As drivers demand betterfuel economy , ever - increasing comfortable rides and better handing from their sport utility , the crossover section of the self-propelled market has been growing . There are a few qualities that define a crossing over , like being built on figure that are base on passenger cars instead of trucks , optional third - rowing seating room and almost always anall - wheel - driveversion .
Crossovers have become a great commixture of functionality , dash , power and comfort . Being smaller than pervious hand truck - based sport utility vehicle , they typically have beneficial fuel economy than the SUVs of yesteryear , although some are crusade the envelope . The AWD capability of crossovers allow driver the selection to practice their vehicle in ways that a car could never perform , while still keep the consolation and drivability that typically comes from car ownership .
All - wheel - driveway capableness can vary greatly between each crossover , just like their pricing , sizing , tow capableness and cargo room . We ’ve compiled a tilt of five all - bicycle - movement crossovers that pass into almost every family of size , price , off - road potentiality and drive experience . Some are expensive and refined ; others are a minuscule more homely and utilitarian . At least one will knock your air sock off with its sheer f number and power and another might be your go - to choice for getting through an Armageddon - sized crater .
There are plenty of AWD crossovers to prefer from when building a inclination , but these five hit on a cross discussion section of the AWD crossover market place and should give you an approximation of how much each one can change .
5: Subaru Outback
Some automobile manufacturer are know for specific timbre and characteristic that their vehicles ooze . Subaru vehicles have portray an adventurous and almost non - conformist persona for some meter now . Their vehicle ’s intrepid personality come partly from their standard all - roulette wheel - drive systems on every model , the Outback being no exclusion .
The Outback was redesign in 2010 , making the current model one of the spacious , tallest and biggest Outbacks to fall off the Subaru assembly line of credit . With improved ground headway and over 71 cubic feet of cargo blank space , the Outback is ready to startle off - road and stockpile more camping equipment than some of the other crossover in its division . Not to mention that it also get ahead 2010 Motor Trend SUV of the Year as well .
The Outback is usable in six different trim levels , which may seem too many option to select from , but the variation in packages allows the base Leontyne Price to start at around $ 23,000 and builds up to $ 35,000 for all the periphery benefit . Buyers have a alternative between a 2.4 - liter four - cylinder boxerengineor a 3.5 - liter flat six . The four - cylinder engine provide sizable world power when postulate into account that the Outback is much lighter than the other crossover contention . Gone is the turbocharged version that some diehard Subaru buff may be used to seeing .
The Outback not only offers expectant cargo blank and a lightweight build compared to its competition , but it also provide some of the good fuel efficiency as well [ seed : Car Connection ] . An optionalcontinuously variable contagion , or CVT , 2.4 - liter engine get around 22 city and 29 highway miles per gallon ( 9.4 and 12.3 kilometer per liter ) . The 3.5 - l will see about 18 in the urban center and 25 highway mile per gallon ( 7.7 and 10.6 kilometers per cubic decimeter ) [ source : Edmunds ] .
The Outback does n’t put up a third words seat like some other crossovers , so if you ’re search to pile in more than a few kids , you may necessitate to look at some of the other fomite name in this article . The Outback does add up with a four - virtuoso crash - test refuge evaluation for both front and side impact trial run .
you could upgrade the Outback to include rightness like a mobile Wi - Fi hotspot for your laptop or a 440 - watt Harmon - Kardon stereo system . Or you’re able to enjoy some of the received features like stability and traction control , which will come in handy when put the AWD system to the test .
The Outback may be a difficult AWD crossover to beat , but there are few more on our list that deserve some attention as well . Go on to the next varlet for the next AWD crossover .
4: Jeep Compass
IfAWDis on your lean of must - haves in a crossover , then you ’ll want to watch out the fresh redesign Jeep Compass . It ’s AWD and optional off - road packages will leave other crossover ride at the border of the sidewalk while it deplumate through the wilderness .
The Compass was update for 2011 and exuviate some of its former unfortunate styling . The new version looks more like a shriveled doppelganger of the Grand Cherokee , a purposeful accomplishment according to Jeep . The inside of the Compass remain comparatively the same compared to the previous rendering , and being a low-toned - close Jeep you probably should n’t require too much compared to other crossover voter in its stratum .
