Compare the best crossovers with carwow

The Peugeot 2008 has a seriously ‘look-at-me’ appearance, with bold shapes, sharp slashes of LED lighting, and a strong colour palette. And that’s just the outside. The interior is a riot of classy-looking surfaces, shapes and trim, and of course, it is complete with Peugeot’s clever iCockpit digital dashboard. There’s a decent amount of space in the front, but it's a shame that the seats in the back are a little on the small side. Still, the boot is a good size.

The XC40 is a properly cool crossover, with one of the chicest interiors around, and more tech than your local Currys. It has smooth, strong engines, and feels comfortable, secure and confidence-inspiring to drive. There’s also a plug-in hybrid version and a full electric model. The cabin is full of clever storage solutions, but beware that some of the trim lower down doesn’t feel quite as plush as you might hope.

If funky-looking crossovers such as the Volvo XC40 and Peugeot 2008 have entered the marketplace wearing designer threads, the Volkswagen T-Cross has pitched up wearing a pair of Crocs. Yup, it’s sensible and practical. The interior continues the sensible-not-frivolous theme, with loads of space for people and their belongings, and a huge array of standard equipment. However, in a break from Volkswagen’s norm, the quality of the plastics feels a bit below par.

The Skoda Karoq does everything that people buy Skodas for – it provides practical transport for a family and gives them plenty of standard equipment. For example, every Karoq has loads of space, the rear seat slides back and forth (allowing you to vary legroom or boot space as required) and on top-spec models it can even be removed. Better still, everything feels like it’ll last a lifetime. Beware though, you might lose it in a car park, because the looks and driving experience are entirely forgettable.

You could say the BMW X1 is a bit of a wallflower when compared with the ‘kapow’ styling of the Peugeot 2008 and Volvo XC40. It’s a similar story inside, where the BMW is filled with classy-feeling materials and lots of standard kit, but all with a slightly austere appearance. The X1 drives well, with sharp steering and handling, and it's comfortable drive.

With the Q2, Audi pretty much nails the crossover brief. It has a neat, clean design and inside there are classy plastics and well-thought-out technology. There’s a decent amount of space, and the front seats are supportive, but it’s a bit of a shame that the upright design of the rear seats makes them uncomfortable for anything other than short trips. On top of that, the rear door openings are quite small, which makes getting a child seat in and out tricky.

The Puma is the crossover for you if you love driving. That’s because it’s based on the underpinnings from the hoot-to-drive Ford Fiesta, just with a taller body and taller suspension. The steering is sharp, the car turns well, and imbues every drive with a feeling of fun. This comes at a small price though, because the ride is a little firmer than you might think ideal. The cabin will be familiar to anyone who owns a Fiesta, but there’s plenty of standard tech and equipment, and decent space up front and in the boot (which features the fiendishly clever MegaBox area).

The Nissan Juke looks like nothing else on the road. It has funky running lights, quirky design, and a decent amount of standard equipment. Where the old Juke was seriously cramped inside, this new one has a great deal more space, to the extent that you can carry two adults in the rear seats (just). The cabin feels quite classy, too. You can choose from a variety of driving modes, but while the Juke feels at its most engaging in Sport, you’d never mistake it for a hot hatch. Or even a lukewarm one.

The Vitara doesn’t look like an crossover based on the underpinnings of a small hatchback sister car like some of cars on this list, instead it looks like a proper off-roader SUV. It’s certainly striking. Good looking? That’s up for debate. Still, it’s light and easy to drive, and the high-up driving position gives you a decent view out. Head out on to a twisty road and you’ll be amazed how much fun it is to drive, too. If there are downsides, the cabin feels a bit on the cheap side, and the infotainment is a long way behind the best in class.

The Skoda Kamiq is just like having someone on your team who just gets on with the task in hand, does that task to the best of their ability and never causes trouble or raises complaints. The interior is a bit dull but it does all the important things well, such as provide decent space for four adults and their stuff, and it surrounds them with classy-feeling plastics and materials. On higher-spec cars, the infotainment system is slick and can be twinned with digital dials. The driving experience is good, too. As for fun? Not so much.