Crossovers have taken over the roads and highways. Even with the consumer shift away from the larger of these vehicles at the moment, they are still a dominate product in the automotive industry - particularly, the smaller crossover suv.
They come in three classifications by size. The three groups are mini/compact, midsize and full-size crossover suvs. Like all vehicles, as you move up in size, the engine gets larger, the towing capacity increases and there is usually more room for passengers and/or cargo.
Small crossover suvs are one of the more popular segments. They are the most affordable with prices starting under the $20,000 mark. They are also one of the more fuel efficient suvs. These vehicles are offered with both four and six cylinder engines instead of the V8 engines of their larger counterparts. With the four cylinder engine, it is possible to achieve 27 or 28 miles per gallon. When you move to a larger engine, then the fuel economy goes down, in this case to approximately 18 mpg. The hybrid compacts achieve much higher levels.
Compact crossover suvs generally carry five passengers, and some have the option of a third row of seating if you need to increase the seating capacity. Keep in mind that even the second row of seats is tight for an adult and the third row is best left for children. These rear seats do fold down or can be easily taken out if more cargo space is required. An average small crossover suv will have close to 70 cubic feet of cargo area. These also offer a nice crisp handling and a smoother ride. Occasionally there is a little more room inside. They can be two wheel drive, four wheel drive and even all wheel drive. Small crossover suvs were built to keep a large cross-section of the market happy.
The small crossover suvs have another advantage beside cost and fuel efficiency – insurance companies smile a little brighter on them. The vehicles are lighter and simpler with lower maintenance and repair costs. This translates into lower insurance premiums. The insurance companies also like the fact that the small crossover suvs have good safety reputation and usually come nicely loaded with safety equipment. Even the most basic small crossover suv will offer full airbags and stability control. These vehicles come with a nice selection of features and have many simple upgrading options to help you customize the vehicle the way you'd like it.