Honda has always been known for building reliable and fuel-efficient models, however, they do tend to create some odd ones every now and then. For example, there was the Honda Civic del Sol in the 90s and then the Honda Insight in the early 2000s. But what stood out more were creations like the Honda Element and the Honda CR-Z, which were obviously built more for function than they were for looks. And then there was the Honda Crosstour, which was an Accord-based car that was ugly, but purposeful in its execution.

It kind of looked like an alligator

The Honda Crosstour debuted in 2010 and it was slotted in the lineup right next to the Accord. That, of course, made sense considering it was basically an Accord wagon, although it wasn’t nearly as nice looking. The Crosstour was about five inches long and about 2 inches wider than its Accord stablemate at the time. However, it looked a bit different.

Upfront, the Crosstour shared the same front end as the Accord, and the sides of the car carried that same character line, however, the hatchback-shaped rear end is where the two differed. And while the whole aesthetic execution was purpose-built and we can tell that Honda was tried to make it look as sleek as possible, it’s hard not to think that it kind of looks like an alligator.

At least it was powerful

For the first two years that it was in production, the Honda Crosstour came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 278 horsepower and 252 lb-ft torque and was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Later on, for the 2013 to 2015 model years, a 2.4-liter engine that put out 192 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque was the standard engine offered while the V6 remained an option.

Powertrains aside, another highlight was that the Crosstour was also available in either front- or all-wheel-drive formats, making it versatile not only in its storage solutions but also on the road.

Smooth and cavernous

It might have looked weird, but the overall beauty of the Crosstour was that it provided the same smooth ride qualities and power delivery as the tried-and-true Accord sedan that it was modeled after, but its hatchback shape made cargo hauler much easier. As anyone could guess, the Crosstour exuded double the amount of the cargo volume than the Accord sedan at the time.

The Accord had 13.4 cubic-feet of cargo space with the rear seat up and 15.8 with the rear seat folded down. On the other hand, the Crosstour 25.7 cubic feet with the rear seat up and a whopping 51.3 cu-ft with the rear seat folded down, which was about double the amount. It’s safe to say that “versatility” was the name of the game when Honda created this ugly car.

Too bad it didn’t last

Unfortunately, the Honda Crosstour didn’t last. The 2015 model year was its last year in production before Honda decided to discontinue it due to slow sales. That’s a shame, but at least you can now find them in the used market for anywhere from $8,000 and even up to $20,000 depending on the condition, mileage, and location of the car. If you can get past the way the Crosstour looks, then you could have yourself one of the most reliable, efficient, and versatile cars that Honda ever made. Just don’t call it an “alligator.”