10 Quickest Crossovers for 2016

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When putting together a list of the quickest crossovers for 2016, we had to put our blinders on and ignore any potential interlopers from the SUV side of the equation. Sure, there are a lot of quick sport-utility vehicles out there, but we wanted to focus exclusively on crossovers - those people movers that straddle the line between smooth-driving sedans and practical haulers. That decision saw us rounding up a group of mostly compact and mid-size crossover options, with a few larger models thrown in for good measure. Let's take a look - in no particular order - at ten of the fastest crossovers you can buy for 2016.

1. 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo

The 2016 Porsche Macan Turbo proves that if it were financially viable for the German performance brand to build a wagon, it would. The alternative is the Porsche Macan Turbo, a crossover that is considerably smaller than the Cayenne but almost as quick in a straight line. The Macan Turbo's 3.6-liter turbocharged V-6 is good for 400 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, which translates into a 0-60-mph charge of 4.4 seconds and makes the Porsche the fastest crossover around, luxury or otherwise. The Macan Turbo also features standard all-wheel drive and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission.

2. 2016 Audi SQ5

The 2016 Audi SQ5 is a hotted-up version of the company's standard Q5 compact crossover. As luxurious as the model it is based on, the Audi SQ5 doesn't just turn up the wick on the automaker's 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 engine (which now boasts 82 additional horsepower, checking in at 354 horses and 346 lb-ft of twist in total), it also adds bigger brakes, a more aggressive tune for the crossover's suspension system, and a slightly tweaked set of styling cues that announce its presence with greater gusto. Like the Macan, all-wheel drive is standard, but the Audi comes with a traditional eight-speed automatic (and is about a second slower to 60-mph).

3. 2016 Ford Flex

The 2016 Ford Flex is an unlikely addition to our list the fastest crossovers on the market, but when found in EcoBoost trim this full-size, seven-seat hauler brings considerable muscle to the table. The Ford Flex Limited's available 3.5-liter, twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 engine grinds out 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its considerable heft, this version of the Flex is capable of reaching 60-mph in a brisk 5.7 seconds, which places it in near the front of the big crossover pack.

Photo by Ford Media

4. 2016 Nissan Juke NISMO RS

The 2016 Nissan Juke NISMO RS takes what was already a very fun little crossover to drive and adds an extra splash of performance all around. The Nissan Juke NISMO RS is unlike the rest of its subcompact brethren in that it pays more than lip service to the concept of engaging handling and peppy acceleration. The Juke NISMO RS' 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine is turbocharged to generate 215 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque when ordered in front-wheel drive trim (available with a six-speed manual gearbox), and a continuously-variable automatic transmission can also handle the gear shifting duties for the vehicle. All-wheel drive is optional (making the CVT standard), but it drops engine output by a fair margin (especially in the torque department), which is why the front-wheel drive model posts the more impressive 6.7-second 0-60-mph time.

5. 2016 BMW X4

The 2016 BMW X4 takes the long-standing X3's upright crossover shape and slopes the roofline rearward to create a 'coupe-like' profile. Although not as roomy inside as the X3 it benefits from the same list of drivetrain options, which means it can be ordered with a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of torque. Matched with its all-wheel drive system (standard, of course), and its eight-speed automatic transmission, the BMW X4 has enough grip to launch itself to 60-mph from a standing start in 5.2 seconds - quick enough to shame a number of sport sedans in the process.

6. 2016 Infiniti QX70

The 2016 Infiniti QX70 enjoys an advantage over many of its luxury crossover rivals: its chassis. Derived from the same platform as the Nissan Z sports car, the Infiniti QX70 can be had in either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive configurations and features a suspension design that rewards spirited driving. Power checks in at 325 horses and 267 lb-ft from a 3.7-liter V-6, which helps the Infiniti sprint to 60-mph in 6.1 seconds - not the fastest model on our list, but definitely quick enough to qualify amongst the fastest crossovers out there. A seven-speed automatic transmission is included with every QX70.

Photo by Infiniti

7. 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

The 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque is an ultra-stylish crossover that is more about the street than the mud - regardless of the formidable off-roading credentials that come as part and parcel of the Land Rover package. The Land Rover Range Rover Evoque's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine provides 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, and it comes with a unique nine-speed automatic transmission that feeds this output to all four wheels via its standard 4x4 setup. In a straight line, the Land Rover will eclipse 60-mph in just a few ticks over six and half seconds.

8. 2016 BMW X1

The 2016 BMW X1 is all-new for the current model year, at least under the skin where it boasts a fresh platform and a transversely-mounted engine setup. The BMW X1 carries over the previous model's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder motor, albeit in more reserved trim (228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque) that places it behind the Evoque on a dynamometer. Still, its eight-speed automatic transmission, standard all-wheel drive, and more aggressive gearing give it a slight edge in the race to 60-mph, a run that the X1 accomplishes in 6.3 seconds.

Photo by BMW

9. 2016 Kia Sportage SX

The 2016 Kia Sportage SX is another unusual inclusion on any list of the quickest crossovers, but this models' available 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine (sensing a theme here?) is respectably mighty for its class. With 260 horses and 269 lb-ft of torque on tap, the Kia Sportage SX can reliably surpass 60-mph from a standing start in 6.5 seconds, a number that is good enough to push it near the top of its compact class. Optional all-wheel drive slows things down by nearly a second, but a six-speed automatic transmission and a sporty suspension system are standard across the board.

Photo by Kia

10. 2016 Lincoln MKT

The 2016 Lincoln MKT makes our list of the quickest crossovers by association, given that it shares its platform with the already-included Ford Flex. Unusually-styled, the Lincoln MKT's swooping body work conceals the same optional 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 as the Flex, making an identical 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque. Loaded up with luxury gear, the all-wheel-drive Lincoln works its six-speed automatic to the best of its ability in wringing up a 0-60-mph time of 6.1 seconds - slightly slower than its Blue Oval brother, but decently quick in its own right.

Photo by Lincoln