The Trax is a budget-friendly way to get into a crossover with all-wheel drive. That, plus the fact that its tiny size makes it an ideal urban runabout, makes the Trax a decent choice for buyers that need some utility but also need to park.
The nominees and winners were selected by the Forbes Wheels Car of the Year panel, comprising four staff editors and seven contributors. Our criteria included performance, safety, technology, comfort and convenience, fuel economy, design and functionality.
Because each category spans the full spectrum of pricing, we selected vehicles that stand out among their peers. Vehicles eligible for nomination include any car or truck for sale or in production during ; some debuted prior to Forbes Wheels Car of the Year Panelists. Sam Abuelsamid contributor is principal research analyst at consulting firm Guidehouse Insights formerly Navigant Research and is a frequent contributor to Forbes.
Alex Kalogiannis contributor has been an automotive writer for over 10 years and in addition to bylines at outlets such as Gear Patrol, Trucks. Alex Kwanten Forbes Wheels Staff has worked in automotive, marine and aviation for over a decade and reported on buying, selling and servicing cars for multiple industry publications, including Automotive News.
Carly Schaffner Forbes Wheels Staff has worked in the automotive industry for over a decade in both editorial and communication roles. Before joining Forbes Wheels, she was managing editor of Trucks. John Voelcker contributor was editor of Green Car Reports for nine years. Andrew Wendler Forbes Staff grew up immersed in automotive, marine and aviation culture and spent a decade at Car and Driver as a writer and editor before joining Forbes Wheels.
New Cars For Sale. Used Cars For Sale. Sports Cars. Used Cars. Vehicle Care. Ford Edge vs Ford Escape. Toyota Highlander vs Toyota 4Runner. Kia Telluride vs Hyundai Palisade. Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander. Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord. Toyota Avalon vs Toyota Camry. Toyota Tundra vs Ford F Ford F vs Chevrolet Silverado Back To Forbes. Carly Schaffner. Updated: Oct 29, The high list price might prove to be a sticking point for some, but it brings the benefits of low running costs, zero road tax and no congestion charges to worry about.
Practicality is pretty good, with litres of boot space, while there's a huge 1, litres if you fold the rear seats down. You also have the option of lowering the boot floor to free up a bit more room. Leg and headroom are perfectly acceptable, and taller passengers will be able to travel in comfort, although the middle seat of the rear bench is more suited to children.
There's plenty of power available to ensure swift and smooth progress - a single electric motor sends bhp and Nm of torque to the front wheels, fed by a 64kWh lithium-ion battery mounted under the floor. The mph benchmark is achieved in 7. It shares most of its mechanicals with the Volkswagen T-Cross and SEAT Arona elsewhere on this list, but trumps both of these models on value for money.
Top-spec SE L cars have a great 9. The Kamiq is as good to drive as the T-Cross, rides comfortably and feels almost as nice inside. The T-Cross is broadly similar to the Skoda Kamiq , but adds a little more style and desirability to the mix over its Czech cousin. A familiar line-up of engines covers all the bases, with the more powerful of the 1.
The Volkswagen SUV drives well, feeling agile and grippy but stopping short of providing real excitement, while the light steering is great around town and in tighter spots. Overall, the T-Cross is easy and relaxing to drive. Arriving on the back of lots of SUV-related success for Peugeot with its larger and , the latest is an all-new model that looks set to follow suit.
Sharing its platform with the latest Peugeot and Vauxhall Corsa , the was designed to accept all-electric power as well as internal-combustion engines, and the e is now available, taking the fight to the Hyundai Kona Electric. The ICE car is worth considering against its more conventional rivals, too, however; the 1. It may be pricier than some rivals, but it ticks lots of boxes. Effectively replacing the old Escape as well as the discontinued Focus hatchback, this crossover's appealingly carlike appearance and demeanor is offset by a low-rent interior and unrefined entry-level powertrain.
There are two hybrid powertrain options, one with a plug-in aspect for some electric-only driving range, as well as a novel turbocharged three-cylinder engine. Still, "new" isn't always synonymous with "excellent," and the Escape is a good example. Pros: Lightweight feel, standard safety equipment, carlike design.
