Crossovers are red-hot these days thanks to the amount of utility they offer, their carlike ride, and our currently low gas prices. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any sacrifices to owning one. Like every car, crossovers have weaknesses—especially the new crop of subcompact ones, which are essentially hatchbacks on stilts and wearing body cladding. Here are five reasons a small crossover makes sense and five reasons why a wagon might be a better choice.
Five Reasons to Get a Small Crossover over a Wagon
Increased Ground Clearance
Small crossovers use their increased ground clearance to safely traverse rocky, unpaved roads without the risk of scraping the undercarriage. Additionally, if you love going outdoors and needs to cross a body of water, then you’ll have a better chance of avoiding a flooded interior.
Higher Seating Position
For easy entry and less back pain, the taller stance of crossovers is helpful. You simply slide in, with no more ducking, climbing, or crawling in and out of the car like you would in taller body-on-frame SUVs or sedans that are lower to the ground.
Available All-Wheel Drive
There aren’t many traditional hatchbacks and wagons out there available with all-wheel drive, but all automakers offer crossovers with have them as optional extras or even standard. A crossover offers you the extra layer of safety that all-wheel drive provides to get you through the worst weather conditions.
Compact Size
Because the majority of small crossovers are based on subcompact and compact cars, they’re small in size, so you’ll be able to squeeze them through narrow streets and into tight parking spaces. The compact dimension also means small crossovers are great in the city, giving urbanites a car that can take them anywhere.
Better Visibility
Having a taller ride height has its advantages, and one of them is that you’ve got a more commanding view of the road compared to traditional sedans, hatchbacks, and wagons. You’ll have an easier time seeing what’s happening ahead of you.
5 Reasons to Get a Wagon Instead
Superior Fuel Efficiency
Lower to the ground than a small crossover, wagons are lighter, enabling them to achieve better fuel economy than high-riding crossovers. Additionally, the long roof and lower ground clearance helps wagons cheat the wind, giving them superior aerodynamics.
Just as (or More) Spacious than a Crossover
All the interior space in crossovers doesn’t always mean there’s more interior cargo and passenger room. A lot of wagons can shame their high-riding siblings when it comes to hauling people or gear. Additionally, some wagons also offer more flexibility with seats that split, fold, and even tumble forward to give you as much room as possible. Small crossovers, on the other hand, are hit or miss; some can’t even match subcompact hatchbacks in terms of usable space for people and/or cargo.
Less Expensive to Buy
Because wagons are less desirable you’ll be able to buy one without having to pay an arm and a leg. A large portion of car buyers go for small crossovers because that’s what’s popular these days. However, the practicality of a wagon is still unmatched, and the fact that they’re not considered cool means it’s easier to purchase one for less than some crossovers—especially with a little bit of haggling.
Superior Handling
Because wagons are essentially sedans with longer roofs and a hatch, they retain the same driving characteristics as their counterparts with trunks. This means you won’t need to sacrifice great driving dynamics. Your car will do double duty: family car and fun generator.
Better Acceleration
Because they’re lighter, lower, and more aerodynamic than crossovers, wagons provide better acceleration and are able to get out of their own way with ease. Their engines are hauling around less mass, so you’ll have more power for your quick getaways; in heavier crossovers, that power goes toward hauling the extra weight.
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