New car buyers who want a practical car with sensible running costs may well be tempted by one of the best crossovers. These cars, which blend elements of great hatchbacks with those of the best SUVs, have increased in popularity in recent years, and now most manufacturers offer a wide array of crossover cars.
Their popularity is understandable; crossovers tend to offer increased ground clearance and body height, visually aping desirable full-size SUVs and appearing more rugged, in conjunction with running costs comparable to a standard mid-sized car – because, in a lot of cases, they tend to employ sensibly sized engines that only drive the front wheels.
The Nissan Qashqai, for example, practically single-handedly kicked off the crossover market at its launch in 2007; it looked like an off-roader, with a tall body, increased ground clearance and easy-to-access cabin, but its underpinnings and running costs were comparable to the likes of a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. This quickly made it one of the best family cars around
The term has fallen out of favour in some places, however, with many sites simply now referring to crossovers as small SUVs – as myriad manufacturer offerings are effectively just that. But if you’ve started browsing for crossovers, you’ve probably found the options presented to you overwhelming. To help you narrow down your options and find something suitable quickly and easily, we’ve come up with a list of our favourite crossover SUVs that are on sale in 2024, including hybrid and electric options alongside conventional fuels.
Top 10 best crossover SUVs 2024
Compact Ford is great fun to drive, and practical
Our only real grumble about it is that the interior is a bit dull and lacking in finesse compared to some rivals. But, otherwise, it’s a practical and enjoyable compact SUV that won’t break the bank, and many families will find it the only car they need. As a result, we gave it the Parkers best small family car award in 2023. There’s even a sporty 1.5-litre Puma ST version, which is ideal if you want something more exciting to drive.
Read our full Ford Puma review
Pros
- Enjoyable to drive
- Sensible running costs
- Practical and comfortable
Cons
- Interior and infotainment is lacking
- Limited engine options
Small crossover SUV is refined and relaxing
One other factor that might put you off, that aside, is that – like the Ford Puma and some others here – there’s no version on offer with all-wheel drive. But, with the right set of tyres, a two-wheel-drive car can deliver safe and steady progress in wintry or muddy conditions, without the cost and complexity issues of an all-wheel-drive alternative. So, think long and hard about whether you really need all-wheel drive.
Read our full Skoda Kamiq review
Pros
- Drives well and is comfortable
- High-quality, well-built interior
- Very practical and easy to live with
Cons
- Devoid of character and fun
- Feels like a tall hatch, not an SUV
Stylish, high-tech and great fun to drive
MINI has really injected the fun into this new Countryman, with a stylish interpretation of its design and a particularly modern interior. It's centred around a new OLED touchscreen that's fantastic to use, though might prove a bit daunting for those who prefer a more traditional layout. As well as a choice of petrol models, Mini is also now offering the Countryman as an EV, boasting a claimed range of up to 287 miles.
Read our full Mini Countryman review
Pros
- Smart interior and exterior
- Great to drive
- Electric model available
Cons
- Touchscreen-focused interior won't suit everyone
- Can get expensive with options
Bargain crossover gets even better
Like its predecessor, the Duster is good to drive both on and off-road, with the option of a four-wheel-drive drive being quite rare in the Duster's class these days. While Dacia is still to confirm pricing of the new Duster, it's expected to cost less than £20,000, which will get you a huge amount of car for the money.
Read our full Dacia Duster review
Pros
- Capable upmarket EV
- Seven-year warranty
- Great real-world range
Cons
- Firm ride can annoy
- Infotainment could be better
Compact SEAT majors on quality
It’s also sensibly priced, offered with a good array of equipment, and comes with quiet and smooth petrol engines. Sure, it’s not as fun to drive as the likes of the Puma, but its refinement, kit and quality make it worth putting on your list. If you want a diesel or a hybrid of some form, though, you’ll have to look elsewhere.
Read our full SEAT Arona review
Pros
- Small yet spacious
- Good petrol engines
- Comfortable and quiet
Cons
- No electric or diesel options
- Little charm or excitement
Perhaps the perfect family SUV
It's an ideal choice for families and an incredibly practical car for its size, with higher-spec models featuring rear seats that can be removed entirely, as well as a huge boot and various luggage nets and solutions that help to make life that bit easier. Though the Karoq is one of the older cars in its class now, it remains one of the best with its high-quality interior and superb levels of comfort and refinement.
Read our full Skoda Karoq review
Pros
- Incredibly practical interior
- Very spacious
- Comfortable and refined
Cons
- No hybrid or electric model available
- Not very exciting to drive or look at
An appealing premium compact crossover
What is worth highlighting is the option of the S tronic dual-clutch automatic gearbox, which is one of the best of its type. The small Q2 is subsequently a great choice if you want an automatic crossover, and you may well be willing to trade outright practicality for its premium nature and edge. Predictably, though, it is more expensive than its rivals.