Where the Compass really begin to fall is with its usable Trail Rated off - route computer software . The Trail Rated badge is cave in to Jeep fomite that have met certain off - road standards that Jeep has define for itself . Trail Rated Jeeps need to meet specific glide slope and departure angles when performing off - road and have ample ground headroom as well . Approach and departure Angle are the aloofness from the front or the rear of the fomite to the ground as it climbs over an object . If the coming or departure angles are too brusque , then you ’ll scrape the bottom of your vehicle as you start to climb over it or as you leave . Or bad , you wo n’t be able to go over it at all .
For those hesitant to accept a trail - shit badge from the same masses who built the fomite , believe the 8.4 inches of land clearance , skid plates , tow hooks and aCVTengine that allows for a low scope option when for off - roading . The Compass receives an improved AWD system for the new simulation , called the Freedom Drive II . The Trail Rated Compass also come with feature like a hill seemly adhesive friction and Pteridium aquilinum traction organization that add to its off - road capabilities .
The Jeep Compass starts at just over $ 19,000 and with the AWD Trail Rated version with the price will be close to $ 25,000 [ root : Jeep ] . Although the Compass may be the most up to AWD off - roading crossovers , do n’t expect it to cleave around for very long . With Fiat ’s fond possession of Chrysler , the Compass is scheduled to be discontinued in 2012 or 2013 in party favor of a Fiat - based vehicle . But if you ’re looking for an AWD system that ’ll have you play in the mud , then this is still the AWD crossing for you .
On the next Sir Frederick Handley Page we ’ll search at another AWD crossing over , but one that has a tad bit more personality than the Compass .
3: Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is a compact crossing over that looks like it ’s in a course all by itself . Think of the Juke as the younger brother to the Rogue and Murano who wants to have more fun and go his own way of life . The offbeat styling may twist some potential crossover purchaser away , but its sportiness and unparalleled personality is a breath of fresh air in a crowded crossing over food market .
The Juke comes available with just oneengine , a 1.6 - literturbochargeddirect injectionfour - cylinder that produces 188 H.P. and 177 ft - pound . of torque to the all - steering wheel - drive ’s 3,200 lb ( 1,451 kilo ) [ source : Nissan ] . The AWD fashion model is only usable with a unendingly variableautomatic transmission , so you ’ll have to give the six - hurrying manual for the all - wheel - drive capability .
The manual transmission does n’t stifle all of your functioning options ; Nissan offer three different performance modes : Normal , Sport and Eco . Each mode aline the gun response , steering , and transmission shifting depending on your preference at the time .
Although the AWD system may not be built for climbing rocks , it does extend some telling characteristics . Nissan equip the Juke with atorque vectoringsystem that divide thetorquebetween the front and rear steering wheel to provide the right amount of power to each roulette wheel . For model , when starting the Juke uphill on a wet open each roulette wheel can have 25 percent of the torque , but if you make a heavy turn right after that then the torque can be distributed between the three wheels that need and leave one with no torsion at all .
The torque vectoring statistical distribution is decide by calculating the fomite ’s speed , lateral GB - force , cycle fastness , gear position andyaw charge per unit . Yaw is a term used to describe a fomite ’s turning on its upright axis of rotation , or simply when the vehicle is side skidding . The Juke fomite to follow through torque vectoring into a compact crosswalk and Nissan say that it ’s also the light vectoring system of rules in the world .
The Juke start at $ 19,500 and can be equip with ADHD - ons that will put you around $ 23,000 . Nissan ’s piffling crossover not only offers a sophisticated AWD system but also come with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety ’s highest clank test rating in all four class [ author : Nissan ] .
Go on to the next Sir Frederick Handley Page to find out about our next AWD crossing over , the 2011 SUV of the Year .
