Is A Crossover Already In Your Garage Or At Least In Your Immediate Future?

If it's not in your garage, it's in your neighbors garage or parked next to you, or in front/behind (NYC parallel parking)

Crossovers are here to stay, for the average driver, not the enthusiast, they give everything you can ask for in one package that's not too big, but big enough not to feel cramped on a road trip or errands run.

Most give decent gas mileage nearly comparable to the sedans they are based on, along with car like ride quality/handling, with the additional ability to handle more weather conditions than your average family sedan.

It's a win win win for new families looking for the best bang for their buck

The article is spot on about versatility. The irony of it all is that America has returned to the station wagon, yet the people buying crossovers and SUVs would not be seen in a station wagon. I grew up riding in an ancient Chevy Kingswood Estate and although it hauled 5 kids, there was still space. A while back we got a Ford Flex because it has 4 LATCH anchors and because it's large. Put 4 kid seats in a Flex and suddenly it's size makes sense.

All sorts of people are stepping into them, for a variety of reasons. I left an 18-year-old BMW 328 convertible with almost 200,000 miles in favor of a new Audi Q5 diesel. Though I have no kids, I wanted to haul my drums without having to leverage someone else's SUV. A fellow drummer got a Jeep, and another stepped into a Honda SUV, all for the same reasons, and all in the past year.

A quick look around my neighborhood sees about 1/2 the vehicles are crossovers or SUVs. Looking at local traffic, it appears they make up about 1/4 to 1/3 of the general population.

I'm not saying crossovers or SUVs are "better" than other vehicles. I'm just noting how many people prefer them. Acknowledging that, it makes sense for a car manufacturer to have solid offerings in this segment, and in most cases, they do. Even Porsche has 2 solid contenders. Audi's crossover/SUV sales are so strong, they predict in a few years they'll make up 40% of all Audi sales.

I went from my Tiguan to a Passat TDI solely for fuel economy. As soon as VW gets a reasonable diesel or hybrid crossover on the market I'll be right back in one. If they keep dragging their heels, I'll move to a Q5. For me, it's the higher seating position, not the cargo capacity. In that respect, a station wagon offers no incentive for me. If it were strictly for the space, then I'd be fine with a wagon.

A crossover is a a compromise no matter what - It is not truly a 4x4 - and it is not truly a Station wagon/mini-van/car. When I needed a station wagon/mini-van - that is what I bought. When I needed a 4x4 - that is what I bought. And there were times when I had both.

However - I have found that even with 4x4 - if I cannot get there with Front WHeel Drive- most with crossovers will not get there either. I drove Taurus/Sable wagons for years - and big GM wagons before that. And to move around the grand-kids - I just bought a new Caravan because there are no station wagons anymore. The Caravan will carry a 4x8 foot piece of plywood inside with the hatch closed - just like my 1964 Chevy BelAir wagon - even today's Suburban doesn't do that.

Still wish they made a full size wagon though - they actually drove like cars - something a CUV will never really do.

TomM writes "...A crossover is a compromise no matter what..."

That's true of all vehicles! Get a "no compromise" sports car, like a Ferrari or a Lambo, and you have to give up the second row of seats, comfort, quiet, and good fuel economy. Get a "no compromise" fuel efficient vehicle, like a Prius, and you compromise on styling, brisk acceleration, top speed, and sporting handling. Get a "no compromise" off-roader, like a rock-climbing Jeep, and you lose out on fuel economy, intelligent and automatic full-time AWD safety, ride comfort, etc.

ALL vehicles are a compromise. It's just a question of what suits the owner "best," or "well enough" for their needs and budget.

I do love my '14 Sierra SE. Like you say, 4x8 sheet goods are easy, no oversize wheel wells to steal the interior space. It actually handles quite well too, I'm sure much better than any SUV in a similar size class.

My wife's '12 Mazda5 is great too, although it needs more power and improved tranny. Handles better than the SUV'ified Outback we were cross-shopping it against.

Imagine how much better, though, vans would be if they got more than 10% of the development money the manufacturers spend on the fundamentally flawed SUV platform...

I prefer the low stance of a sedan, but with 3 kids, the SUV is a must have. I maintain a stake in all worlds. A6 for commuting, Q7 for hauling the family, and a Mustang for summer fun.

For years - the best thing for having kids was the three row (One facing to the rear) Full size Station Wagon - it drove much more like a car than the Mini-van that replaced it - and it was big enough to carry that 3x8 plywood flat when the rear two rows were down. THe three seat Taurus wagon was not as good since it did not allow the plywood inside - but at least you could put them on top - and the cars still handled much like cars. I even used small station wagons to commute in - and I do not see the cuv/suv being the real replacement - they do not drive as much like cars as station wagons did.

Today - my good car is a S-600 - I just bought a Chrysler minivan to carry around the great grandkids - and My company car is a Hybrid Fusion. AS I live on a farm - we also have trucks for that use. The van has come in handy moving several of the kids into their homes - as well as taking stuff down to Florida to the other house. (My brother is moving there too)