With plenty of seating and cargo space, lots of high-tech goodies, and strong performance, it’s not hard to see why crossovers are the hottest vehicles on the road today. In fact, crossover sales have more than doubled in the United States since 2010. Automakers have been eager to jump into the market, leading to great competition and providing plenty of exciting new choices.
If you’re in the market for a new ride, here are the crossovers that deserve to be at the top of your shopping list.
2019 Mazda CX-9
The Mazda CX-9 boasts some serious accolades. The sporty crossover was named Car and Driver’s best mid-size SUV in both 2017 and 2018. With a retuned suspension and some added tech features, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 made it a three-peat by taking home the award yet again. While it falls a bit short of some competitors in terms of cargo capacity and third-row seating comfort, the CX-9 otherwise offers an exciting driving experience in a package that’s as comfortable, luxurious, and packed with technology as anything in its segment.
The CX-9 is available in four trim levels: the $32,280 CX-9 Sport, $35,330 CX-9 Touring, $40,840 CX-9 Grand Touring, and $45,365 CX-9 Signature. Each trim level is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine with SKYACTIV technology. The four-cylinder engine produces 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, though you can boost that output to 250 horsepower by filling up with 93 octane premium gasoline. You can expect a very respectable 24 mpg in mixed driving conditions. Mazda’s i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive is also available on every CX-9, dropping efficiency slightly to around 23 mpg.
A 7.0-inch touchscreen with Mazda’s excellent infotainment system is standard, with higher trims adding an 8.0-inch screen. You’ll find Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity as well. Standard blind-spot monitoring, automated braking, and Mazda’s Smart City Brake Support combine with an available heads-up display, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and other safety features to help the 2019 CX-9 earn an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
With a fresh redesign, a bunch of standard features, and a surprisingly premium build quality, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is a crossover worthy of your attention. It’s not as powerful or dynamic as some competitors, but it’s a quality ride that ranks among the most affordable entries in its class. In fact, it took home Kelley Blue Book’s 2019 award for the lowest five-year cost to own.
The Santa Fe comes in seven trims: the $24,750 SE, $26,850 SEL, $29,050 SEL Plus, $31,000 Limited, $32,700 Limited 2.0T, $33,950 Ultimate, and $35,600 Ultimate 2.0T. Most are powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 185 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque. The Limited 2.0T and Ultimate 2.0T get a beefier 2.0-liter turbocharged powerplant that outputs 235 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. You can add all-wheel-drive to any trim for around $2,000 more. The Santa Fe’s fuel economy numbers range from a low of 21 mpg combined for turbocharged all-wheel-drive models to a high of 25 mpg for the base SE trim.
Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are all standard across trims. The standard 7.0-inch infotainment system upgrades to an 8.0-inch screen on higher trims, along with satellite radio, wireless device charging, built-in navigation, and more. As a prestigious IIHS Top Safety Pick+, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is also loaded with safety technologies. That includes standard blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. Other available safety features include driver-attention monitoring and Hyundai’s Safe Exit Assist and Rear Occupants Alert systems.
2019 Jaguar I-Pace
The 2019 Jaguar I-Pace is a sleek and stylish crossover that looks more like a hot hatchback. The all-electric I-Pace doesn’t have quite the technological refinement of some luxury crossovers, but it easily boasts one of the most exciting driving experiences in the segment. Perhaps that’s why the speedy electric crossover has won more than 55 awards worldwide, including the 2019 European Car of the Year.
You can select one of four trim levels: the $69,500 I-Pace S, the $75,850 I-Pace SE, the $80,500 I-Pace HSE, and the $85,900 I-Pace First Edition. They each share the same battery type and dual-motor configuration, which combines to produce 394 horsepower and an electrifying 512 pound-feet of torque. Testing numbers place the fuel economy at around 76 MPGe combined.
The I-Pace’s infotainment system is based around an InControl Touch Pro Duo system, which includes a 10.0-inch upper touchscreen and 5.5-inch lower touchscreen. There’s also a Wi-Fi hotspot and connectivity via Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. As expected with a luxury vehicle, the I-Pace also offers plenty of standard safety assists. Every model ships with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, active park assist, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and driver-attention monitoring. Adaptive cruise control, high-speed emergency braking, a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, and a heads-up display can also be added.