2: Porsche Cayenne
Porsche step into the crosswalk fit with the Cayenne in 2003 and in 2011 their redesigned variation won Motor Trend ’s SUV of the Year award . This was a swelled accomplishment for Porsche since many were skeptical that an SUV made by Porsche was a good thought . As far asAWDcrossovers go , the Cayenne is not surprisingly one of the most luxurious you could line up . The home MSPR begin at $ 48,000 and then jumps saltation and bounds from there . Order one of these with the good locomotive with all the usable options and you ’re looking at a whopping $ 170,000 [ source : Markus ] .
The Cayenne comes in four unlike , including a 3.6 - liter V-6 that bring forth 300 - horsepowerand a natural gas / electric 3.0 - litersuperchargedV-6 that puts out 380 - horsepower with 20 miles per congius ( 8.5 kilometers per cubic decimeter ) urban center and 24 miles per gal ( 10.2 klick per liter ) on the highway [ germ : Porsche ] . The crown precious stone of the Cayenne ’s engine offerings is the 4.8 - cubic decimetre twin - turbocharged V-8 that spews 500 - horsepower straight out of its oral fissure . That ’s an extra 100 - horsepower from the standard 4.8 - cubic decimeter V-8 that ’s also available . The turbo version will kick this AWD crossover from 0 to 60 mi per hour ( 96.6 kilometers per 60 minutes ) in just 4.4 second [ source : Porsche ] .
In the all - wheel - drive department the Cayenne come with a torque vectoring organisation to deliver index to the wheels most in need . By default 60 pct of theengine ’s power goes to the rear wheels and 40 per centum to the front . The off - route mode on the Cayenne change the vehicle handling of the transmission , grip and chassis and optional air springs can bring the ground headroom up to 8.5 inch [ seed : Markus ] . The previous contemporaries Cayenne had a twofold - range transfer example that permit for more ruggedoff - roading , but was drop in the 2011 redesign , saving about 400 Irish pound ( 181.4 kilograms ) of system of weights [ source : Edmunds ] .
Although the Cayenne is up to of going off - road , this crossover may be considerably left on level surfaces . It ’s kind of like using a priceless vase to prop afford a doorway . Yes , it can attend to that function , but it ’s probably not the best idea . If you ’re looking for opulence , speed and versatility , it ’s hard to find a better fusion of all three in an AWD crossover though .
Go on to the next page to see our last AWD crossover .
1: Mazda CX-9
The Mazda CX-9 is a full - size crossover that offers seating for up to seven , a generous amount of power and big cargo space . Theall - roulette wheel - drivefeature is n’t received but the CX-9 does occur with a good amount of equipment for its start price of about $ 29,000 .
The CX-9 has won several award and praises from multiple automotive beginning for its overall tone and drive experience . The onlyengineavailable on the CX-9 is a 3.7 - litre V-6 with 273horsepowerand 270 foot - pound . of torque , but it will get you to 60 knot per hour ( 96.6 klick per hour ) in about 7.3 seconds [ source : Lago ] . There are three variation of the CX-9 to opt from : Sport , Touring and Grand Touring , with the latter coming in at only four thousand more than the groundwork Sport .
The optional AWD organisation has atorque - splitting feature similar to other crossover and the eight inches of ground headroom will come in handy if you decide to rough in it for a few mi . If you ’re guess about using the CX-9 for towing , the AWD can treat 3,500 Ezra Loomis Pound ( 1,588 kilograms ) . and an optional towing package will add up laborious - duty transmittance oil cooler , radiator fan and a modified railway locomotive control module to manage the railway locomotive [ source : Mazda ] .
With the 2nd row up the CX-9 provides just over 48 three-dimensional foot of cargo space , but if you fold the seat flavourless it amplify to over 100 cubic base [ source : Lago ] . The guidance and manage respond well according to reviews , but thefuel economyis only 16 air mile per Imperial gallon ( 6.8 kilometers per liter ) for the city and 22 miles per gal ( 9.4 kilometers per liter ) on the main road in the AWD version [ source : Mazda ] . Another positively charged for the CX-9 is its 5 - star administration crash trial evaluation for front and side impingement crash .
If you ’re reckon for a playfulness - to - drive AWD crossing that comes with a significant amount of feature for the price , then you may have establish just what you ’re looking for in Mazda ’s CX-9 .
For fortune more information about AWD crossing , stick with the links on the next pageboy .
