Crossing over? Five best bets

Written By Unknown on Senin, 16 Februari 2015 | 23.16

When searching for a vehicle, some New England buyers like trucks and SUVs for their rugged versatility in our tough weather but don't want to give up the convenience of a car.

Enter the crossover, a more compact SUV with the car-like qualities buyers desire. Traits like better fuel economy usually top the list followed by smaller size (especially sought by city-dwellers with parking issues), handling (for those who fret over top-heavy behemoths) and affordability.

"Before deciding to buy, shoppers should research as much as possible," said Michelle Krebs, director of automotive relations at AutoTrader Group, the parent company of AutoTrader.com and KBB.com. "The average age of a car on the road today is 10 years. Trucks are 11 years old. Cars have changed so much, so it's extremely important to do an honest self-assessment: What do you have to have, what are your needs, and how does it fit your budget? Look at the total price, not just the monthly payment."

In the crossover segment, Edmunds.com features editor Mike McGrath chose five great values for buyers:

Jeep Cherokee

"A different animal altogether than the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Jeep Cherokee is a compact crossover with wicked good looks. Beyond the exterior, the Cherokee is available in Trailhawk trim that gives this little crossover serious off-road cred." (MSRP: $22,120, MPG: 22/32)

Subaru Forester

"The Forester is a staple of the New England landscape for good reason. It's compact enough to be nimble and easy to drive, but big enough for a weekend worth of gear." All of these vehicles are available with all-wheel-drive. (MSRP: $22,195, MPG: 24/32)

Nissan Rogue

McGrath calls the Nissan Rogue "deceptive." "It looks and drives smaller than it actually is, because beneath that tidy exterior is an optional third-row seat." He also praises the available around-view camera that helps in parking — never a bad quality in Boston — and Nissan's "Zero Gravity" seats. "They are some of the best we've ever sat in." (MSRP: $22,790, MPG: 25/32)

Toyota RAV4

The popular Toyota option is "no longer the blandest kid on the block. The new RAV4 brings some actual style to one of the safest and least visually interesting segments around." One knock on the RAV4 has been on its 176-horsepower engine; the trade-off is solid fuel economy and Toyota's legendary reliability (and resale value). (MSRP: $23,680, MPG: 24/31)

Hyundai Santa Fe

On the other end of the power spectrum, Hyundai's Santa Fe has a snarly 290-horsepower V6 engine. "That's a lot," understates McGrath. And when the Santa Fe is outfitted with all-wheel-drive, it's sure-footed and darned quick. "Not bad for a seven-passenger SUV that received a five-star safety rating from NHTSA." (MSRP: $24,950, MPG: 18/25)

Check out the e-Edition of the Presidents Day Automotive Section


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