Crossovers or CUVs are popular vehicles that combine the utility of SUVs with the driving ease and experience of cars. Whether you’re looking for a new one or a used one, you’ll find plenty of options in the marketplace. But here are a few necessary things to consider first.
Size
Like a lot of different vehicles, crossovers come in a variety of sizes ranging from sub-compact to large. There are sport subcompacts like the MINI Countryman and large options like the Chevrolet Traverse. Think about how the crossover will fit into your life and the things you’ll need it to do before you get your heart set on one. If you usually drive with a lot of people and their luggage, then you’ll need a large one. But, the larger the vehicle, the more expensive it is to buy and to run. At least crossovers have powerful but small and efficient engines that reduce costs as compared to SUVs.
People
Subcompact crossovers can carry four people, but the larger adults may not be comfortable in the rear seats. Midsize crossovers are good for five adults, and those with three rows can accommodate up to eight if you put the kids in the third row. Remember to try the third row yourself, because, at some point, the kids are going to grow and may not fit back there anymore.
Features
Modern crossovers come packed with infotainment, safety, and practicality features. But you’ll need to splurge for the higher trims to really get the best stuff. That said, thanks to competition, you’re likely to get a touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, two to four speakers, some steering-mounted controls, a decent number of safety features, and maybe even some driver assists in the bottom two trims.
Drive
Remember to never buy any vehicle without test driving it. You may already know that crossovers drive like cars, but while that’s true, there are other factors at play here. Crossovers are heavier and taller, which makes their center of gravity higher. This affects how they handle. Some handle beautifully, while others are completely different. You need to know if you can drive a crossover before you commit.
