Honda’s new 2010 Accord Crosstour is a restyled version of the company’s top-selling sedan. The Accord regularly switches places with the slick little Civic compact as Honda’s bestseller, and Honda recognized an opportunity to increase the Accord’s already substantial appeal by expanding the sedan’s lineup.

The Crosstour is what could be called a “luxury hatchback.” It has two pieces of glass in the opening rear hatch, a concept Honda invented with the second-generation two-door CR-X hatchback in 1988.

Some have called the Crosstour a “CUV” for crossover utility vehicle. According to Honda, “The Accord Crosstour, built on the larger, Accord platform, is meant to give you the best of two worlds – the versatility of an SUV with the sportiness of a car,” adding that the shape of the Crosstour appeals to “people shopping for a crossover.”

Still others call Crosstour a wagon since it resembles the trim and handsome Accord Tourer wagon sold overseas, but not in the U.S. According to Honda, the Crosstour “is not a wagon, nor is it aimed at wagon buyers.” Automakers have resisted using the term “hatchback” in the U.S. since about 1980. Honda says the Crosstour offers the attributes of a crossover, such as higher seating, all-wheel drive and a car-based (instead of a truck-based) platform, all the while keeping the attributes of a luxury sedan.

Honda has not made the exact specifications of the Crosstour public, citing that it hasn’t finalized what equipment will be offered and in what models. It has been reported that the Crosstour will offer the 2.4-liter four-cylinder and the 3.5-liter V6 engines available in the current Accord sedan. Honda says the Accord-based Crosstour is a design “which conceals a unique cargo area that can adapt to large objects that exceed the capacity of a sedan.” The company also says that Crosstour will offer all-weather capability.

Details from the Crosstour photos the company has released to the public via the Internet illustrate a wider aft end than the Accord, as well as a taller ride height. The V6 Accord sedan rates 29 mpg in EPA highway fuel economy, so the Crosstour fuel economy numbers should be in this area.

Industry analysts expect the Crosstour to be priced at about $26,000 (MSRP) depending upon equipment such as a V6 engine, all-wheel drive and interior accoutrements like navigation and leather seats.

There’s a lot to like about the Honda Accord Crosstour. We invite you to learn more by calling or visiting us.