Manufacturer Honda Class Compact SUV | Production 1993-1998 Body style 5-door wagon | |
 | ||
Also called Land Rover Discovery Series I Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Front-engine, four-wheel-drive | ||
The Honda Crossroad refers to two specific types of SUVs made by Honda. One of them is a rebadged Land Rover Discovery Series I SUV, while the other is a completely different vehicle introduced in 2008.
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Rebadged version (1993–1998)
Honda rebadged and marketed the Crossroad when market research indicated that SUVs were becoming popular. Honda bought the rights to the Discovery Series I from Land Rover and had it placed in the Japanese SUV market for a short time before the partnership ended when BMW bought Land Rover. Some of them had been sold as well to New Zealand.
With the end of the Crossroad in the Japanese SUV market due to the termination of Honda's partnership with Land Rover, Honda replaced the Crossroad with its CR-V.
The Crossroad had been marketed for a short time in Japan from October, 1993 to 1998.
Problems
Problems had emerged regarding the marketing of the Crossroad in Japan. For instance, Honda had threatened to end ties with Rover after it received news that it was sold to BMW. In 1997, a recall was issued by Honda on the advice of Ministry of Transportation due to a malfunction locking mechanism on the SUV's driver-side front door that could make the vehicle open while driving. Around 4,754 vehicles made from July 1995 to December 1996 were affected by the recall.
Reintroduced version (2008–2010)
The Crossroad name was reused as a new crossover SUV, released for the Japanese market in February 2007 for the 2008 model year. The Crossroad features three rows of seats capable of accommodating up to 7 passengers. It replaces the HR-V for the Japanese market.
Under the hood, the Crossroad sports one of two straight-4 engines of 1.8 L and 2.0 L in displacement. Both will be mated to the only available transmission: a 5-speed automatic. Honda's Real-Time AWD system has been thoroughly revised for the Crossroad. It now works in conjunction with stability and traction control as well as ABS brakes. For the first time in a Honda, the Crossroad will be equipped with Hill-Start Assist which temporarily maintains brake pressure after the brake pedal is released when starting on a hill. Under normal driving conditions, the Crossroad behaves as a FWD vehicle.
According to AutoWeek, Honda said it won't import the Crossroad to North America, since their similarly-sized Element takes its place. Honda's crossover SUV lineup in the United States and Canada already has the smaller Element, the mid-priced CR-V and the larger Pilot, as all three models are made in North America.
On August 25, 2010, Honda posted on its Japanese website that the Crossroad was discontinued. It was replaced by the Vezel.