What are the best crossovers?

The crossover is one of the most popular styles of car in the UK, with buyers loving its blend of practicality, versatility and low running costs. It’s no wonder that, so far in 2024, crossovers account for seven out of ten of the best-selling cars in the UK. And you thought a crossover was just a means of getting to the other side of the road!

In this article, we’ll explain the definition of a crossover and explore some of the best crossovers on sale in the UK today, so you can buy the car that’s right for you, while gently chuckling at your neighbours for choosing the wrong one.

What is a crossover car?

In simple terms, a crossover car is a cross between a family hatchback and an SUV. The best of both worlds; like you’re getting two cars for the price of one. Although every crossover is different, and there are a lot to choose from, the car is likely to feature a high driving position, styling that mimics an SUV, space for five people and a large boot. But unlike SUVs, which tend to be four-wheel drive for off-roading, parking on the kerb outside the school gate and bragging rights in the office car park, crossovers are most likely to be front-wheel drive, which means they’re cheaper to buy and more affordable to run.

Crossovers come in all shapes and sizes, from those based on small cars that are perfect for ferrying the kids to school and nipping to Tesco for the weekly shop, to family crossovers with more space for your passengers and their luggage, or the contents of an expensive trip to a Scandinavian furniture shop famous for its meatballs.

Don’t worry if you see a car you thought was a crossover referred to as an SUV, because some car manufacturers are guilty of blurring the lines. To help you see more clearly, here are some of the best crossover cars on sale today.

Best crossover cars

Ford Puma

The Ford Puma is currently the most popular car in the UK and it’s not hard to see why. Look beyond the cute face and you’ll find a crossover that’s great to drive, surprisingly practical and loaded with the sort of kit that will make you the envy of your mates. It’s also surprisingly practical for a car based on the Ford Fiesta, thanks to 456 litres of luggage space, including 80 litres below the boot floor. Dubbed the ‘Megabox’, the storage box includes a drain plug in the bottom, so it’s perfect for carrying wet wellies or muddy football boots.

Unless you choose the sporty Puma ST, power is sourced from a 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which provides a great blend of performance and fuel economy. Some crossovers offer more interior space, particularly in the back, while others are more comfortable on a long journey, but the Ford Puma remains one of the best all-rounders in a crowded market.

Volvo EX30

Volvo’s smallest crossover is also one of the most appealing electric cars on sale today. The modern styling means it stands out in a supermarket car park, especially if you choose the Moss Yellow or Cloud Blue paint options, but the inside is where the EX30 truly shines. It looks and feels more like a Scandinavian living room than a car’s interior, with Volvo using a minimalist approach and extensive use of sustainable materials. It’s a car you’ll enjoy spending time in, even if your daily commute involves being held up by traffic jams and roadworks.

Nearly everything is controlled via an impressive 12.3-inch infotainment system, which takes a bit of getting used to, but the voice control works well. You should see between 214 and 298 miles of range between charges, depending on the battery size, with an 80% charge possible in around 30 minutes.

Toyota Yaris Cross

The Toyota Yaris Cross is a longer, wider, taller and more practical version of the Yaris supermini that’s famous for being cheap to run, easy to drive and utterly reliable. Sure, it's not the last word in excitement – the Yaris Cross is the crossover equivalent of an early night with a mug of Horlicks – but the hybrid engine should deliver between 50mpg and 60mpg in day-to-day driving, which will leave you with more money to spend on malted drinks. You’ll also spend a lot of time in electric mode in towns and cities.

The hybrid tech means it’s not the cheapest small crossover you can buy, but this should be offset by the low running costs and reliability. There are more practical crossovers out there, but it’s spacious enough in the front and adults shouldn’t have too many complaints about travelling in the back.

BMW X1

If you want a premium badge on your crossover, the BMW X1 is hard to beat. There’s an X1 for everyone, from the all-electric iX1 to the sporty X1 M35i xDrive, plus an array of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid options in between. Along with BMW’s latest tech, including a pair of impressive infotainment screens that dominate the dashboard, the X1 is more fun to drive than many of its rivals, with a level of quality that’s a notch or two above the other crossovers on our list.

It’s all about picking the X1 that works for you. The plug-in hybrid offers up to 55 miles of electric range, the iX1 can travel up to 293 miles between charges, while the M35i can accelerate almost as fast as the cheapest Porsche. There are even diesel versions that should return around 55mpg.

