Automotive Reviews
Five Doors
2010 Honda Accord Crosstour
Jun 21st
The all-new 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour has arrived, and it’s not like anything else on the market. Well, not exactly. Like other recent “category-busters,” the Crosstour defies easy identification. Is it a tall sedan, or a crossover utility vehicle? An SUV, or a station wagon? The thing is, it’s hard to figure out exactly why the Crosstour exists, exactly. Yes, it’s a big, useful SUV-alternative that drives like a car, but apart from giving the Toyota Venza (another nice vehicle that answers a question I’m not sure anybody asked) a run for its money, why is it here? I’m used to Hondas lacking personality, but on some fundamental level, the Crosstour seems to lack a sense of purpose.
And then, a funny thing happened. I took the Crosstour into downtown Detroit to run some errands, and this big multi-tasker suddenly made a lot of sense. Combining Honda’s comfortable driving dynamics with a raised suspension and curb-ready tires made the Crosstour the perfect vehicle for tackling Detroit’s decidedly post-industrial streets. More >
2010 Infiniti EX35
Jun 12th
I had the opportunity to spend a few days with the elusive and reclusive Infiniti EX35. Not familiar with it? The EX35 was quietly introduced in 2008 and has been a minor player in the luxury-sport crossover scene since then. Infiniti’s compact crossover is a capable and enjoyable drive, and it’s inherited a lot of the good stuff that Infiniti puts into the G37 sports sedan. So what’s keeping it from being more popular?
It might not be the EX35′s fault. The luxury-sport crossover market may not have existed ten years ago, but it’s become a hotly contested and competitive market segment in the past few years. With truck-like SUVs losing favor among luxury buyers, vehicles like the EX35 and BMW X3 combine the sporty nature of mid-sized sedans with the cargo capacity of compact SUVs. If you’re thinking that the intent is to create a high-riding sport wagon, you’re not far from the mark. More >
2010 Subaru Outback
Jun 6th
Everyone’s talking about crossover vehicles, those clever undefinables that combine SUV and car attributes into versatile and easy-to-drive packages. Lately it seems like every other vehicle I drive is a crossover of one kind or another, in fact, from the Lincoln MKT to the Chevrolet Equinox. Crossovers are clearly the Next Big Trend in automobiles. That, and fender vents.