Like it or not, crossovers and SUVs are taking over the automotive landscape. Now available in nearly every size imaginable, they’ve penetrated every segment. In short, crossovers and SUVs are no longer what they used to be. Although some are still truck-based, the majority now use car-based platforms. As a result, there’s a crossover or SUV for everyone from the family man/woman and the commuter to the driving enthusiast and off-road warrior. Looking forward, the trend toward these taller, more practical cars will continue and they will keep evolving into more capable machines both on- and off-road.
2017/2018 Mini Countryman (F60)
With the 2016 Mini Clubman as an indication, the second Mini vehicle to balloon in size will be the Countryman. For the second generation (F60 for you BMW/Mini enthusiasts), look for the Countryman to become the largest vehicle in Mini’s lineup. Expect the new family of turbocharged three- and four-cylinders to find its way into the new Countryman along with the new eight-speed automatic gearbox. A plug-in hybrid is also rumored to be part of the second-gen Countryman lineup.
2017 Cadillac XT5
Arriving next year to replace the SRX, the Cadillac XT5 made its North American debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Lighter than the SRX by nearly 300 pounds, the XT5 rides on a new platform with a revised chassis for better driving dynamics. A 310-hp, 3.6-liter V-6 mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission will be the only powertrain offered in the U.S., and the XT5 will be available in FWD or AWD configurations. Inside, the XT5 will feature a new iteration of the CUE infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto capability.
2017 Kia Sportage
On sale starting next year, the 2017 Kia Sportage returns with a new, more polarizing front fascia to distinguish it from the rest of the crossover crowd. Slightly larger than the car it replaces, the new Sportage has a roomier interior with a bigger cargo area thanks to improved packaging that maximizes the cabin space. The Sportage will also continue to offer a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four on the range-topping SX trim, which also comes with a sport-tuned suspension with stiffer shocks for improved handling.
2017 Infiniti QX30
Essentially a lifted version of the Q30 hatchback, the Infiniti QX30 will distinguish itself from the compact car it’s based on with its extra ground clearance and standard AWD system. The same 208-hp turbo-four and seven-speed twin-clutch gearbox found in the Q30, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and GLA will be the only powertrain combination that will be offered in the QX30 for the United States. Since it’s competing in the luxury segment, the QX30 will have an interior swathed in leather and Alcantara while features such as the Around View monitor and adaptive cruise control will be available as optional extras.
2017 Volkswagen Tiguan
Revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt auto show, the second-generation Volkswagen Tiguan, like its Golf sibling, now rides on the MQB platform and has been upgraded with the latest onboard gadgetry. As with the car it replaces, the U.S.-spec 2017 Tiguan should get its motivation from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine routing power through the front or all four wheels. This time, it’ll be the newest version of Volkswagen’s EA888 2.0-liter turbo-four, which is good for around 210 to 220 hp and 207 to 258 lb-ft of torque depending on the application. When it comes to onboard tech, expect the 2017 Tiguan to come with Volkswagen’s latest infotainment system, along with Apple CarPlay and Google Android Auto compatibility. Expect a plug-in hybrid variant called the Tiguan GTE to follow after gas-only models hit the market sometime next year.
Subaru Three-Row SUV
(Subaru Viziv Future Concept shown)
Subaru’s still-nameless three-row SUV replacement for the discontinued Tribeca will slot above the Outback and ride on a new modular platform that’s set to underpin everything from compact cars to large SUVs. Expect the new people-mover to be powered by a revised or all-new boxer engine routing its power through a CVT. All-wheel drive will come standard as with nearly all Subaru models except for the BRZ sports car. The EyeSight suite of active safety features should also be available in the Tribeca replacement to keep you and your family away from harm while on the road.
