Crossing the line
Crossovers are still enjoying a sales boom, TONY ALLEN picks the best
PEUGEOT 3008 Price: from £22,495
MORE than a million of the previous generation Peugeot 3008 were sold from 2009 but despite its talent, it always remained somewhat anonymous against big-selling rivals like Nissan’s Qashqai.
That is certainly not a criticism you could aim at this latest version.
With its striking good looks, all-new interior and i-cockpit dashboard, it is one of the best crossovers on the market today.
Our pick of the engines are the 1.2-litre petrol and the 120bhp 1.6-litre turbo-diesel, while on the road the 3008’s refinement levels and handling are excellent, although the GT versions with the larger 19in-alloy wheels give a slightly firmer ride.
KIA STONIC Price: est from £15,000
WE think Kia has been producing some of the best-looking cars on the market at all levels of late – and this new Stonic crossover is no exception.
Clean, unfussy lines with some nice details littered inside and out, it has all the ingredients to continue Kia’s ever-increasing sales.
We will get a closer look at its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month but Kia promises a strong line-up of downsized, lightweight engines, including its latest 1.0-litre, a host of personalisation options and the very latest in-car tech and equipment.
It already looks impressive.
RENAULT CAPTUR Price: from £15,355
THE Renault Captur was Europe’s biggest-selling urban crossover in Europe last year and along with the Kadjar and new Koleos (see page 35), the French firm has fully embraced the latest trend.
In fact, the latest changes to the Captur have given it a look more in line with its larger crossover sisters with C-shaped LED lights.
While the engine range has remained as before, the interior has benefited from a subtle upgrade throughout with improved plastics and materials all helping to lift the Captur’s cabin (although in truth, we did not mind it before).
There is also a new flagship Signature X Nav trim level, while the infotainment system has been upgraded too.
VAUXHALL CROSSLAND X Price: from £16,555
IF you thought Vauxhall already had a car in the small crossover sector with the popular Mokka then you would be right. But this new Crossland X is the result of a tie-up with Peugeot’s 2008 (ironically before Peugeot-Citroen’s purchase of Vauxhall) with which it shares some of its engines. Unlike the Mokka, though, all Crossland Xs are front-wheel drive, so there is no four-wheel drive option. However, on the inside there is a smart new infotainment system, good visibility all round and a decent amount of space front and rear, plus up to 520 litres of boot space with the sliding rear seats fitted.
HYUNDAI KONA Price: est from £15,000
THE new Hyundai Kona will join its sister car, the Kia Stonic, in showrooms later this year to rival the likes of the Peugeot 2008 and Nissan Juke.
The rugged looks might not be to everyone’s taste but it will live up to them with a choice of two or four-wheel drive (a rarity at this level) as well as a choice of six-speed manual or seven-speed twin-clutch gearboxes.
There will also be a twin-tone roof, a choice of ten colours and a host of safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver attention alert and autonomous emergency braking.
NISSAN QASHQAI Price: from £19,295
THE fifth best-selling car in the UK last year, the Qashqai has been given a substantial refresh, giving it a slightly new look on the outside and new rear LED lights. While the engine range has been largely carried over from before, there have been improvements to its on-road comfort levels and interior. There are more supportive seats, slightly more rear space than before and marginally more boot space, plus there is a new flagship Tekna+ model. Like Nissan’s Micra, there is also an offer until the end of the month, with a free Bose speaker and pair of Bose headphones included in every Qashqai sale.