Jeep Avenger Electric

The Jeep Avenger Electric was good enough to be named European Car of the Year in 2023, so that’s something to brag about over dinner. Although there are petrol and hybrid versions available, the Avenger Electric is the most impressive, thanks to its keen pricing, 248 miles of range and fast charging. Unfortunately, the electric version isn’t four-wheel drive (you need the 4xe model to venture off-road), but you do get a choice of driving modes and an increased ride height for that authentic Jeep experience.

A three-star safety rating from Euro NCAP is disappointing, especially when many of its rivals have the maximum five stars, and it’s not as practical as we’d like, but the Avenger is the most impressive Jeep in years and more capable than most other crossovers.

Dacia Duster

For years, the Dacia Duster has been the go-to crossover for buyers on a tight budget. It might not have been the last word in quality, but no other crossover offered the same blend of price, practicality and versatility. There was even a genuinely capable four-wheel drive model for anyone who wanted to get their tyres dirty. The new Duster takes everything that was great about the old versions and adds more appealing styling, efficient hybrid tech and the same low prices.

It looks like those Tonka toys you played with as a kid, and while you wouldn’t want to smash it into the walls of your living room, the reinforced wheel arches and side protection are great for tackling the urban jungle. Like before, there’s a 4x4 version, and while the interior quality still lags behind many of its rivals, the Duster remains one of the most compelling and characterful crossovers you can buy.

Kia Niro

For years, the seven-year warranty was the best reason to buy a new Kia, but all that has changed. The long warranty remains, but Kia builds some of the most stylish and impressive cars in the world, including a range of crossovers. The Niro is one of the best, not least because it’s available with a choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric power. The hybrid is the most affordable and is ideal if you want low running costs without the hassle of finding a charging point and plugging in. Alternatively, the plug-in hybrid could offer up to 40 miles of range, if you remember to plug it in, while the all-electric Niro should be good for 285 miles between charges.

The Niro EV is actually the most practical of the trio, thanks to a larger boot, but all versions are ideal for young families looking for low running costs with the reassurance of a long warranty.

Hyundai Tucson

The Hyundai Tucson offers a riposte to anyone who says crossovers all look the same. Of course, not everybody will like the styling, but you can’t accuse Hyundai of playing it safe. All versions are powered by a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which can be enhanced by hybrid or plug-in hybrid tech to deliver even lower running costs. Choose the former, and you’ll be surprised how often the Tucson runs on electric power, while the latter offers 38 miles of electric range before the petrol engine takes over.

Like all Hyundai models, the Tucson is covered by a comprehensive five-year unlimited mileage warranty, while the Ultimate trim offers the luxuries and equipment you’d associate with a more expensive premium crossover. Highlights include leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, electric tailgate, panoramic sunroof and LED headlights.

Skoda Karoq

If comfort and practicality top your list of priorities, the Skoda Karoq is the crossover for you. The optional VarioFlex rear seating system consists of three separate seats, which can be folded down independently or removed completely for maximum versatility. Without them, the boot offers 1,810 litres of luggage capacity – the same as many estate cars – but there’s even 588 litres with the seats in place and in their upright position, if you’ve been lucky enough to find one with the VarioFlex feature.

There are other useful touches, like foldable tables built into the backrests of the front seats, a ‘Jumbo Box’ between the front seats with reversible cupholders and space for your gadgets, plus a net restraint system in the boot. It all adds up to making the Karoq one of the most versatile crossovers you can buy, although the sensibility comes at the expense of excitement.

Subaru Crosstrek

Of all the crossovers on our list, the Crosstrek is the one that gets closest to being a proper SUV. Not because of its size – it’s roughly the same as a Skoda Karoq or Hyundai Tucson – but because it comes with Subaru’s famed all-wheel drive system for proper off-road capabilities. Sure, you’re not going to be chasing Land Rovers over mountains or through rivers, but if you live in a rural area or use roads with loose surfaces, the Crosstrek could be the difference between making it to Waitrose or being stuck at home. It’s also likely to be as dependable as a Golden Retriever.

There are a few drawbacks, which is why we’ve included the Crosstrek as a wildcard. It only makes sense if you need the all-wheel drive system, because the Crosstrek offers poor fuel economy and the interior isn’t up to the standards of many crossovers of the same price. Still, you’ll have the last laugh when the Met Office issues a severe weather warning.

How we chose these crossovers

There are dozens of crossovers available, so how did we narrow the search to just ten? For a start, there’s a broad selection of options, from the affordable Dacia Duster to the premium BMW X1, along with a crossover that will suit someone who enjoys driving (Ford Puma) and one that’s ideal for those who favour practicality (Skoda Karoq). Every crossover we’ve selected should offer low running costs, enough space for a family of four or five, and the reassurance that things won’t start to go wrong when the warranty expires.