Honda Crosstour was not in the market for too long. But, it left some marks among the fans of the Japanese carmaker. It was a wagon version of the Accord sedan, but some considered it as a crossover SUV due to its size and ground clearance. Now, when these classes are the hottest thing in the market, the manufacturer must consider the comeback of the 2021 Honda Crosstour.
The question is – where would the SUV land? Pilot is currently the largest model, belonging to the mid-size segment. A not too long time ago, Honda brought back one old nameplate – Passport. Well, that is the reason why we don’t write off the chances of another return. Passport is the two-row mid-size SUV, pretty much the same as the Pilot. Smaller crossovers are CR-V and HR-V.
The 2021 Honda Crosstour might fill the vacant spot in the full-size segment. The company is not producing big rigs. When it was in production for the last time, Crosstour was 196 inches long. That is 1.5 inches more than the current Pilot. The vehicle might grow a bit to satisfy the needs of buyers. On the other hand, it requires further upgrades, such as body construction, a more potent engine, towing capacity…
Electric SUV
When the Crosstour was here last time, it used a well-known 3.5-liter V6 engine. Well, the new model is definitely not going to get it, since it would be too many same configurations in the SUV squad, with Passport and Pilot already using a six-cylinder unit. Instead, the carmaker might turn to a no-emission drivetrain. Ford is already out, Toyota is moving to this realm, and Nissan is also on the way with cool concepts waiting for production.
Honda is not as loud as others. Strange, since its CR-V is one of the most efficient compact crossovers, with class-leading gas mileage coming from a hybrid configuration. Also, speculations are reporting that the Pilot is getting the PHEV configuration. Some fans claim they saw the test mules with opening above the front wheel. Without photos, we won’t take these stories for granted.
But, the future of the entire automotive industry is moving to total electrification. The Japanese carmaker needs to keep up with modern trends and the 2021 Honda Crosstour is the perfect chance to show to entire world not to write them off. However, this is not an easy task, especially during the troubled period of COVID-19 pandemic. But, experts and fans like the idea.
2021 Honda Crosstour vs Competition
If the SUV becomes an all-electric vehicle, it would be the worst scenario, competition-wise. There are already some models available in this segment, and most other companies are about to introduce their products. Some estimations are that by 2030, all internal combustion engines will be in the past. But, let’s not go so far. The competition in the electric SUV market is still not huge and it will be a good ad for other Honda vehicles.
On the other hand, the 2021 Honda Crosstour as the full-size SUV would have even bigger troubles. This market is reserved for Ford Expedition, Toyota Sequoia, Chevy Tahoe, and other models built on the ladder frame. The unibody architecture can offer a sportier ride, but that is not exactly what buyers want from big rigs. Well, just take a look at the sale of mid-size trucks, where Ridgeline is the only vehicle using a unibody concept. Investments are not worthy of such bad sales for the Crosstour.
The company might work on the old design. Something between wagon and SUV might be a successful experiment. The only rival in this class would be Subaru Forester, with its wagon-like styling. In this case, we can expect the 2021 Honda Crosstour to be positioned between CR-V and Passport SUV.
Release Date
Rumors about the Crosstour were pretty loud, but the company faces the slow down caused by a coronavirus. The market is not ready for new arrivals yet. But, the 2021 Honda Crosstour might wake up the Japanese carmaker. There are also other plans, such as the CR-V plug-in hybrid with an electric range. However, this support stories about the all-electric Crosstour. Sooner or later, it will happen. But, as things stand now, the SUV is not coming out so soon. The vehicle might debut as the concept first and then hit production somewhere in 2022.