What do you think about Crossover cars?

[chrisparker]

They do get to the point at which they don't need to be strapped in.

I've a second child due in Nov so I'll still be fiddling with cars seats buckles for the next few years.

[holio cornolio]

I've a second child due in Nov so I'll still be fiddling with cars seats buckles for the next few years.

Ah well then. Fair point. And congratulations.

[raptor]

What do you intend to do with it?
Great if you can justify the space etc
Family kids etc justify it although on the small side
The mini s has no space whatsoever so maybe you need a bigger mini
Do you take regular trips?
Fully loaded?

[Shane]

Louis, you're right I need a bit bigger Mini, although I will change brands. Loved driving the mini on twisty roads when I was single and the harsh ride and no storage space didn't bother me. After driving the Hyundai I can appreciate the better ride, more space and creature comforts. Don't need anything that big so will look at compacts like the new Fiesta.

What do you intend to do with it?
Great if you can justify the space etc
Family kids etc justify it although on the small side
The mini s has no space whatsoever so maybe you need a bigger mini
Do you take regular trips?
Fully loaded?

[neebsta]

I saw a Kia on fire on the A1 recently, it looked a fairly new one too.

I agree with an earlier poster - Estate cars really are the way forward, particularly for a family. Benefit of decent useable space without the inconvenience of the Chelsea Tractor tax.

[kungfugerbil]

... decent useable space without the inconvenience of the Chelsea Tractor tax.

Ah yes, that monstrous £130 a year, 135g of CO2, 54mpg of the sportage...

The question wasn't about Chelsea Tractors (Range Rovers, BMW X5s, Audi Q7 etc) but crossover cars that combine the merits of a hatch or saloon but more practical for those getting children's car seats in and out etc.

[stooo]

Just buy a couple of extra car seats.....

[holio cornolio]

Ah yes, that monstrous £130 a year, 135g of CO2, 54mpg of the sportage...

The question wasn't about Chelsea Tractors (Range Rovers, BMW X5s, Audi Q7 etc) but crossover cars that combine the merits of a hatch or saloon but more practical for those getting children's car seats in and out etc.

That a real 54,3mpg? I've only ever had 2 cars that came even close to getting the claimed mpg. I'd be interested to know what people are really getting from their crossovers, and not the trip computer figure. We all know trip computers lie!
Despite my first post, I really have no axe to grind here. I don't see the practical arguments for a crossover, over any other category of car. There are more practical / spacious / economical / comfortable options in every other class, but none that looks like a crossover. I'd like to be the first to say, it's ok to choose your car because of how it looks. I have all sorts of arguments for choosing a 3 series, and some are quite compelling, but mainly, I really like how it looks. Some people don't, that's ok, it's not their car. Same should go for whatever you choose.
Trite and self satisfied I know, but I can't be the only one thinking that can I?

[holio cornolio]

That a real 54,3mpg? I've only ever had 2 cars that came even close to getting the claimed mpg. I'd be interested to know what people are really getting from their crossovers, and not the trip computer figure. We all know trip computers lie!
Despite my first post, I really have no axe to grind here. I don't see the practical arguments for a crossover, over any other category of car. There are more practical / spacious / economical / comfortable options in every other class, but none that looks like a crossover. I'd like to be the first to say, it's ok to choose your car because of how it looks. I have all sorts of arguments for choosing a 3 series, and some are quite compelling, but mainly, I really like how it looks. Some people don't, that's ok, it's not their car. Same should go for whatever you choose.
Trite and self satisfied I know, but I can't be the only one thinking that can I?

Or the second person to say it, depending on your viewpoint.

[kungfugerbil]

There are more practical / spacious / economical / comfortable options in every other class, but none that looks like a crossover

What do you think a crossover is? There seem to be quite a few different opinions on what makes a car a crossover. Does it help if you think of it as a tall hatchback? After all, the lines are blurring between mini mpv / hatchback / small SUV all the time and with modern cars it's quite difficult to pigeonhole them.

The reason folks seem to like cars like the qashqai - the first really successful mainstream 'crossover' - is for practicality, comfort and the way they look.

Can an estate car carry more? Most likely
Is a landie better over the mud? Of course
Does a sports saloon give a better drive? Ja!
Is a small hatch better on fuel? mais naturellement

Does a crossover like the Qashqai or Sportage do all of those things quite well? Absolutely. Throw in some Peter Schreyer styling and a seven year warranty, and it's a decent family ownership proposition.

[holio cornolio]

What do you think a crossover is? There seem to be quite a few different opinions on what makes a car a crossover. Does it help if you think of it as a tall hatchback? After all, the lines are blurring between mini mpv / hatchback / small SUV all the time and with modern cars it's quite difficult to pigeonhole them.

The reason folks seem to like cars like the qashqai - the first really successful mainstream 'crossover' - is for practicality, comfort and the way they look.

Can an estate car carry more? Most likely
Is a landie better over the mud? Of course
Does a sports saloon give a better drive? Ja!
Is a small hatch better on fuel? mais naturellement

Does a crossover like the Qashqai or Sportage do all of those things quite well? Absolutely. Throw in some Peter Schreyer styling and a seven year warranty, and it's a decent family ownership proposition.

Yes exactly. I think we are in agreement. I'm assuming that I think a crossover is the same thing as you do. The qashqai and sportage have been referenced enough times in the thread to remove any significant doubts I had about my interpretation of the category. Just to be clear, when I see these cars I think of a 4x4... But without the off-road ability ( :-) )
For the record, my last car was a seat altea. That was a tall hatchback, it was not a crossover.

[stooo]

I always thought an allroad was a crossover, and a qashqai a soft roader?

[Kingstepper]

I always thought an allroad was a crossover, and a qashqai a soft roader?

Probably thinking of the crossroader.

[KurtKlaus]

I always thought crossover were the slightly raised AWD estates like the Audi A6 allroad Quattro.

[neebsta]

Ah yes, that monstrous £130 a year, 135g of CO2, 54mpg of the sportage...

The question wasn't about Chelsea Tractors (Range Rovers, BMW X5s, Audi Q7 etc) but crossover cars that combine the merits of a hatch or saloon but more practical for those getting children's car seats in and out etc.

Sorry, my reference was estate cars having equivalent space to a Chelsea tractor less the tax implication. It wasn't a criticism of the Kia.

[raptor]

Louis, you're right I need a bit bigger Mini, although I will change brands. Loved driving the mini on twisty roads when I was single and the harsh ride and no storage space didn't bother me. After driving the Hyundai I can appreciate the better ride, more space and creature comforts. Don't need anything that big so will look at compacts like the new Fiesta.

Look at scoda yeti as well
Plus mini countryman?
Need huge spaces as well so i look at the new subaru forester atm