Honda has taken a public relations beating for the unusual appearance of its upcoming Accord Crosstour crossover.  When photos of the Crosstour first appeared on the web, the reaction of the automotive press was overwhelmingly negative.  The general public didn't like it much better -- the vehicles' Facebook page filled with venomous comments within hours of its first appearance, and Honda was forced into damage control.  But press opinion may be changing. Mechanical details and interior photos have emerged, and press reaction has generally been positive.

Kicking Tires notes, "The company also confirmed that the crossover would come with a standard 3.5-liter V-6 and have optional four-wheel drive when it goes on sale in November," positioning it well to take on the Toyota Venza.

Autoblog thinks the car's interior "will be much less divisive" than its exterior.  "Packing an instrument panel that looks like a straight port over from the Accord (albeit one with a different steering wheel), the Crosstour appears to inherit the sedan's lilting dashboard graphic, simple analog gauges, and available navigation system. From where we sit, for such an unconventional vehicle, the interior seems oddly anticlimactic," they write, "But at least it figures to be easy-to-use."

Edmunds Inside Line thinks the cabin "looks more like the high-zoot cockpit of a glitzy Acura than a garden-variety Honda." Motor Trend adds, "We're impressed with the surprisingly large under-floor, removable cargo box and the slick rear-seat folding system, which puts a lever in the D-Pillar right near the hatch that releases and folds the rear seats without any awkward climbs into the cargo or rear-seat areas." 

Whether consumers warm to the Crosstour remains to be seen, but Honda must be happy to see the vehicle winning some positive press this morning.  The Crosstour may reach dealerships as early as next month, but pricing has not been announced.

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