Image via Complex Original
Crossovers are a weird segment of the auto industry. When wagons became uncool, automakers made minivans. When minivans became uncool, automakers invented the modern child-hauler SUV. When inefficiency became uncool, SUVs got smaller and ligher. Thusly was the crossover born. While crossovers may be the weird inbred mutants of the auto industry, they do offer a compelling package.
You can get handling that's almost as good as a car, efficiency that's almost as good as a car, snow traction that's almost as good as an SUV, cargo room that's almost as good as a wagon, and some good styling too. In the real world, being second best at everything is awesome. These are The 10 Coolest Crossovers on the Market Right Now.
10. VW Tiguan
MSRP: $22,995
Most people think of the Tiguan as a Golf crossover, but given that the 2.0L turbo I4 underneath the hood is from the GTI, we think it's better to think of it as a GTI crossover. It's quick, fun, and easy to maneuver, even around a crowded city.
9. Subaru Forester
MSRP: $21,295
The Forester has been the go anywhere, do anything car of choice for a number of disparate demographics for decades. Foresters have been made fun of for being lesbians' cars, hippy cars, Midwestern farmer cars, New Englanders' cars, etc. What does this mean? The Forester isn't a car for any one demographic, it's just a damn good car that will suit the needs of just about everybody.
8. Mazda CX-5
MSRP: $20,995
Mazda's new CX-5 was runner up for North American Truck of the Year. The only reason it didn't win:the jury picked the only option that was actually a truck. If there was an award for North American Utility of the Year, we would bet a lot of money that the comfortable, capable, and cheap CX-5 would have taken it in a land-slide.
7. BMW X1
MSRP: $30,800
The best part of the BMW X1: The fact that if you opt for the twin-turbo it will go from nothing to 60mph in 5.3 seconds. The damn thing can keep up with Maseratis.
6. Jeep Compass
MSRP: $19,495
Before the 2011 update, the Compass was ugly, irrelevant, and incapable of any kind of performance. With the new suspension, and the new Grand Cherokee-style front end, and new off-road gear, it turned from milquetoast to bad-ass. The new Compass can both off-road and serve as a city commuter comfortably.
5. Ford Flex
MSRP: $30,900
The Ford Flex is what would happen if Mini decided to build a bus with an integrated refrigerator. It may be a massive child hauler, but it's got real swagger (not the manufactured Toyota Sienna kind) and I even met a champion race driver last week who owns one. The Flex is the coolest damn bus on the market.
4. Infiniti FX37
MSRP: $44,950
The Infiniti FX37 has the ultimate endorsement: 25-year-old wunderkind and three-time F1 world champion Sebastien Vettel drives one. He could have any car in the world with the kind of money he's swimming in, and he has one of these. It really does drive that well.
3. Audi Allroad Quattro
MSRP: $39,600
The original Allroad is the original not a SUV but not quite a car, and the only car-based off roader to ever complete Land Rover's test course. While the new one isn't quite as badass, it's still a luxuriously appointed mountain goat, and that's awesome.
2. Nissan Juke
MSRP: $20,280
We were all interested in, but skeptical of, the Juke before we drove one. Drifting one around a roundabout will really change your mind though. These are way more fun than they look.
1. Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works
MSRP: $35,550
This is the closest thing to the Mini WRC car that you can actually just go out and buy. AWD, a turbocharger, and JCW suspension makes for a quick and really entertaining ride. Let the haters hate, and laugh as you show them nothing but tail-light.