Crossovers
 

To anyone that owns or operates a CUV (or 'SUV' that is not based on a truck chassis or 'uniframe'), I'm curious to know about times when the vehicle really shone.

Here's an example mad lib format:

I drive a ____ (CUV) and did _____ (action) with it. There's no way a _____ {pickup, sedan, sports car, etc} would have done the job, or at least not as well. _____ (details).

And another:

I/We considered buying a _____ (non-CUV) but then went with the _____ (CUV) because ____ (details). It was the ____ {right, wrong} decision, because ____ (details).

It's the only vehicle type I have never, ever considered owning, so I'm curious. Not a troll post. Looking for real answers from real people.

Some are *needs* and some are *wants*. Also remember that 90% of the population doesn't enjoy driving, it's a task and CUV's make that task easier, more comfortable and more practical (and in many cases, safer too).

Dogs. Have a big dog you tote around? The big cargo space in the back of a CUV (CX5/CRV type vehicle) are great for that. Not every dog owner is horny to own a Subaru.

A CUV fulfills some of the functionality of an SUV with some of the benefits of car.

Example: AWD, 4 doors, gas mileage above 25mpg, small enough to park easily and drive in the city yet large enough to give the driver an elevated view of the road and improved safety if impacting larger vehicles on the road.

Secondly.. Old people. Most CUV's are provide very easy ingress/egress. As a Territory manager who gets in and out of his car 15 times a day, this benefit actually appeals to me greatly.

Let's say I don't want a Subaru.. I know that might be heresy on this forum but just for sake of example.. a human being doesn't want a Subaru. CUV's are an awesome option.

I drive a (any CUV) and did (not looking like a station wagon) with it. There's no way a {station wagon} would have done the job, or at least not as well. (because it looks like a station wagon).

I personally don't like the class at all. I've driven the majority of the current mainstream range and in general I didn't like them. There were only a handful of clever ones like the previous Mitsubishi Outlander with its split folding tailgate allowing it surprising room in the back despite its small size. The one that didn't drive awful would be the Mazda CX-7 turbo...but its primarily down to the engine and its a Mazda so they put some effort into making it drive decent.

However, it appears they've replaced the station wagon in North America. If you find yourself in a situation where you didn't like the Subaru Outback for some reason and found the Mercedes E-class wagon too expensive...you're generally out of luck for something with lots of tail gate space if you ignore the CUVs. If given all the wagon choices that Europe gets...then I agree I would say the CUV class is too full of compromises.

If I needed a vehicle like this I'd get an Outback, but I truly prefer the Legacy wagon and not need the vehicle raised. Otherwise, I wouldn't buy any of them, I'm more inclined to get a minivan over these since at least that's more useful.

Wife has a 12 Mitsi RVR GT. It does everything OK but nothing really well.
Can fit 5 people but it is tight better with just 4.
Can fit half a sheet of plywood in the back but you have to manage some pretty weird angles.
Can off road a bit as is 4wd (not awd) but I too low and gets center bound easy
Is OK on gas but not as good you would expects.
OK on the highway but takes forever to get up to speed (FRS is a rocket when compared). The CVT tranny freaks me out as it has no shift points when in auto. Just sits at 3000 and keeps going faster.
Nice colour (light blue/green) and front end (Evo X type grill set up) but from the side looks like almost everything else in the class.


Overall don't mind driving it but don't enjoy it either.
She loves the thing and will likely keep it forever.

They aren't made for guys. They are made for women who has some weird need to sit up high in a vehicle. Every "non car" woman I've ever dated has wanted to sit up as high as possible.

You nailed it there!
My wife outright refuses to ride in my car much less ever drive it because "it is too low and we are going to get run over and killed"

The wife has a 2008 Subaru Outback LL Bean.

I bought it because it was in good shape, allowed us the room we need for dogs and activities, AWD, and has SI-Drive for when I'm behind the wheel.

Gas mileage isn't terrible.

It's all about the dork factor, not practicality. So if you don't NEED to tow or haul the crappy MPG of a SUV or 4-door truck aren't necessary. That leaves...

Mini-van = most practical, most dorky
Station wagon = less practical, less dorky
CUV = least practical, least dorky

I'd drive a Porsche Macan or Fiat 500X Abarth (if they make it) any day.

The people I know that drive them chose them because they had a need (real or perceived) for cargo space, and they wanted better gas mileage than a true SUV would have. I think at least in some cases they might have gone station wagon route if there were more viable choices.

My parents bought a Crosstrek as their winter beater family mobile. I borrowed it for a 10 day ski trip to the coast with 4 guys and even with a shit ton of stuff strapped onto the roof it was packed inside. Also 3rd gear almost everywhere to keep going especially on the Coquihalla and highway 99, and then not enough brakes on the hills as well.

Never again.

I drove a 2010 RX350 (CUV) and did all of my vehicular needs (including Sandy relief in Rockaway and getting us out of being snowed in) for 3 years(action). There's no way ANY OTHER VEHICLE {pickup, sedan, sports car, etc} would have done the job, or at least not as well. During Sandy, I loaded the entire thing up with supplies and drove down to the Peninsula as soon as the bridges opened to get my fiancee's family supplies, and the people who needed to get out out. (details). The roads were covered in sand dunes and large debris that had washed out of people's houses. (We saw a lot of pianos in the street).

A pickup truck would have been better that day. However, the other 1000 days I had that CUV, a pickup truck would have ridden worse, been worse on gas, and been more difficult to park. My law school had tiny spots. A half-ton pickup would not have been nearly as good for the rest of my life.


Also, I had to get to an 8am class that wasn't cancelled after a snowstorm. I had no time to dig out of this, and it was frozen over enough to support my 280lbs weight. I drove right out. I would have cracked the bumper cover of a sport wagon trying to drive out. I would have wasted 45 minutes trying to dig out.

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps548d6fbb.jpg

CUVs are not about doing a specific job. It is about being the best compromise over time. There were days that I needed more payload, more off-road prowess, or wanted way more performance. However, with the exception of those days, the CUV met all of my needs. It was very luxurious (om nom nom semi-analine leather), carried all of my friends in great comfort, was alright on gas if I kept my foot out of it, and was competent enough in the snow on all seasons that I didn't have to buy, store, and install snow tires.

And then the lease ended and I went out and ordered a Mustang, which, incidentally, I need to swap the snows onto this weekend. Pirelli P-Zero 285s might as well be 195s under 50 degrees.

Someone (female, attractive but that's besides the point) once told me "I want an SUV because I'm not a good driver and not being able to see much of the road scares me". I guess that's actually a fair point, but I think it's more a problem with the rest of the cars on the road. I think of myself as the kind of person who would rather not contribute to the problem, although I myself may be part of another problem by having a low car that can't see jack at intersections and driveways, which creates a hazard when I pull out.

So you put 5 guys and all their stuff into/onto a small SUV/crossover with a 150ish horsepower engine, and you're complaining that it was packed and you had to use 3rd gear a bunch?