Honda Crossroad Launched in Japan

TOKYO — Honda's new seven-passenger Crossroad began reaching Japanese dealerships this week. The big question is whether this rugged compact crossover will head across the Pacific to eager American consumers.

Built on Civic underpinnings, the Crossroad is a new type of vehicle for Honda, with rugged, almost boxy sport-utility vehicle styling cues on the outside and three rows of seats. Honda describes the vehicle as an "active life navigator" that combines the functionality of an SUV with the roominess of a minivan.

In Japan, the Crossroad is being offered with a choice of 1.8- or 2.0-liter VTEC four-cylinder engines, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. Standard equipment includes on-demand four-wheel drive with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, and hill-start assist. Other features include adaptive cruise control and a new collision mitigation system that sends audio and visual warnings to the driver, then applies the brakes to help avoid a rear-end collision with a vehicle ahead.

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