2015 Honda 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.

Introduced as the Accord Crosstour, the name was changed to just Crosstour in 2012. It is a four-door hatchback, based on the Accord sedan, with a raised ride height and either front or all-wheel drive. It combines the appearance and versatility of a wagon or hatchback without looking like an SUV. The Crosstour has a roomy interior with a wider cabin than the Accord, and benefits from the added versatility of the rear hatch - but visibility is compromised. Thankfully a rear camera became standard with the 2012 update, which also simplified the model lineup. The smooth and refined 3.5 liter V6 returned 21 mpg overall in our tests. A four-cylinder engine is standard on front-wheel-drive versions. The ride is supple and composed, but the handling becomes SUV-like as it approaches its limits. Starting in 2013, top-trim EX-L V6 AWD versions have standard forward collision warning.