought out with its Outback years ago, and that helped Volvo conquest sales from those who demanded the SUV to keep up with the neighbors and did go camping and hiking but found the rough ride and image too much to take after a few years.)

The Accord Crosstour is designed to fulfill multiple roles for both style and function. A bold and sleek exterior conveys a prestigious presence from the outside, while premium interior styling extends from the passenger compartment into the cargo area. Increased functionality is provided by an under-floor storage area in the rear of the vehicle and reversible cargo floor panels ideal for dirty objects. Cargo area access is further enhanced by a tailgate with a large opening and a low lift-over height.

Power for all Crosstours comes from a 3.5-liter, 271 hp, i-VTEC V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) that generates 254 lb-ft of torque at 5,ooo rpm. The 2WD models have 18/27 mpg numbers.

The VCM cylinder deactivation system runs upon 3, 4 or 6 cylinders, depending upon power requirements. A 5-speed automatic transmission is standard.

Those wishing for better traction or not living in a snow belt and not the sun belt can select Honda’s Real Time™ 4WD drive. EPA numbers from Honda dip a bit to 17/25.

Standard EX fare includes dual-zone automatic air conditioning with 2d row vents, 360-Watt AM/FM 6-disc audio system with 7 speakers, 60-40 split rear seat back, 17-inch aluminum wheels with 225/65 R17 all-season tires, hidden removable utility box, cruise control, moonroof, auto up/down driver and front passenger side windows, rear privacy glass, steering wheel-integrated audio controls, compass and outside temperature indicator, projector beam headlights with auto-off, fog lights, chrome door handles, body-colored power side mirrors with defrost, and more.

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

Options: Available features exclusive to the Accord Crosstour EX-L include the Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System 3 and Real Time 4WD, available together or separately. The navigation system includes a backup camera with guidance lines integrated into the display.

Safety is bolstered with Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), commonly referred to as Electronic Stability Control; anti-lock brakes (ABS) 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.

The Accord Crosstour is assembled in Ohio at the Honda of America Mfg., Inc., East Liberty Auto Plant.

Model Transmission MSRP1 EPA

City/Hwy/Combined2

Accord Crosstour 2WD EX 5-Speed Automatic $29,670 18/27/21

Accord Crosstour 2WD EX-L 5-Speed Automatic $32,570 18/27/21

Accord Crosstour 2WD EX-L Navi 5-Speed Automatic $34,770 18/27/21

Accord Crosstour 4WD EX-L 5-Speed Automatic $34,020 17/25/20

Accord Crosstour 4WD EX-L Navi 5-Speed Automatic $36,220 17/25/20

Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com.

1-MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $710.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

2-Based on 2010 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle. 4WD models achieve city/hwy EPA fuel economy of 17/25 miles per gallon.

3-The Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ is available on the Accord Crosstour EX-L model in the United States, except Alaska.

2010 Honda Insight Hybrid

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid car made its world debut today at the North American International Auto Show. Utilizing the latest generation of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist™ (IMA®) hybrid technology and new, more cost-efficient production methods, the 2010 Insight defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid technology.

The all-new 2010 Honda Insight hybrid is powered by an advanced 1.3-liter SOHC aluminum-alloy i-VTEC engine and CVT, along with a new generation of Honda’s IMA hybrid system for exceptional fuel economy and fun-to-drive performance. The Insight’s IMA system incorporates a 10-kilowatt (13 hp) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU).

2009 Honda Civic Si Sedan

Honda has revealed its updated 2009 Honda Civic sedan model that will now come with new style, engine, technology, and safety features. Honda has said that the new 2009 Civic sedan model will come with redesigned exterior styling features, which would include a new front bumper cover, new grille design, and new headlight plus new taillight color combinations. The 2009 Honda Civic Si model will sport new alloy wheel designs. The 2009 Honda Civic Si model will come with new fog lamps.

On the engine front, the 2009 Honda Civic comes with a high-revving, 197-horsepower, 8000 rpm redline, 2.0 liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine; 6-speed close-ratio manual transmission.

2009 Honda Civic Hybrid

2009 Honda Civic range receives a mild facelift as part of its mid-cycle enhancement. The grille has been reshaped to fit in with the rest of Honda's vehicle range, the front bumper now incorporates a tri-opening look, and out back, the taillamp lenses are slightly more detailed than before. A chrome strip now spans the area between them on the trunklid as well.

The Civic Hybrid comes with an uniquely-styled wheels and gets standard stability control for 2009. The leather seating is also now available, along with Bluetooth connectivity and a USB interface for portable media players.

The 1.3-liter i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and a 15 kilowatt electric motor produce a combined 110-horsepower @ 6000 rpm and 123 lb-ft. of torque between 1000 and 2500 rpm. The Civic Hybrid is certified by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) as Advanced-Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) - the best-possible emissions rating for a hybrid vehicle.