Style and substance
These three crossovers are as usable and practical as they are attractive. Which is best used?
SEAT ATECA Ateca 1.0 TSI SE
Years: 2016 to date Engine: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 113bhp Ins group: 9 Official econ/co2: 54.3mpg/121g/km Why? Economical, practical and cheap to run, the Ateca is currently the yardstick in this sector.
Prices from: £17,995
WITH the Ateca, SEAT has hit the ground running in the crossover sector. The 1.0litre three-cylinder turbo is the smallest of the three engines on test, but has the same 113bhp as those of its Japanese rivals, plus higher torque. Also, the SEAT is the most economical contender and cheapest to insure, although SE models lack sat-nav and a reversing camera.
The Ateca didn’t feature in Driver Power 2017, but cars using the same VW Group MQB platform fared well; Skoda’s Superb topped our new car satisfaction table.
Nissan qashqai Qashqai Acenta 1.2DIG-T
Years: 2014 to date Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 113bhp Ins group: 17 Official econ/co2: 50.4mpg/129g/km Why? A crossover stalwart, the Qashqai is also the cheapest choice on the second-hand market.
Prices from: £9,775
THE second-generation Qashqai has been on the market since 2014, and has remained a top seller in that time – although running costs for its 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine are middle of the road against those of competitors. In Acenta trim it also misses out on the driver-assist tech of fresher rivals.
Still, the Qashqai is a cheaper second-hand buy in comparison, and it put in a reasonable, if unexceptional, showing in our Driver Power 2017 new car poll, ranking in 38th position overall.
Toyota c-hr C-HR 1.2 Turbo Icon
Years: 2016 to date Engine: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 113bhp Ins group: 15 Official econ/co2: 47.9mpg/135g/km Why? C-HR mixes stylish, head-turning looks with an impressive amount of on-board tech.
Prices from: £17,795
TOYOTA’S funky C-HR Suv-coupé has an eye-catching design compared with the current crop of small crossovers.
In Icon trim it serves up good tech and kit, including an eight-inch infotainment screen and Bluetooth, as well as lanedeparture and pre-collision warning. Its 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol is the thirstiest engine of the three, however.
The C-HR didn’t appear in our Driver Power 2017 satisfaction survey, although its big brother – the RAV4 – ranked an impressive fourth place.