As new car registrations surge towards half a million we thought it a great time to help you choose a vehicle in an increasingly populous and flourishing marketplace.
The crossover- suv is a relatively new concept – with the idea largely alien to many manufacturers up until as recently as five years. The Nissan Qashqai is credited as one of the world's first crossover SUV's and it's perhaps no coincidence that the first is also one of the most successful. The Qashqai's rampant success paved the way for many other manufacturers to wade into the market and as a result has allowed for a marketplace that's absolutely bursting at the seams. For this reason we decided to help you see five of the most popular and most favourably reviewed vehicles of a myriad of talent that now sits in the crossover-suv sector. Of course, this is by no means a definitive list and you should always look at all the competition before coming to your decision.
RENAULT CAPTUR
The Captur from Renault has re-invigorated the brand and arguably has been the catalyst in allowing the manufacturer to mount it’s charge up the sales charts. The Captur has smooth, slick appearance and some of the best handling of any vehicle in the class. It’s soft-edges are a little more easy-on-the-eye than many of it’s competitors and is tremendously practical. Those looking for economy should keep their eye out for the 1.5-litre Dci 90 diesel which returns 76.4mpg and 96g/km of CO2's.
NISSAN JUKE
The Nissan Juke is simply unlike anything else on the market. With a number of sharp stylistic features that are completely unique the Juke has gazumped the market and is one of the most popular vehicles currently available. The Juke also scores pretty soundly for safety with five-stars awarded by EuroNCAP in 2011 – the optional ‘Nissan Safety Shield’ will also help work towards this goal. The engine range demonstrates how accomplished the Juke is – there is literally something for everyone.
MAZDA CX-5
The CX-5 is another vehicle that can be complemented as kick-starting an entire brands fortunes. Mazda are enjoying a boom period at the moment and now is a good a time as any to invest into a crossover deal from the famous Japanese manufacturer. Alongside the MX-5, the CX-5 is building a highly credible reputation for the manufacturer on UK shores.
Choosing the 2.2-litre diesel and selecting two wheel drive returns a fuel economy of 61.4mpg, a figure perhaps more akin to saloon or hatchback. This is just one part of the CX-5’s quality which comes full-circle with a stylish and balanced interior design and bags of interior spacing. The vehicle has a cave-like 503-litre boot which is significantly more than many other vehicles and a big reason that the CX-5 has enjoyed notoriety.
CITROEN CACTUS
The reveal of Citroen's Cactus model split the motoring press and fans alike into two very distinct camps. There was those that found it’s looks endearing and punchy and others that found it’s bumpers repulsive and it’s design fragmented. However, the Cactus has worked hard for it’s place in history and is now-recognized as one of the strongest vehicles on the market.
The vehicle is incredibly roomy with a wealth of interior technology and new designs suggest Citroen is keeping abreast of feedback from those lucky enough to get behind the wheel of one of these beasts. The vehicle has scooped all five stars from many reviews magazines and it’s engines have a perfect balance of both performance and economy.
NISSAN QASHQAI
Quite possibly the world’s first crossover, the Nissan Qashqai has revolutionized not only crossovers but the entire auto industry as a whole and for that reason alone it should be challenging at the top. The 2014 WhatCar? Car of the Year winner is a real show-stopper and is well deserving of the many, many plaudits that have been thrown it’s way. It remains the fifth best-selling car this year to-date with the vehicle flying off the shelves and only behind legends of the trade including the Corsa, Fiesta and Golf with the Qashqai having only been in existence for a few years this is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Qashqai’s sharp, bold looks are very memorable and it’s coincidence it’s one of the most frequent vehicles seen on our roads. The vehicle received top marks from many industry reviews bodies, not least for it’s proficiency when it comes to safety. Nissan have built themselves a steely reputation when it comes to safety with some of the safest vehicles in the world donning the famous Nissan badge. You’ll also get superb fuel economy from the Qashqai – the 1.5-litre diesel returns economy of 74.3mpg and emissions of 99g/km.
