Honda News: Honda Crosstour To Reach End of the Line in 2016

[William Maley]

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From the not surprising news department; the Honda Crosstour will be saying good-bye. In a statement from American Honda, Executive Vice President John Mendel announced the model's departure after the 2015 model year.

The Honda Crosstour has never been a big seller. Designed as a comprise between a crossover and station wagon, the model never caught the success that other models such as the Subaru Outback had. In 2014, Honda only moved 11,802 Crosstours, a 29.9 percent drop when compared to 2013.

"However, the crossover segment has evolved and we believe the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V launching later this spring will create new value for crossover shoppers and play a more significant role as a gateway model for the Honda brand to drive light truck sales growth," said Mendel.

There is an upside to the Crossover leaving Honda's lineup. The East Liberty Plant in Ohio will now be able to focus on production of the Acura RDX, Honda CR-V, and in 2017, the Acura MDX.

Source: Honda

Press Release is on Page 2

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Statement by John Mendel, Executive Vice President, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Re: North American Production Portfolio

Apr 8, 2015

Honda's growth strategy in North America is keyed to aligning our product portfolio and related production around the needs of our customers and growth segments in the marketplace. This includes the fortification of our light truck line-up with the recent introduction of a refreshed version of America's best- selling SUV, the CR-V, as well as the all-new 2016 HR-V, a new 2016 Pilot, and the next generation Ridgeline truck, coming to market next year. The strategy also includes strengthening our leading lineup of passenger cars with the introduction this fall of an all-new Civic lineup that will include more variants than ever before, including a new five-door model.

In order to fulfill this customer-focused strategy, we are making several changes to the lineup of vehicles we build in our auto plants in Ohio. Effective with the 2016 model year, we will discontinue production of the Honda Crosstour at the East Liberty Plant in Ohio, also home to the hot-selling Honda CR-V and Acura RDX models, and transfer production of the Accord Hybrid from the Marysville Auto Plant to the Sayama Plant in Japan.

The Crosstour, introduced in 2010, served a positive role in helping the Honda brand target crossover buyers. However, the crossover segment has evolved and we believe the all-new 2016 Honda HR-V launching later this spring will create new value for crossover shoppers and play a more significant role as a gateway model for the Honda brand to drive light truck sales growth. This move will allow the East Liberty Plant to focus on meeting demand for the CR-V and a refreshed 2016 Acura RDX and, as announced last month, expand light truck production in early 2017 with the Acura MDX.

The transfer of the Accord Hybrid from the Marysville Auto Plant (MAP) to Honda's Sayama Plant in Japan, will better optimize our global production capabilities, enabling MAP to focus on its significant role in producing popular models including the Honda Accord Sedan and Coupe and the Acura TLX and ILX performance sedans. ILX production began at MAP in February 2015.

Honda will continue to evolve its customer-focused product strategy in North America by leveraging the flexibility of its production operations in the region. Last year, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura vehicles sold in America were produced in North America.

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[bobo]

A proper station wagon would have been a whole lot more appealing than the Crosstour.

[Drew Dowdell]

Huge LOL that they suggest the HRV in place of the crosstour. Such a huge difference in utility.

[G. David Felt]

This was a car that should have never been. If it was not for the R&D cost, I am sure they would have killed it after year 2.

[regfootball]

Huge LOL that they suggest the HRV in place of the crosstour. Such a huge difference in utility.

HRV looked like it had mucho room inside it when i saw it at the auto show.  But of course its not as girthy or comfy as a crosstour.  Oddly enough the market will embrace the HRV and it will destroy crosstour sales.  I could see popping for a Crosstour if you went in looking at an Accord and they offered a better deal on the Crosstour just to get rid of them.

 

I'd consider one if the deal was can't miss good, but hey I had an Aztek once so looks is maybe not big with me......

Edited April 12, 2015 by regfootball

[Drew Dowdell]

 

Huge LOL that they suggest the HRV in place of the crosstour. Such a huge difference in utility.

HRV looked like it had mucho room inside it when i saw it at the auto show.  But of course its not as girthy or comfy as a crosstour.  Oddly enough the market will embrace the HRV and it will destroy crosstour sales.  I could see popping for a Crosstour if you went in looking at an Accord and they offered a better deal on the Crosstout just to get rid of them.

 

I'd consider one if the deal was can't miss good, but hey I had an Aztek once so looks is maybe not big with me......

 

 

Well my other reason for the LOL is that the Civic 5-door is coming too 

[57caddy]

Well, the bottom line for me is,at least, the East Liberty Plant in Ohio won't be shutting down.  I say, keep those workers working.

[daves87rs]

Bye Bye!

 

 

Civic 5 door should be interesting......

[regfootball]

 

 

Huge LOL that they suggest the HRV in place of the crosstour. Such a huge difference in utility.

HRV looked like it had mucho room inside it when i saw it at the auto show.  But of course its not as girthy or comfy as a crosstour.  Oddly enough the market will embrace the HRV and it will destroy crosstour sales.  I could see popping for a Crosstour if you went in looking at an Accord and they offered a better deal on the Crosstout just to get rid of them.

 

I'd consider one if the deal was can't miss good, but hey I had an Aztek once so looks is maybe not big with me......

 

 

Well my other reason for the LOL is that the Civic 5-door is coming too 

 

wow, i thought they let the Fit be the 5 door.........

[Drew Dowdell]

 

 

 

Huge LOL that they suggest the HRV in place of the crosstour. Such a huge difference in utility.

HRV looked like it had mucho room inside it when i saw it at the auto show.  But of course its not as girthy or comfy as a crosstour.  Oddly enough the market will embrace the HRV and it will destroy crosstour sales.  I could see popping for a Crosstour if you went in looking at an Accord and they offered a better deal on the Crosstout just to get rid of them.

 

I'd consider one if the deal was can't miss good, but hey I had an Aztek once so looks is maybe not big with me......

 

 

Well my other reason for the LOL is that the Civic 5-door is coming too 

 

wow, i thought they let the Fit be the 5 door.........

 

 

Nope, they were quite clear in the Civic concept press conference that they are bringing that body style back.   It sounds like it might be UK built though.