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Compare the best crossovers

High quality crossover cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 47,615 reviews
volkswagen t-roc front side view driving

Best crossovers of 2023

Want a car that has the rugged-looking styling of a 4x4, but you don’t fancy the bulk, the fuel costs, or the purchase price? Then you need a crossover – cars that try to combine the look and feel of an SUV, but with sizing that’s more inline with a traditional family hatchback.

Peugeot 2008

1. Peugeot 2008

9/10
Peugeot 2008 review
The 2008 takes the sharp-edged styling of the 208 hatchback and makes it even more in-your-face. The cabin is almost as striking to look at, and it’s well-built too. The Peugeot is good to drive (and there’s an all-electric version) but it’s slightly tight for boot and rear seat space.
Volvo XC40

2. Volvo XC40

9/10
Volvo XC40 review
Battery range up to 26 miles
The XC40 looks as if it was designed by Lego, and we mean that in a good way — it’s charmingly upright and square. It’s roomy, too, and comes with a choice of petrol, plug-in hybrid, or fully-electric power. It’s more fun to drive than you might think, but the cabin feels a touch cheap in places.
Skoda Karoq

3. Skoda Karoq

9/10
Skoda Karoq review
The Karoq packs in plenty of passenger and luggage space (its 510-litre boot is one of the biggest in class). The cabin does look rather plain, but the Karoq is pleasant to drive. The basic 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine is better than you might expect, but there are no hybrid or electric versions.
BMW X1 (2015-2022)

4. BMW X1

9/10
BMW X1 (2015-2022) review
Battery range up to 35 miles
The X1 may not be a looker, but it’s sharp to drive — just as you’d expect of a BMW, even if basic versions only have front-wheel drive. The plug-in hybrid version is surprisingly sporty, but rather thirsty if you’re not using it in electric mode. There’s decent space inside, but the dashboard looks and feels cheap by BMW standards.
Nissan Qashqai

5. Nissan Qashqai

8/10
Nissan Qashqai review
The latest Qashqai majors on ease of use — the doors open wide, the boot (504-litres) is roomier than it used to be, and it’s really very comfortable. So far, all you can buy is a 1.3-litre turbo petrol mild-hybrid, but a clever ‘ePower’ hybrid launched in summer 2022. It’s not super exciting to drive, but it is very smooth.
Audi Q3

6. Audi Q3

8/10
Audi Q3 review
The Audi Q3’s cabin design and quality are from the top drawer. The plug-in hybrid model has decent all-round performance, but the basic 1.5-litre petrol is the best choice for townies. Sleeker Sportback version looks handsome, but it’s not as exciting to drive as it looks.
SEAT Ateca

7. SEAT Ateca

7/10
SEAT Ateca review
The Ateca is a bit too ‘sensible shoes’ for a brand that purports to be all passionate and Spanish, but it is a usefully roomy family crossover, with lots of rear seat space and a decent boot (albeit smaller in that department than the related Skoda Karoq). FR versions bring a look of sportiness to the table, but it’s never a thrilling car.
Honda HR-V Hybrid

8. Honda HR-V

7/10
Honda HR-V Hybrid review
The HR-V has neat, clean styling and a clever hybrid system but it lacks a bit for star quality. It’s not a thrilling drive, but the cabin is lovely and the flip-up ‘magic’ back seats are hugely handy.
Volkswagen T-Roc

9. Volkswagen T-Roc

7/10
Volkswagen T-Roc review
The T-Roc is basically a Golf with a loft conversion, and that’s essentially what it’s like to drive — smooth and unruffled, but not very exciting. There’s plenty of space in the cabin, but the boot is on the small side. A few too many cheap plastics inside, too.
Toyota C-HR (2016-2023)

10. Toyota CH-R

6/10
Toyota C-HR (2016-2023) review
Toyota’s hybrid-only C-HR is much more fun to drive than you might expect, with lively steering and a well-balanced chassis. It’s a high-quality thing, too, but the cabin feels tight for space, both front and rear, and the boot is tiny.

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Advice about crossover cars

Crossovers FAQs

Good question, and potentially a legally interesting one seeing as many countries are talking about introducing higher taxes for SUVs and crossovers. Crossovers started out as half-way houses between estates and 4x4s (Subaru’s original Legacy Outback was arguably the first crossover car) but they’ve evolved now into a mixture of SUV and small hatchback. Basically, if you’re shopping with a small car budget, but you want the higher driving position and hatchback (or estate) space, you’re going to be buying a crossover.

Again, a good question — basically it comes down to size, but this is a string of many lengths, so to speak. The case for being a crossover is obvious when you look at cars such as a Peugeot 2008 or Renault Captur. They sit in an obvious gap in the lineup between smaller hatchbacks such as the Peugeot 208 or Renault Clio, but beneath larger hatches such as the Peugeot 308 and the Renault Megane. For bigger crossovers, it’s a little more confusing. Could you argue that the Nissan Qashqai is an SUV rather than a crossover? Yes, you could, but perhaps it comes down to intent — a crossover is a car that will likely never leave the tarmac, whereas an SUV might see occasional off-road use.

Step forward the Skoda Karoq, which with its 521-litre boot space (loaded up to the luggage cover) offers you more storage space than any other.

Yes, and more are arriving all the time. The Peugeot e-2008, Vauxhall Mokka-e, Volvo XC40 and C40 Recharge, MG ZS EV, Kia Soul and e-Niro, Hyundai Kona electric, Mercedes-Benz EQA, Mazda MX-30, DS 3 Crossback, and the Lexus UX300e are all already on sale. Many more are coming on sale soon.

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