Honda is exploring a new Accord-based SUV that would resurrect the concept of the Crosstour, the wagon-SUV crossover the automaker killed after 2017. The vehicle would share the midsize Accord sedan's platform and mechanical underpinnings while adopting a lifted, more rugged exterior design.
The Crosstour never found strong market footing during its decade-long run. It occupied an awkward middle ground between family sedan and family SUV, lacking the cargo space of true three-row crossovers and the refinement buyers expected from an Accord. Sales eventually dried up as consumers gravitated toward compact and midsize crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.
Honda's renewed interest reflects shifting consumer preferences and the brand's portfolio gaps. The CR-V dominates Honda's crossover lineup, but a Accord-based utility vehicle could appeal to buyers seeking something between the sedan and compact SUV segments. The midsize SUV class has only strengthened since the Crosstour's discontinuation, with competitors ranging from the Toyota Venza (a wagon-crossover hybrid concept) to the Subaru Outback, which successfully exploits the lifted-wagon segment.
Building on the Accord platform offers Honda clear development advantages. The sedan already uses a proven architecture, sophisticated suspension tuning, and efficient engine options. An Accord SUV variant could leverage these components while adding height, all-wheel drive standardization, and crossover styling cues that modern buyers demand.
The concept faces real headwinds. Automakers increasingly allocate engineering resources to electric vehicles and three-row family haulers. An Accord SUV might cannibalize CR-V sales rather than expand Honda's total addressable market. Subaru's Outback thrives on brand loyalty and standard AWD positioning that Honda would need to match