The Accord Crosstour serves up a whopping 51.3 cubic feet of space in the cargo bay with the rear seat folded flat. Flipping down the split-fold rear seat is accomplished by pulling handles located on the right and left cargo wall sides. There is additional storage space via a concealed under-floor compartment’s 8.4-inch deep removable stow-box with built-in handles. The cargo box lid is two-sided. So if you toss wet clothes or mud-encrusted items into the bin, opt for the lid’s plastic side rather than the carpeted side. The vehicle’s utility factor is enhanced with available real-time four-wheel drive, providing a 57/43 front-to-rear weight distribution versus the front wheel drive’s 59/41 front-to-rear distribution of weight.

There are a number of Honda brand-firsts on the Crosstour, including active sound control for certain engine noises, and lateral G-force gear hold control on the automatic transmission. The EX-L’s available navigation system uses a coating that minimizes screen reflection, making the screen easy-to-read in harsh sunlight. (The coating is a first for the automaker.) One knock about the Crosstour is its horrible rear visibility. Accord Crosstour is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 271 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 254 pounds-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. The engine mates to a standard 5-speed automatic transmission. Estimated mpg is 17 city/25 highway. The 4WD Crosstour EX-L with navigation has a MSRP of $36,220.