2019 Acura RDX
As the best-selling compact luxury SUV in America, the 2019 Acura RDX is clearly doing something right. The all-new 2019 RDX may leave some people wanting when it comes to available powertrains and options, but it’s at the top of its class in terms of safety, interior space, and value. As long as you can do without the instant cachet and name recognition of its more famous competitors, the RDX is an excellent crossover at an even better price.
The 2019 Acura RDX offers a simplified approach when it comes to trims and options. Every model is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s rated at 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Expect fuel economy numbers of around 24 mpg combined with front-wheel drive. For a slight drop in efficiency, Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel-Drive system is also available at every level. The base RDX starts at $37,300. Adding the Technology package brings the price to $40,500. The $43,500 RDX A-Spec adds unique aesthetic touches as well as several comfort features. The top-end Advance package, which adds additional tech upgrades and high-quality leather seating, checks in at $45,400.
The RDX includes an excellent 10.2-inch infotainment screen, USB ports, satellite radio, a mobile hotspot and more. Upgraded options include premium audio systems, added USB ports, and GPS-linked climate controls. Acura’s flagship crossover also boasts an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating thanks to flawless crash test results. Every model is loaded with the AcuraWatch active safety package, which bundles lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, accident avoidance, and lane- and road-departure warning systems. Add-on packages also add blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, a heads-up display, and a network of parking sensors.
2019 BMW X7
Sandwiched between the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the hulking Lincoln Navigator in terms of size, the 2019 BMW X7 is big and bad no matter how you slice it. It’s the German automaker’s biggest SUV to date, offering a full third row and no shortage of space. The X7 is designed to be as safe, luxurious, and fun to drive as you’d expect from the prestigious brand.
As is typical with BMW, the X7 is divided into two trim levels and two powertrains. The xDrive40i starts at $73,900 and features a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that’s good for 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the xDrive50i starts at $92,600 and packs a burly 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 under the hood, putting 456 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque at your disposal. According to testing, the X7’s fuel economy is around 22 mpg combined for the xDrive40i and 17 mpg for the xDrive50i.
Inside, the X7 sports a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch center display that controls BMW’s iDrive infotainment system. Smartphone integration, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and plenty of USB ports are all standard. Of course, BMW has also incorporated blind-spot monitoring, frontal collision warning, rear collision warning, driver-attention monitoring, lane departure warning, and a range of other standard safety features. The X7 also has a tremendous assortment of advanced systems, including a heads-up display, active lane-keeping assist, traffic jam assistance, parking assistance, emergency stop assistance, and more.
2019 Tesla Model X
Do you need an all-electric crossover with blazing acceleration, autopilot driving, and falcon-wing doors? Probably not, but that’s no reason to take the 2019 Tesla Model X off your list if you’re looking for a crossover. It can get rather costly compared to many other models, but the Model X is as tech-infused and exhilarating to drive as any vehicle in the segment.
For 2019, Tesla has simplified the available trim levels. The base Model X starts at $89,200 and offers a range of around 270 miles. The Extended Range upgrade boosts the maximum range to 295 miles at a starting cost of $97,200. If performance is more your thing, the Model X Performance trim adds extraordinary power and acceleration and a 289-mile maximum range for $118,200. For an additional $15,000, you can go from zero to 60 in just 2.8 seconds by unlocking Ludicrous Mode. Official numbers haven’t been released, but fuel economy is expected to be similar to the 85 to 93 MPGe achieved by 2018 models.
The Tesla crossover unsurprisingly has plenty of entertainment and connectivity features, headlined by a huge infotainment touchscreen built into the dashboard, but these gadgets take a back seat to the star of the show. To go along with a first-ever perfect safety rating for an SUV from the NHTSA, the Model X also boasts Tesla’s famous — or infamous — Autopilot system. The Autopilot driving mode employs a sophisticated network of radars, sensors, and cameras to navigate the vehicle safely without driver input, though it’s not designed for fully autonomous control. The Model X also features a comprehensive suite of advanced safety assists. A “Summon” feature also makes it easy to get your Tesla in and out of tight spots — all while standing outside the vehicle.
These 2019 crossovers are the cream of the crop, but there are even more great options on the horizon. The Tesla Model Y, a smaller and sportier crossover based on the Model 3, is rumored to be ready for the 2021 model year. The high-performance BMW X5 M should be available for sale by 2020. If even that is too long to wait, the sleek, coupe-like Audi Q4 is scheduled to roll out later this year. With so many fantastic vehicles in the works, it’s clearly a great time to go shopping for a crossover.
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