Bloggers bad-mouth Honda's new hatchback

Honda's Crosstour took its lumps on the Internet last week, but Honda says it's not worried.

(Credit: Honda)

(Credit: Automotive News)

Has Honda created an Aztek?

After Honda introduced its 2010 Accord Crosstour hatchback wagon last week, blogs were abuzz -- and, if you're Honda, not in a good way.

"My eyes! My eyes!" screeched one wag on autoblog.com. "Staggeringly ugly. Aztek ugly," wrote another. The reference is to the now-deceased Pontiac Aztek, which many people think set the standard for modern automotive ugliness when it went on sale in July 2000.

Other descriptions included "a dinosaur's head" and "an old sneaker that you find under the couch covered in dust."

Critics saw an unusual roofline, a chunky back end and a bulbous nose that only a rhinoplasty surgeon could love. Their prognosis for the Crosstour, which is meant to fight the Toyota Venza for the minds, hearts and dollars of empty-nest boomers: Not a chance.

Honda fared little better on its official Facebook site for the vehicle.

"As a proud owner of an '06 Honda, this car disgusts me," said one writer. Said another: "Seriously, Honda, what happened?"

The Honda PR team scurried to their damage-control battle stations.

Honda spokesman Sage Marie said much of the chatter is probably from enthusiasts rather than the vehicle's intended target market. And you know how those people are.

"It's been our experience that the tone of Internet chatter is usually negative, regardless of the product. While we take it seriously, it also needs to be taken with a grain of salt," Marie said. "Our research suggests that the styling tests very well among crossover intenders -- our image buyer for this vehicle."

(Source: Automotive News)