Read our full Audi Q2 review
Pros
- High-quality interior and feel
- Great infotainment
- Good driving experience
Cons
- Less rear space than rivals
- Expensive price and options
Compact and efficient hybrid crossover
Toyota offers a ten-year, 100,000 mile warranty on its new cars for starters, provided you get them serviced at an authorised outlet. And, vitally, the brand also has an exceptional reputation for reliability. The Yaris Cross is also a genuinely likeable compact crossover; it’s good to drive, spacious for its size, practical, well equipped, and has a five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating.
Read our full Toyota Yaris Cross review
Pros
- Strong reliability
- Effective hybrid system
- Practical and comfortable
Cons
- Interior lacks flair and personalisation options
- Infotainment system feels dated
Long-standing family favourite
Buyers can also opt for E-Power hybrid versions, which deliver a smooth and quiet driving experience, a short pure-electric range and good economy figures for its size and weight. If the Qashqai doesn’t quite hit the spot, though, but it’s the right kind of size for you, have a look at the likes of the Kia Sportage instead.
Read our full Nissan Qashqai review
Pros
- Neat E-Power hybrid system
- Smart styling, inside and out
- Easy to drive and live with
Cons
- No diesel model
- Stiffer than some rivals
A compact and practical choice
It’s a compact and easy-to-handle crossover, and it’s pleasingly good to drive. It’s also spacious and practical, despite its dimensions, and the available engines are smooth, economical and flexible. Altogether, it’s a very capable small crossover. Many will also like the fact that it feels more of an SUV than alternatives such as the Arona.
Read our full Volkswagen T-Cross review
Pros
- Capable, solid and safe
- Excellent petrol engines
- Compact but spacious
Cons
- Lacks a bit of sparkle
- Limited engine choice
Crossover SUV buyers’ guide 2024
If you’re looking to make a rational purchase, looking at crossovers might not be a great starting point. They tend to be less enjoyable to drive than a conventional hatchback or estate, and they can be more expensive to buy and run. Consequently, for many, one of the best estates or best hatchbacks on sale might prove the better option.
There are, however, some facets worth considering that might swing things back in favour of a crossover. For starters, their taller nature often means they’re easier to get into and out of. This can prove of great use to those who struggle to get into lower-slung cars, and it can also be advantageous for those with children – as fitting child seats into a higher-set car is much easier. Crossover SUVs with large boots and practical cabins can also be easier to live with than a comparable hatch, provided the figures and features stack up in their favour.
Furthermore, some crossovers offer a significant amount of additional ground clearance, which can be beneficial if you regularly tackle more challenging roads. They are also sometimes available with all-wheel drive which, when paired with appropriate tyres, can give them a significant edge in poor conditions. If you regularly have to drive down tatty trails, or in wintry and rainy conditions, or you need to do the odd spot of light off-roading, this will prove useful.
FAQ: Crossover SUV questions answered
What makes a car a crossover?
A crossover is a type of car that typically blends elements of a larger SUV with a conventional hatchback. Many mainstream crossovers, for example, are based on economical and affordable hatchbacks, but feature additional ground clearance, taller bodies, and chunkier styling. This can make them more practical and easier to live with, while saving the owner the expense of a larger, more complicated, and significantly less efficient SUV.
There are always exceptions, though; you will find some crossovers that have more coupe- or estate-like styling, as well as crossovers with proper all-wheel-drive systems and powerful engines that cost a lot to run. The term ‘crossover’ isn’t as popular as it once was, either, with many manufacturers and sites – such as ourselves – now just using the term SUV.
Which crossover has the most room?
There are lots of cars that could be categorised as crossovers on sale at the moment, ranging from compact budget crossovers to expensive high-performance crossover SUVs. Consequently, the interior space and boots on offer vary in size considerably. If you’re looking for a practical small crossover, though, then a Skoda Kamiq serves up a flexible and spacious interior, making it a great candidate for tackling daily family life.
Are there any electric or hybrid crossover SUVs?
There are plenty of options if you want an electric or hybrid crossover. Electric options include the Kia EV6, the Tesla Model Y, the Nissan Ariya, Volkswagen ID.4 and Smart #1. Hybrid alternatives include the Honda ZR-V, the Toyota Yaris Cross, Renault Captur, BMW X1, Ford Kuga, Toyota CH-R and Kia Niro. Check out our articles on best electric SUVs and best hybrid SUVs to see some other options that may suit your requirements.
Why are crossover SUVs better than SUVs?
Crossovers tend to be lighter and lower than SUVs, making them better to drive, and their reduced weight and frontal area also contribute to increased efficiency – which helps keep fuel and VED costs down. Crossovers can also be less complicated than traditional SUVs, making them more affordable, more reliable, cheaper to run and less expensive to maintain. All this is accomplished while still retaining some of the styling, presence, ease of access, additional ground clearance and improved outwards visibility of an SUV.
Which crossover SUV has the highest reliability rating?
There are a lot of reliable crossovers available but, if outright reliability and ease of ownership is a major consideration, you should look at the Toyota Yaris Cross. Toyota has an excellent reputation for reliability and customer support and, nowadays, it offers a ten-year, 100,000-mile warranty on its cars, provided you have them serviced by an approved workshop. Suzuki, Hyundai, and Kia, also have strong reliability ratings and their cars also come with long warranties, helping to minimise fuss and expenditure.
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