An Argument for the Crossover

"dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford" (dtg11) 04/26/2018 at 00:00 • Filed to: please don't take my jalop card, but I understand if you do

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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!  but you’re wrong. Here’s why:

“It snows twice a year here” I’ve never heard this as an excuse to get a crossover, more as an argument for them since regular cars rarely have available AWD, while a vast majority of crossovers have it. Dumb excuse, yes, but people like peace of mind.

“I like the style” Crossovers look a lot better than they used to and the typical car buyer doesn’t care that much about styling. If they did, how would they be able to sell new Prius?

“I need the room” This is a very valid reason to get a crossover. “Get a wagon” you say, but where? There are no affordable wagons on sale, they’re all premium (Jaguar, BMW, Mercedes, and Volvo all come to mind). There’s no Camry wagon, Accord wagon, etc. When my mom was looking at newer used crossovers she also mentioned wagons but I could only find Volvo V60's and even those were few and far between.

“I need the space for my growing family” One word: strollers. The trunk openings on a lot cars anymore are too small to fit a stroller and the hatch of a crossover makes it much easier to get in and out. Plus that extra ride height means parents don’t have to bend down to buckle their kids in.

“I need all-wheel-drive” He says plenty of normal cars have available AWD and then proceeds to give an example with...a Porsche 911 Targa 4 GTS, which is not a normal car unless perhaps you live in LA or London. A majority of normal, plebeian cars don’t have AWD: Sonata, Accord, Camry, Optima, Malibu, most Fusion models, etc. Yeah yeah snow tires blah blah blah, but most people either don’t care enough or don’t want to spend the extra money (and store) an extra set of tires.

“I love to pour money down the drain in a desperate pursuit of the worst fuel economy possible, while simultaneously robbing myself of any sort of driving pleasure, my soul devoid of anything resembling excitement or happiness or will to live” Crossovers get nominally worse fuel economy to sedan counterparts, so that argument is mostly invalid. We’re not talking Suburbans, we’re talking Escapes and Traverses. And as sad as it is, a majority of car buyers don’t care about driving excitement.

Another thing to note, at least from my experience, is that crossovers tend to ride a lot better than cars. With crumbling, pothole filled roads all across the country, it makes sense that people want something that can traverse those roads while still maintain some comfort. Additionally, the reason my grandparents sold their sedan to get a crossover is because it’s easier to get in and out of. We have an aging population who have an ever increasing number of bad hips, backs, and knees, so not having bend down or climb out of a car is extremely nice.

While the traditional car is still my ride of choice, crossovers have their merits and it’s completely understandable why they are flooding the market and why people are buying them up. For a lot of people, they just make more sense.

Ballaban’s article here.

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lone_liberal > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 00:10

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Nailed it.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 00:24

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I hate the whole argument of “You’re giving up all this sporty responsive driving fun for a big flubbery awful mess that’s slow, topheavy, and handles like a cruise ship.”

They make the switch from a Malibu to an Equinox sound like it’s from a ZO6 corvette to a Kodiak.

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > lone_liberal 04/26/2018 at 00:26

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Damn liberals, first our guns and now our FiSTs? America is doomed.

Spanfeller is a twat > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 00:26

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Heavier cars= more potholes.

I think most people don’t understand consumers tend to be excessive about everything because just in case! Automakers dearly oblige with SUVs... I’ll be the first to say they are quite cool but we cannot argue that they are more efficient or as safe as cars.

I can totally see your argument and to be honest seeing Ballaban in Carguments makes me hate his argumentation so much I default to agree with anyone disagreeing with him

wafflesnfalafel > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 00:28

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yep - the ultimate compromise. Wife’s crosstrek is not sporty, fast, nor even overly fun to drive but it’s a great little rig that gets surprisingly good mileage, has enough ground clearance to get through snow or dirt w/o banging up the under carriage. Makes a great little ski or hiking rig. Plus some folks like being up higher - my dad hates low cars and really likes his Rav4... But none of this makes me personally want one any more... I can only hope we get some low volume stuff that is more fun/interesting.

lone_liberal > Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish 04/26/2018 at 00:30

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There’s always the Mustang for your massacre needs.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > wafflesnfalafel 04/26/2018 at 00:33

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that’s a good point about liking to ride higher, my mom likes the additional visibility and more chair like seating position

Spridget > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 00:38

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This is Jalopnik, they expect you to find a 1982 Oldsmobile Firenza wagon to haul your family with.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 01:28

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Crossovers are great all around dailys that will get you where you need to go with barely any sweat. They’re reliable and practical, and they have every right to be on the market, much to the chagrin of the FP.

However, killing the small car market in favor of crossovers is something I can’t get behind. The crossover doesn’t really suit everyone in the world.

Wagon Guy drives a Boostang > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 02:27

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I certainly see that they have a place in the market.

And I always imagine putting lowering springs on them to turn them back into the hatchbacks and wagons that they were born to be..

Gerry197 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 02:30

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All good points that so many online car forum enthusiast seem to not understand about the popularity of the crossover.

Gerry197 > sm70- why not Duesenberg? 04/26/2018 at 02:35

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Exactly. The ride and handling of an Accord is not honestly that much better than a CRV, which is exactly in the same price point. Plus the bigger tires that those cars come with usually creates a plusher ride around town.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 02:49

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The best thing about the Escape is if you do so soon, you can get the engine in the Focus.

Axial > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 03:20

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Ignoring that Ballaban’s post was tongue-in-cheek, counter-counter-points:

Subaru, Dodge, Chrysler, Buick, Ford, and all of the luxo brands have AWD cars available ....and the luxo brands have them on their lowest trims and don’t even cost that much more than a similarly equipped “normal” brand to get into.

