Spy shots: New Accord based CUV could arrive by the end of the year
by Sam Abuelsamid on Jan 26th 2009 at 11:26AM 
Currently, all of Honda's crossovers are of a more traditional upright style like the Element (if you can call that traditional) and Pilot. What Honda hasn't offered in the U.S. in more than a decade is a wagon body style. That looks like it might change by the end of 2009. Apparently, the gang in East Liberty, Ohio is cooking up a challenger for the Toyota Venza, Nissan Murano, and Subaru Outback. The mule that has been spotted uses the body of the European market Accord Sport Tourer (aka wagon) with the front clip of the current North American Market Accord. It's not clear if this is the final body style that will appear, but the car actually has quite handsome proportions. Power will likely come from either the current Accord 2.4-liter four and 3.5-liter V6 engines, or possibly the Acura RDX 2.3L turbo. It's unfortunate that the 2.2L i-DTEC diesel is dead in the water for America because that would actually be an ideal candidate for such a vehicle. John Mendel, executive vice-president of American Honda confirmed to a dealer meeting over the weekend that a new product is coming for the brand this fall. The new CUV is expected to debut at the LA Auto Show in November.
[Source: Temple of VTEC]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
JB 11:39AM (1/26/2009)
Looks good! I like that AWD will be an option, hopefully with a 4cyl. Looks better than Venza at least in those pics, but Venza is growing on me.
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s13hybrid 2:31PM (1/26/2009)
I would also really like to see an AWD 4 cyl version. An AWD wagon that gets batter gas mileage than the CRV, possibly has a third row of seats, and is built to Honda's standards would be hands down a great family car.
Jonathan 4:24PM (1/26/2009)
An AWD wagon, with three rows of seats, that gets better MPGs than CR-V? I googled it quickly an the CR-V gets 27 highway; I don't think your gonna beat that. The new crossover will likely get MPGs inline with the Venza and Murano.
Honda's truck record is less than stellar..The Ridgeline and Pilot update are both pretty ugly. If its an SUV version of the Accord coupe, tell me where to sign up.
Toledo Guy 11:47PM (1/26/2009)
Ya know, I thought the same thing about the Venza. My local auto show had one in metallic brown w/ a tan leather interior. Looked great in person, plenty of legroom in the second row. Then I got out and saw the $38k sticker. $38k for a pimped out Camry? No freakin way. Just another way to get those nervous about dropping $35k+ on an SUV to drop the money. I love the look of this Honda, as long as it falls in the Accord price range.....
DJ_Swammi 11:41AM (1/26/2009)
This is what the new Subaru Legacy should have been
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carguy 11:45AM (1/26/2009)
The lengths that marketers will go to not use the words "wagon" or "hatchback" never ceases to amaze.
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Red 11:51AM (1/26/2009)
The lengths that Americans will go to avoid buying wagons, hatchbacks and minivans instead of CUVs and SUVs never ceases to amaze me either...
Judy Zik 1:13PM (1/26/2009)
I find this REALLY ANNOYING. It is bad enough that marketing departments think we are too retarded to recognize a wagon when we see one but could Autoblog and the rest of the media please stop spouting off the same crap. We are car people here and we know what a station wagon looks like thanks. The only thing worse is when they try to create a whole new category or acronym for their latest car. I want to scream when I read things like "The World's First UAV Urban Activity Vehicle". STFU would be the acronym that comes to mind.
RDL 2:01PM (1/26/2009)
+1
Snark 7:04PM (1/26/2009)
Why is it so hard to understand what use people have for high-riding vehicles? Believe it's hype all you want - an Outback or Venza-style car is useful for anybody who drives on crappy roads (hikers, climbers, bikers, campers), lives in the snow belt in an area that's not plowed by breakfast time, or rural dwellers for whom washboard roads are a reality. Bottom line is, a high-riding chunky wagon is more useful to more people than a low-riding wagon that just looks like a sedan with a camper shell faired in.
Why do I just get the feeling that the anti-CUV bitchers are just urban shut-ins who rarely if ever go outside the boundaries of a major city?
TomdeTomTom 11:46AM (1/26/2009)
Why Oh Why did they keep the North American front?
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Torrent 12:56PM (1/26/2009)
Because the Acura TSX has the same front.
TomdeTomTom 2:25PM (1/26/2009)
You're right. Good point. Perhaps the coupes face then...
Brendon 10:32AM (1/27/2009)
I agree the jdm wagon is sex on wheels
MUSASHI66 11:47AM (1/26/2009)
Perfect replacement for either my Outback or Legacy Wagon. Venza is nice too - we need more versatile vehicles in the states, and wagons do the trick.
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why not the LS2LS7? 11:56AM (1/26/2009)
How can this car use anything from the European Accord? The European Accord is the TSX here, and the American Accord is a full-size vehicle.
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Dazza 2:18PM (1/26/2009)
LS2,LS7: the mule being tested is a European Accord estate with the North American Accord (Inspire) front grafted on and equipped with North American side marker lights. It's possible they'll simply use this format. There's only about 7mm difference in width between the European and North American cars anyway; that's about a fifth of an inch.
Mazda FTW! 11:56AM (1/26/2009)
So it's a big Accord wagon? Why not just bring the Euro Accord wagon. That thing is so hot.
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Jim in Tampa 1:09PM (1/26/2009)
I agree, M-FTW.
MikeW 12:25PM (1/26/2009)
Is Honda going to have a 6 speed automatic?
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