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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Man on parole for robbery arrested after crashing stolen truck Churches start new year with messages of hope Car crashes into Medford yard New Year's Eve 10 things to know for Friday Emergency services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man on parole for robbery arrested after crashing stolen truck Car crashes into Medford yard New Year's Eve Emergency services Emergency services Community blog: Mentoring=Crime Prevention Politics and Elections Councilman stirs online dust-up with anti-marijuana post State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change Education Traveling artist sets the stage for Ruch School amphitheater Ruch school class focuses on the natural environment Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament Environment Monument expansion expected to increase tourism, protect resources Biologist resigns over LNG reporting failure Bird flu discovered in Winston backyard flock Jackson County holds back on enforcing GMO ban for now No fish, no funding for problem dams State News Oregon fans get married Rose Bowl parking lot Earthquake off coast shakes Humboldt County Stranded sea turtle recovers at Oregon aquarium Oregon minimum wage rises to $9.25 Storm brings snow, cold to West Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Jeannine Gardiner Dr. Kenneth Emerson Janet E. Leonard Lyle Roberts Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable In memoriam: 2014’s notable deaths Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? Sports Latest Stories And then there were two Challengers’ late charge falls short Buckeyes stun Alabama in Sugar Bowl Soft label fuels UO fire Rose, Bulls down Nuggets Varsity 541 College Sports And then there were two Buckeyes stun Alabama in Sugar Bowl Soft label fuels UO fire One to go Arizona at top of Pac-12 Pro Sports Rose, Bulls down Nuggets Capitals top Blackhawks 3-2 in Winter Classic LeBron to miss two weeks with injuries Ravens head of security charged with sex offense Lions’ Suh refuses to talk about incident Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Crosstour Positive Steps Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Milken economist headlines Southern Oregon Business Conference Real Estate News Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Rental owners group reports 2.48 percent vacancy rate People In Business Transportation Falling gas prices help spur travel at Medford airport Agriculture Rising prices bear fruit for local pear growers K-BAR ignites agriculture boom beneath Table Rocks Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Palestine statehood bid Michelle Teheux: Lucky to be alive (and white?) Our View: Meeting in the middle keeps a mill open Michael Gerson: Clear choice, or clear trauma? Letters to the Editor. Jan. 2 Editorials Our View: Meeting in the middle keeps a mill open Our View: Help clear the air for the new year Our View: Caves expansion worth the wait Other Views: Oregon incomes still lag behind Our View: Council is barking up the right tree Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor. Jan. 2 Letters to the Editor, Jan. 1 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 31 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 30 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 29 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Community blog: Get the New Year off to a Great Start Hobart Bluff offers top-notch views Fishing report: Jan. 2, 2015 'Wild' about hiking Churches start new year with messages of hope Food Community blog: Ring in new flavors with year's last appetizers Food for Thought: Tips for cooking when you have food allergies Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Kitchen Call: The comfort of creamy soups Community blog: Baking contest finalists combine cookies, candies Home and Garden Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Dear Monty: Can a rookie real estate agent be a good choice? Bathtub or shower: What’s best for you? Home Help: Home safety tips for a safe and happy winter season How NOT to install drywall Health Community blog: We Don't Have To Conspire Against Good Health HealthStyle: New year, new you Health Watch: Build up your glutes in the off-season Dr. Jeff Hersh: What's a monoclonal antibody? Dr. Murray Feingold: Have a happy and stress-free holiday Hiking Biking Faith Churches start new year with messages of hope (No heading) Churches, synagogs host seasonal events Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Milestones and Achievements Little Yaretzi is county's first baby of 2015 Local landowners see no public good in proposed pipeline Pear Blossom queen has open heart surgery Hundreds enjoy Christmas dinner, gifts at St. Vincent de Paul SinceYou Asked: SBA would work with Mt. Ashland Ski Area about loan Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer Top 10 CDs of 2014 Ring in 2015 at a New Year's celebration near you Theater Camelot's 'Fiddler' is a charmer ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning Music Jefferson State Choral Coalition presents 'Reason for the Season' The Farr Side: Top 10 album count-up for 2014 Top 10 CDs of 2014 A tribute to Joe Cocker Ring in 2015 at a New Year's celebration near