Saying something is better-looking than it used to be is not the same thing as actually being good-looking or even good-enough looking.

The VW Alltrack and Subaru Outback are still more wagon than CUV and Buick will happily sell you a TourX.

The stroller folds ; throw it on the floor in front of the back seats. You have to get back there anyway to get baby in and out. Yes you do have to bend down, because the height is either not high enough to appreciably reduce the bending or it’s so high that you have to get in the vehicle and bend down all the same.

You’ve now talked about AWD twice . See the first point of this reply. Also see: tongue-in-cheek.

The bit about driving dynamics is valid , though I personally hate soft and cushy rides. Loathe. I have yet to even try my new car in its comfort mode and instead drive literally everywhere with it dialed up as firm as it will go because that’s what I’m used to and that’s what I like. The ride is already way more sterile than I am accustomed to, and it was the least-sterile option on the market in its segment short of getting a PoS Giulia.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 07:05

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They really are functionally better. The ONLY reason my 3 series is a better choice for me than an X3, or even X1 is that it is feels sportier. Something 90% of buyers don’t care about.

However the X1 would have more cargo room, be easier to slide into, and most importantly have more groung clearance. My 3 is AWD, but a couple weeks ago I got stuck in deep snow, because although it’s got Blizzaks on all four corners, it’s too Low to trudge though 2 feet of snow. That extra 2 inches of ground clearance on an X1 would really help.

Truth is my Sedan is more of a compromise than a Crossover would be. The car that fits my life practically is a small SUV, but the car I want is a Miata/Corvette/M3 so I bought a smallish sedan with a manual trans and AWD. If I could have two cars I’d Daily an SUV or Crossover, and have a sports car for when my wife and kid aren’t with me.

mazda616 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 07:09

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Fabulous argument here.

We have a 2013 Mazda CX-5 and my wife and I love it. She wanted an SUV so she could sit up high and the hatchback form factor makes loading my son’s stroller and other required baby items a breeze. It gets the exact same fuel economy as my Mazda6 and it pretty much drives and rides like a car, because it is. It literally is just a little wagon that sits up high, just like all the other popular crossovers on the market.

BigBlock440 > Axial 04/26/2018 at 07:13

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The stroller folds ; throw it on the floor in front of the back seats. 

How big of a backseat do you have? Most sedans, even large SUVs, don’t have enough room to put the stroller in the back seat. I doubt anything short of a Megacab Ram does. Sure, you could get a thin, small stroller, but then it’s not as good at stroller things, and it’ll fit in the trunk fine too.

But the height thing is completely valid, it’s a pain unbuckling a toddler from my sedan, especially if she’s sleeping.

BigBlock440 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 07:16

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I know it’s not popular to modify cars anymore, but I remember when we used to build things if the manufactures didn’t sell them. You wan’t a hatchback over a CUV? Just buy a 2wd one and lower it. There’s your FWD hatchback.

Long-Voyager > BigBlock440 04/26/2018 at 07:24

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I used the same argument when people say minivans aren’t fun.

random001 > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 08:01

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I wish there were more wagons available...

shop-teacher > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 09:19

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Yep. To sum it up, the compromises that “enthusiasts” hate about crossovers, are precisely why “normal” people like them. It’s good at many things, instead of being great at a few things, and sucking at the rest.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Axial 04/26/2018 at 10:15

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I will admit that being AWD equipped is probably the weakest argument, a vast majority of small or midsize sedans don’t have AWD (Charger and 300 are fullsize and Subaru being the exception).

The ride part is more of an enthusiast problem. I know, at least for me personally, most people I help car hunt for want a comfortable, absorbent suspension and don’t really care about steering feel and handling response.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > Wagon Guy drives a Boostang 04/26/2018 at 10:16

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I do think wagons, if produced and marketed well, could sell better than a lot of manufacturers think.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > random001 04/26/2018 at 10:17

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you and me both...

Khalbali > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 04/26/2018 at 13:25

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I must say that I’m actually considering trading in my miata on a crosstrek in the next year or so, they are appealing definitely now that I’m an Old.

OldGrumpy > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford 05/18/2018 at 14:06

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Well, I made it to the third paragraph before I was so utterly offended by Ballaban’s blabber about what HE thinks people SHOULD want. I’m sick of being told what I should like, by corporate; Amazon (Alexa), Facebook (here watch this viral video!), and especially by someone that wasn’t even alive when vehicles had carburetors and yet claims to be a car enthusiast. I drive a 2005 Honda Civic Hybrid with nearly 300,000 miles. I love that car, but come bone-yard time for this car, I’ll be looking at the Jeep Renegade, Maybe a Subaru Imprezza or lagacy, or perhaps I’ll upgrade to my wife’s 2014 Subaru Crosstrek, and get her something new...if she’ll go for it because she loves that car (yes, I called it a car). See, I have a bad back, and as part of my business, I occasionally need to make deliveries. Most deliveries are larger than I can fit in the Honda, and too small to justify getting the Chevy Silverado out of the garage and pulling 12-15 mpg to haul a few boxes. The Subaru is perfect for this; AWD (sense of security, and handles great), roomy (seats fold down flat easily), easy to get in and out of, rides nice (sporty and responsive without feeling like I’m driving in loose sand on pillow tires), has great visibility, creature comforts, and still gets 30-33 MPG on most of my commutes. So I’ll join the “Ballaban is wrong”camp. Cars can be cars, trucks can be trucks, SUVs can be SUVs, and I like the gap that crossovers fill between trucks/vans and cars. Maybe Ford is wrong for dropping the car line, but they are following market trends, but are they “too big to fail (again?)“?