Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year: Subaru Forester

by Benjamin Hunting

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January 2, 2014

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3 min. Reading Time

The Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year category was a hotly-contested one, with a number of important redesigns being joined by brand-new vehicles in the hunt for family dollars. In the final analysis, it was the refinement of an old stand-by that carried the day over the introduction of a fresh competitor from a brand in the middle of its own resurgence. A personal favorite of many Autobytel editors also managed to sneak onto the podium, proving the old maxim that the road less traveled often leads to the most delicious rewards.

Read on to learn about the three finalists for Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year.

Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year Winner: 2014 Subaru Forester

The 2014 Subaru Forester marks the first time the Japanese automaker has been able to claim a legitimate mainstream competitor in the compact crossover segment. With an interior that has been refined to the point where it no longer pales in comparison to rivals from Toyota and Honda, the Subaru also boasts a new CVT and much better fuel mileage. Throw in a fire-breathing turbocharged performance model - the 250 horsepower Forester XT - and the 2014 edition of this previously-niche player has pushed the brand further into the spotlight and demonstrated that good things can happen when an automaker focuses on relentlessly improving its products.

Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year Finalist: 2014 Jeep Cherokee

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee has had a polarizing effect on the compact crossover crowd, with some professing to love its 'unique' styling while others averting their eyes whenever one passes by. Still, from a practical standpoint there's a lot to like about the all-new Cherokee: it's big inside, it's affordable, and it offers better fuel mileage than the notoriously thirsty Jeep Liberty that it replaces, thanks in part to its mind-boggling nine-speed automatic transmission. Then there's the Trailhawk, the "ruggedized" version of the Cherokee that Jeep claims is Trail Rated just like its bigger siblings. The Cherokee name carries a lot of history with it, and so far, it seems like the newest member of the family tree is keeping the faith.

Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year Finalist: 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO

Speaking of faces only a mother could love, the 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO also falls into the same boldly-styled category as the Cherokee, only on a smaller scale. The quirky Nissan Juke's visage has been bolstered by a slick body kit for the NISMO model, which also brings a boost in turbocharged horsepower to the table as well as slightly more aggressive chassis tuning. The net effect is a subcompact crossover that's even more fun to drive than the base model that had already charmed us with its "dare to be different" attitude. The Nissan Juke NISMO proves you don't have to toe the line to make a big impact in the crossover segment.

Autobytel 2014 Awards

The editorial team of Autobytel has chosen the previous vehicles as the best of what we have seen in the category for 2014, and while there are many others in this class that probably deserve some kudos as well, we'd love to hear which you would choose for yourself. Let us know on the Autobytel Twitter or the Autobytel Facebook pages.

More of the Autobytel 2014 Car, Truck and category of the Year winners can be found by browsing the collection below.

Autobytel 2014 Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Truck of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Compact Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Convertible of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Sedan of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 SUV of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Luxury SUV of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Sports Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Alternative Fuel Car of the Year