Cons: Unrefined base engine, cheap interior, carlike design. Meet the compact crossover segment's bestseller, the Toyota RAV 4. A powerful, hp RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid model is the latest addition.
This breadth of choice helps the Toyota meet the needs of wide swaths of compact crossover buyers, who will appreciate the basic package's modern interior, standard safety tech, and expressive styling.
Pros: Good fuel economy, practical interior, standard tech. Cons: Growly gas engine, firm ride, okay handling. The strong-selling Nissan Rogue is all-new for , and it takes a massive leap forward in terms of style and quality. Taken together, the Rogue's changes vault it from a previously middling spot in the compact SUV segment to fourth—and anything top five in a class this competitive is seriously good.
Every Rogue comes standard with Nissan's Safety Shield active safety features collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking, and automatic high beams , and the company's ProPilot Assist adaptive cruise control and lane-keep system is optional on all Rogue models except the base S trim.
Every Rogue is powered by the same four-cylinder, non-turbo engine hitched to a smooth continuously variable automatic transmission CVT ; fuel economy, as before, remains a surprising high point. Pros: Standard active safety features, wide-opening rear doors, expressive look.
Cons: No hybrid, single engine choice. Subaru as a brand is killing it these days, having stumbled onto a compelling recipe blending an adventurous image, a reputation for safety, and, yes, commercials filled with dogs. The Forester represents perhaps the zenith of this alchemy: It is a tall, spacious pseudo wagon that comes standard with all-wheel drive and solid crash safety scores.
And dogs will enjoy its attractive, airy interior as much as humans. We wish there were a more powerful engine option, but the four-cylinder standard across the line does its job well enough. Overall, the Forester delivers good value and does nearly everything quite well. Pros: AWD standard, large cargo hold, safety features. Cons: Uninspired design, only engine option lacks power. The Mazda CX-5 is liable to cause double-takes among compact crossover buyers.
Crossovers also offer many minivan-like perks, without the dowdy breadbox styling and negative connotations at least, "soccer mom" loses some of its bite. These popular and family-friendly features include fold-down seats, lots of high-end electronics and tech toys to sate both busy parents and media-savvy kids, and third row seating which we'll discuss more later.
Few of these options are truly innovative, but that doesn't mean they're any less valuable to the crossovers' target market. And even though most crossovers come in at prices far below the luxury market, many of them offer a touch of class. According to Edmunds. And the most compelling reason to buy a crossover? Well, we've already mentioned it. Keep reading to discover exactly why.
As third row seating was adopted in SUVs, the minivan segment has nearly disappeared. Some manufacturers discontinued their minivans entirely, focusing instead on newer models that keep the brand fresh-looking. Because let's face it: brand perspective is everything, and minivans simply look old. And since the main perk of a minivan was lots of comfortable seating that could fold flat to accommodate cargo… well, why keep this antiquated vehicle around if a more efficient, less expensive, and better looking vehicle could replicate the experience?
Let's get one thing straight -- as important as third row seating has become to differentiate vehicles in this class, the feature is not always exactly comfortable. Most third row seats are tight, especially in vehicles that boast roomy second rows, providing adults with a riding experience that could be likened to being crammed in coach on an airplane just behind the slightly roomier exit row. In many cases, the third row is accessible only by flipping or folding down the second row, but some crossovers increase interior flexibility by putting an aisle in the second row.
Some manufacturers have gone a bit further, designing sliding second row seats to provide easier access. These designs, popularized by the very minivans that crossovers are killing off, might compromise by sacrificing a second row seat to the aisle's floor space, but for some families, it's well worth the tradeoff.
Though it might not be too cumbersome to tuck and buckle a child in the back, the average adult won't be able to manage graceful entrances or exits squeezing between the seat and doorframe. Despite some inconvenience, though, happy crossover families find this feature indispensable. Some auto industry analysts give third row seating most of the credit for the crossover segment's continued growth.
Though crossovers lack the characteristic sliding door, the third row seating alone is enough to convince some families that downsizing from a minivan or traditional SUV is an option, and upgrading from a sedan is well worth it for the extra breathing room. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar.
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