The crossover is the result of a simple formula. Use a unibody car platform, to keep the vehicle light and relatively well-handling compared to a Jeep Wrangler, but add of the ride height and off-road capability people like from conventional SUVs. Boom — sales success.
The fad started late in the 20th Century with early progenitors like the Jeep Cherokee XJ and Subaru Outback, and it swiftly became a phenomenon, subsuming much of the rest of the car market. Crossovers made up nearly 48 percent of vehicle sales in 2023; 14 of the top 20 bestselling non-trucks in America in 2023 were crossovers. Want more proof of the category’s dominance? Here in 2024, the Ford Motor Company — maker of iconic cars like the Taurus, the Focus, the Lincoln Town Car, the Gran Torino, and so many more — only sells a single non-crossover, non-SUV and non-truck vehicle in the U.S. — the Mustang.
And because crossovers are both what people want and what the market is selling, when we provide our best car buying advice in real life … it’s often best crossover-buying advice. To simplify matters, we’ve pulled together this list of the best crossovers you can buy in 2024.
Best Subcompact Crossover: Subaru Crosstrek
Photo by Tyler Duffy for Gear Patrol- Powertrain: 2.0-liter flat-four / 2.5-liter flat-four
- Horsepower: 152 / 182
- Torque: 145 lb-ft / 178 lb-ft
- EPA Fuel Economy: 27 mpg city, 34 mpg highway / 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway
- Seats: 5
- Starting MSRP: $25,195
Why We Like It: Capable off-road, especially with Wilderness package. Tremendous utility for a range of buyers. Affordable price point.
