Crossover vehicles, sometimes called CUVs, are the modern update of the more traditional sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). With a wagon body and typically, with the addition of available all-wheel drive, crossover vehicles offer a lighter-duty alternative to their time-honored, rugged counterparts. They’re geared more toward drivers who need an all-weather wagon, not an all-terrain explorer.
It’s been a quick path to success for crossover vehicles, though most drivers don’t always divide them distinctly from SUVs. While SUVs slowly evolved from trucks into carryall wagons with part-time four-wheel drive, crossover vehicles emerged just in the last generation. Most have been based on front-drive platforms; one of the earliest of the kind, the Toyota RAV4, was spawned from that automaker’s global parts bin of Corolla hardware. Quickly, automakers added vehicles to compete—the likes of the Ford Escape, Nissan Rogue, and Honda CR-V joined the RAV4 in its niche in short order—while the companies also drew new designs for crossovers without any relationship to existing vehicles in their lineups. The Subaru Outback is a prime example of a vehicle that preceded its sedan counterpart, rather than the reverse.
Today’s crossover vehicles can be found in all size and price categories, from the small and inexpensive Hyundai Venue to the larger and more expensive Tesla Model X. Turbo-4 vehicles with front-wheel drive are included in the family of crossovers, and so are electric vehicles with all-wheel drive—new entries such as the Kia EV9.
It’s a case of legacy versus upstart—but in the competition between the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3, 20-year old Tesla is the legacy electric vehicle maker, and 120-year old Ford is the upstart. While both of these choices are compelling, relatively affordable electric...Read More»
The 2025 Subaru Outback and 2025 Subaru Crosstrek both channel the same kind of rugged crossover appeal, offering the layout and interior accommodations of a roomy hatchback or wagon, combined with all-weather all-wheel-drive capability and lots of ground clearance. In both cases, these models...Read More»
Three-row SUVs can do a little of everything. But which is better at doing most things: the 2025 Hyundai Palisade, or the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander? When the Hyundai Palisade launched for 2020, finally giving the brand a proper three-row crossover SUV, it was nearly 20 years after Toyota...Read More»
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 and 2025 Honda CR-V are both at the heart of today’s affordable family vehicle market, offering a sweet spot of efficiency, spaciousness, and versatility that will appeal to households that don’t need a third-row seat and want to keep the cost low. From the...Read More»
The 2025 Honda CR-V and 2025 Mazda CX-50 are two strong attempts to unseat the bestselling Toyota RAV4, in what’s become the most popular vehicle segment in America. Among these so-called compact crossovers—close to what we considered midsize not long ago—the Honda CR-V remains...Read More»
The 2024 Toyota RAV4 and 2024 Nissan Rogue both offer an excellent combination of affordability, efficiency, spaciousness, and versatility. It’s easy to see why these are two of the most popular compact crossover SUVs. These multi-talented vehicles embody the crossover craze and underscore...Read More»
How big is big enough when it comes to the three-row crossover SUV? When Honda redesigned the Pilot for the 2023 model year, it got bigger and roomier, opening up to one of the roomiest in the crossover SUV class. Toyota followed it with a larger version of the venerable Highlander dubbed the Grand...Read More»
As compact crossovers, the 2024 Ford Escape and 2024 Nissan Rogue are two popular entries at what’s considered one of the nerve centers of the U.S. vehicle market—largely replacing the midsize sedan in the American family landscape. Both offer a lot of interior space and comfort, plus...Read More»
Hyundai Kona vs. Tucson: On paper the matchup seems unusual, since both vehicles come from the same South Korean automaker. But with lots of standard equipment, a great warranty, and fuel-efficient and high-performance editions, it’s easy to see the attraction to both the Tucson and the Kona...Read More»
The 2024 Nissan Ariya and 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossovers both vie for the family-vehicle side of the EV market. While they both offer two battery pack options, single or dual-motor layouts, five-passenger seating, loads of interior space, and EPA driving range in the vicinity of 300 miles...Read More»
Although the 2024 Chevy Equinox and 2024 GMC Terrain are assembled in the same plant, share similar powertrains, and may even share the same floor space at the dealership, these two compact crossovers from General Motors have more than just daylight separating them. The two compact crossovers have...Read More»
Compact crossover SUVs serve so many buyers so well, thanks to their flexibility, economy, and affordable sticker prices. One of the bestselling vehicles of its kind, the 2024 Toyota RAV4 comes in a wide range of models, all of them winners. Redesigned last in 2019, the RAV4 specializes in choice...Read More»
Three-row crossover SUVs have become the most popular suburban family wagons—and of course, some are better than others. The VW Atlas and Kia Telluride are two large popular family crossover SUVs with lots of space for families. The former keeps things simple while the latter punches above...Read More»
Looking for the utility of a pickup truck but don’t want the size or fuel economy penalty of a full-size truck? The Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz fit the bill. They both seat five and ride like compact crossovers, and their small beds and modest length mean they easily fit into garages...Read More»
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 set the tone for accessible electric vehicles with distinct style, open floor plans, and a range of performance options. They challenge the bestselling Tesla Model Y in different ways, though both have an entry-level option with a smaller 58-kwh battery pack as well...Read More»
Ford sells a wide range of crossover SUVs, but at the smaller end of the lineup it has two of its best and most fuel-efficient gas offerings. The Ford Bronco Sport gives off-road enthusiasts a compact SUV with genuine trail-blazing ability, while the more car-like Escape comes in frugal plug-in and...Read More»
Ford Bronco Sport vs. Toyota RAV4: Which of these two compact crossover vehicles earns the spot in your driveway? When it comes to performance and safety, one of these SUVs takes a slight lead—while the other grabs the top fuel economy ranking. The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport is just a few model...Read More»
Chevrolet has a full lineup of utility vehicles, but at the smaller end of the spectrum, it’s created some confusion. It used to sell the small TrailBlazer (which had been a large SUV in the 1990s) and an even smaller Trax—but for 2024, the Trax has grown up, and now is larger than the...Read More»
Kia now sells a full lineup of crossover SUVs, and two of its most popular offerings are its largest: the three-row Kia Sorento and the three-row Kia Telluride. The Telluride was new in 2020, and gained instant acclaim thanks to its pitch-perfect style, its spacious cabin, and its all-around...Read More»
