Are Crossovers the New SUV?
Sport utility vehicles surged in popularity in the last two decades. Particularly in the last decade, SUVs appeared all over
the roads as soccer moms everywhere bought the popular vehicles to haul loads of kids and sports equipment. Many people found fault with SUVs, however. They have a higher roll over rate than traditional cars and they don’t handle as well on the roads. They also have a poor fuel economy rating, which can hurt sales when gas prices seem determined to stay above $3 a gallon.
Several car makers have continued to build SUVs, but some are beginning to manufacture crossover vehicles. A crossover vehicle combines the roominess and sporty looks of an SUV with the handling and gas mileage of a traditional car.
The first crossover that was successful was the Toyota Rav4, but many more auto makers have jumped on the trend since Toyota revolutionized the segment in the mid nineties. Crossover vehicles appealed to SUV drivers that enjoyed the extra room for family and the commanding view of the street that an SUV provided, but wanted better gas mileage in addition to a lower sticker price. Crossover vehicles also provide better handling and a better ride. All of these reasons add up to exploding popularity for crossover vehicles at the expense of the SUV.
After Toyota proved the viability of the crossover market, Acura was one of the first car makers to jump on the new trend. The Acura MDX proved popular with the status symbol crowd with aggressive styling, but it offered new car luxuries, too. Current options available include a power lift gate, heated second row seats, active suspension a rear view camera and a stereo system that boasts 410 watts and ten speakers.
For car owners that still want the functionality and handling of a crossover, but are put off by the Acura’s $40,000 price tag, the Chevrolet Equinox has proven to be a popular choice. The Equinox uses the same platform as the Saturn Vue. The Chevrolet Equinox is $21,000, just over half of the Acura MDX, but the bargain price doesn’t mean the crossover vehicle comes stripped of any amenities. The Equinox boasts a four wheel disc brake system, center stack controls, remote keyless entry, a tire pressure monitoring system and a six speaker audio system.
Coming in just above the Chevrolet Equinox in price is the Dodge Nitro, first introduced to the crossover market in 2007. The Nitro was built using the same platform of the Jeep Liberty. The Nitro sits higher than most crossover vehicles, giving it more of an SUV feel, but its V6 engine gets 18 miles per gallon in the city. Available options include a MyGig digital media system, a six speed manual transmission and electronic stability control. For improved handling, the Nitro comes with available full time four wheel drive in addition to all wheel drive and rear wheel drive option.
Crossover sales continue to rise while SUV sales suffer. GoOnTheRoad.com believes high gas prices and an increased environmental awareness may help crossover vehicles gain the crown as king of the carpool lane.