2011 Honda Accord Crosstour

Hondas are generally affordable, reliable, and fuel-efficient, with intuitive controls and good driving characteristics. Its SUVs and sedans are usually near the top of Consumer Reports’ ratings for road tests and predicted reliability. Many Hondas have earned Consumer Reports recommendations. Used Hondas also score near the top of our reliability rankings for 5- and 10-year-old vehicles, making it a brand worth considering for options under $20,000. Honda’s SUVs include sub-compact models like the HR-V and compact CR-V, one of the best-selling SUVs in North America. The two-row Passport and three-row Pilot are larger options. Honda’s sedans include the compact Civic and the midsized Accord. Honda also makes the Odyssey minivan and the Ridgeline, a midsized pickup truck. For buyers seeking fuel efficiency, several of the most popular models are available with hybrid powertrains that get competitive mpg figures and are pleasant to drive.

Derived from the Accord sedan, the Crosstour is a four-door hatchback with a raised ride height. It combines the appearance and versatility of a wagon and a hatchback, providing a SUV alternative. Seating is comfortable front and rear and the hatchback enhances cargo-loading versatility. But many design details hurt practicality. Rear visibility is difficult; look for a Crosstour with a rear backup camera. (Previously only available with the optional navigation system, it became standard in 2012.) The shape of the cargo area and the sloping rear roofline means larger items won't fit. Early Crosstours had just one engine, a strong 3.5-liter V6 that returns 20 mpg with the optional all-wheel-drive. Later Accords added a four-cylinder engine for front-wheel-drive models. Steering is responsive, but feedback is a bit vague. Emergency handling is more SUV than car, with lots of body lean and little grip. Fortunately, the standard stability control intervenes as needed. The ride is steady and taut, damping out road bumps with muted kicks, and road noise is lower than in most Hondas. Controls are spread out but well-labeled.