you Community Events New Schneider Museum exhibits highlight First Friday Celebrate winter solstice with the Bad Film Society Tomaseen Foley's "A Celtic Christmas" returns to the Craterian Theater Stefan Baumann and Eugene Bennett highlight Third Fridays Dancing People Company celebrates the solstice Dining Jackson Creek Pizza Co. is a good downtown haunt Dobra Tea menu offers hundreds of brews Food for Thought: Wintertime wining and dining Coffee shops roll out holiday-inspired drinks Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Man on parole for robbery arrested after crashing stolen truck ... Car crashes into Medford yard New Year's Eve ... Expanded library hours begin today ... Man on parole for robbery arrested after crashing stolen truck ... Car crashes into Medford yard New Year's Eve ... Expanded library hours begin today ... Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Crosstour Comment By Neal White More Content Now MailTribune.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 7:11 am Updated at 7:12 AM By Neal White More Content Now Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 7:11 am Updated at 7:12 AM » Social News For consumers wanting to break away from the cookie-cutter formula that makes it difficult to differentiate one model from the next, the 2015 Honda Crosstour is certainly worth taking for a spin. Part sport utility, part wagon and part midsize sedan, the Crosstour is officially classified as a midsize crossover utility vehicle. Available in front- and real time four-wheel drive configurations, it provides ample seating for five adults and 25.7 cubic feet of cargo area with both seats in use (51.3 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded flat). It even has a hidden, removable utility box. With a base price starting at $27,530, consumers have the option of two available engines. The Crosstour’s base engine is the 2.4-liter I-4, delivering 192 horsepower and 162 lbs.-ft. torque. Mated to a five-speed automatic transmission, it has an EPA fuel economy rating of 22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway using regular unleaded fuel. Crosstour models equipped with the I-4 engine are only available in front-wheel drive and available in EX or EX-L trim levels with a tow rating of 1,000 pounds. The Crosstour is also available with the 3.5-liter V-6 engine, delivering 278 horsepower and 252 lbs.-ft. torque. Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, it has an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway for front-wheel drive models (19 mpg, 28 mpg respectively for four-wheel drive models). It also requires regular unleaded gasoline and is available in EX and EX-L trim levels. Models equipped with the V-6 engine have a tow rating of 1,500 pounds. This week I had the opportunity to evaluate the 2015 Crosstour 4WD EX-L V-6. I was very impressed with its performance and handling. While I expected the engine to provide plenty of torque for quick acceleration needs, its sedan-like handling pleasantly surprised me. Honda has really found a way to deliver the best of both worlds. The Crosstour’s versatility is exceptional, providing four-wheel capability, seating for five and tons of room for cargo. Yet in everyday driving situations, it is nimble, easy to maneuver in crowded parking lots and delivers a very comfortable car-like ride that you don’t normally find in an SUV. It’s also loaded with features, such as standard rearview camera with guidelines, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, a USB/iPod connection, fog lights, one-touch turn signals and an expanded-view driver’s mirror. Premium available features include LaneWatch display, HondaLink featuring Aha compatibility, Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Warning systems. Manufactured at Honda’s assembly plant in East Liberty, Ohio, the Crosstour’s standard safety features include vehicle stability assist with traction control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution and brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system, daytime running lights and six airbags, to list but a few. For those in the market for a mid-size crossover, the 2015 Honda Crosstour should be on the test drive list. Neal White has been covering the automotive industry for more than 20 years and is affiliated with the Texas Auto Writers Association. THE NUTS AND BOLTS MODEL: 2015 Honda Crosstour 5-seat mid-size crossover utility Front-, or four-wheel drive Trim packages: I-4 or V-6/EX, EX-L PRICE RANGE: $28,000-$38,000 ENGINE: 2.4L I4 (192 hp/162 T) 3.5L V6 (278 hp/252 T) TRANSMISSION: 5-speed automatic 6-speed auto w/paddle shifters EPA: 22/20 mpg city, 31/30 mpg highway (I4/V6 FWD) FUEL: Regular unleaded STABILITY CONTROL: Vehicle stability assist with traction control BRAKES: ABS LENGTH: 196.6 inches WHEELBASE: 110.1 in. WIDTH: 74.7 inches HEIGHT: 61.5 inches WEIGHT: 3,703-4,106 pounds TRACK: 6439/64.9 (front/rear) FUEL TANK: 18.5 gallons TIRES: 17-, or 18-inch CARGO: 25.7/51.3 cubic feet (behind first/second row). TOW: Up to 1,500 pounds By Neal White More Content Now MailTribune.com By Neal White More Content Now Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 7:11 am Updated at 7:12 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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