With today’s fuel prices and environmental concerns, more Canadian shoppers than ever are shifting away from the sport utility vehicle in favour of more car-like ‘crossover’ models. For those after all-season capability, all-activity flexibility and an efficient performance experience, a larger and heavier sport utility vehicle often doesn’t add up.

If you are looking to downsize from an SUV or upsize from a small car, your local Honda dealership would love to show you their new Accord Crosstour. A five-door liftback, the Crosstour is sized similarly to machines like the Subaru Forester and Toyota Venza-- and it’s designed to add space, functionality and features to the Accord lineup, which also includes sedan and coupe variants. The Accord Crosstour also comes in two upscale trim levels packed with some of the most desirable features in today’s marketplace. Best of all, it is honestly priced with value in mind.

Jerry Chenkin, Honda Canada’s Executive Vice President, comments on the Accord Crosstour, “With the recent price reduction on our existing Accord sedans and coupes, the pricing for the all-new Accord Crosstour is designed to make this vehicle an attractive option for Canadians wanting car-like handling and performance with the functionality of a sport utility vehicle. The all-new Accord Crosstour achieves this by offering a modern interpretation of a utility vehicle, while integrating the refinement and efficiency of a premium sedan.”

Standard with nearly 730 litres of flexible cargo space and a highly efficient 271-horsepower Honda V6 engine, the Accord Crosstour is engineered from the core to deliver rewarding performance, exceptional mileage and a do-it-all attitude for owners. Opt for the available All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system, and the Crosstour will happily tackle any driving condition thrown its way.

In addition to several trim levels, the Crosstour can be further customized with a full line of accessories-- including trailer towing hardware, cargo organizers, floor mats, deflectors and numerous roof-mounted cargo racks for virtually any outdoor sport.

On a test-drive, shoppers will likely note the upscale cabin appointments, great forward visibility, comfortable and responsive chassis, punchy engine and abundant interior storage facilities. A sunroof, heated leather seats, navigation, satellite radio and automatic climate control are all standard, or available, as well.

A Bluetooth phone interface is also on board, enabling distraction-free handling of phone calls. This important feature is popular with anyone who needs to stay safely in touch with friends and family on the go. Bluetooth works automatically with most cellular handsets after a quick pairing procedure and is available to anyone onboard the vehicle.

The Crosstour’s full selection of safety features is also available to everyone onboard the vehicle. With a full complement of advanced airbags, a cutting-edge antilock braking system and Vehicle Stability Assist included as standard, drivers can rest assured that occupant safety has been comprehensively addressed by Honda’s award-winning engineers.

Interested in a test-drive? The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is available at dealerships now. Pricing starts at $34,900 for a loaded Crosstour EX-L with leather and front-wheel drive, while an AWD-equipped model comes in under $37,000. Visit your Honda dealer for a closer look.