In a review for Automotive News Mark Rechtin calls the 2010 Honda Accord new Crosstour "visually jarring" and unattractive, suggesting the vehicle looks worse in person than in photographs.

The Crosstour, which will debut concurrently with the Acura ZDX crossover, is built on the Accord platform while the ZDX is on the MDX platform. The Crosstour packs a 3.5-liter V6 with variable cylinder management producing 217 hp. The base price with shipping has been set at $30,380.

There are interesting included technological amenities, like an air conditioner compressor that automatically shuts down when the climate controls sense that the outside air is less than the selected interior temperature.

It's roomy, with more than enough leg-room for six-footers in the front and back seats. There's 54 cubic feet of storage space. Standard features include cruise control, moon roof, fog lights, power seats (driver and passenger) 17-inch wheels, audio with seven speakers, and dual-zone climate control with rear ventilation.

According to Honda's American vice-president for corporate planning and logistics, "The Crosstour features carlike smooth ride, utility, great fuel economy and style. It bridges the gap between SUVs, larger crossovers and more nimble and fuel-efficient sedans."

Rechtin, hower, asks a more pertinent question. "Why didn't Honda just bring over the angular and crisp European Accord wagon instead of this bulbous creation" That vehicle, as it turns out, will appear next fall as the Acura TSX, leaving dealers in the meantime with a hard sell on a new product that is, to many eyes, just plain ugly.