Scion C-HR
Toyota will jump into the small crossover craze with the production version of the C-HR, which was recently previewed in concept form at the 2015 Frankfurt and Los Angeles auto shows. In the U.S., the wacky baby SUV will be sold under the Scion brand and will retain most of its polarizing exterior design as it transitions into a production model. The C-HR will be the next car to ride on Toyota’s New Global Architecture (TNGA) after the 2016 Prius and Mirai hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. While powertrain options aren’t yet known, a gas motor from Toyota’s new engine family or a version of Hybrid Synergy Drive would be a good bet.
BMW X2
Breaking away from the attack-turtle exterior design that’s graced the X4 and X6 SUVs, BMW’s upcoming X2 will be essentially a lower, sleeker counterpart to the X1. Like its more practical sibling, the X2 will ride on the front-drive-based UKL platform that also underpins the Mini range. Under the hood, expect the same 228-hp, 2.0-liter I-4 found on the X1 to be standard on the X2, along with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD, on the other hand, like in the X1, should be standard across the board for the U.S. market.
2017/2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
Hot on BMW’s trail, Mercedes-Benz is busy jumping into niche segments that its rival from Munich has created. The next page of this chapter is the GLC Coupe, which was previewed by a concept of the same name at this year’s Shanghai auto show. In the same way the X4 is the impractical sibling of the X3, the GLC Coupe is the less sensible relative of the recently launched GLC-Class, which replaces the outgoing GLK. Under the hood, the GLC Coupe should feature a 241-hp, 2.0-liter inline-four and nine-speed automatic transmission as its base powertrain. High-powered AMG variants should follow suit after the more pedestrian variants are released.
2017/2018 Nissan Juke (second generation)
Nissan Gripz Concept shown
At the 2015 Frankfurt auto show, Nissan introduced the Gripz Concept, a wacky small crossover with design elements inspired by Datsun 240Z race cars. Although the concept evokes Z cars of the past, it previews the secon- generation Nissan Juke, which will debut sometime in 2016. It will switch to a new modular platform developed by Renault-Nissan and grow in size slightly. Expect the current turbo-four to remain along with a choice of FWD or AWD configurations. NISMO variants should follow the lower-key versions of the second-generation Juke to inject even more excitement in the growing small-crossover segment.
2016 Buick Envision
On sale in China since 2014, the Buick Envision will finally take the flight across the Pacific Ocean and enter the U.S. market. In terms of size, the five-passenger Envision sits between the pint-sized Encore and the three-row Enclave, putting it in the same category as German rivals such as the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Only one engine will be offered, a 2.0-liter turbo-four rated at 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which will be mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox. Built in GM’s manufacturing plant in Yantai, China, the Envision will be available in FWD or AWD configurations, with the latter utilizing GM’s HiPer Strut front suspension setup to quell torque steer.
2017/2018 Volvo XC60 (second generation)
Volvo Concept XC Coupe shown
Sometime in 2017, the second generation of Volvo’s popular XC60 SUV will arrive, and it will ride on the SPA platform that first saw duty in 2016 XC90. Under the hood, expect the same Drive-E four-cylinder engines with turbos and superchargers in the standard powertrain options. Plug-in hybrids will likely be offered for those looking for more power should the conventional gas engines not be enough. The second-generation XC60 will also likely be the first vehicle in Volvo’s lineup to use a new direct-injected 1.5-liter turbo-three, which was revealed in 2014.
2017 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Long overdue in the North American market, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be one of the first plug-in hybrid crossovers that won’t bear a premium badge (a gas-powered 2016 Outlander shown). On sale in Europe and Japan since 2013, the Outlander PHEV mates a 2.0-liter inline-four with two electric motors and routes power through all four wheels. The U.S. market is expected to get the Outlander PHEV in spring 2016 provided that Mitsubishi doesn’t delay the car’s launch again.
2017 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible
No, a convertible SUV doesn’t have to look like a bloated blob with its roof chopped off (read: Murano CrossCabriolet), and Land Rover has proven you can make an attractive one with the Range Rover Evoque Convertible. Revealed earlier this year at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Evoque Convertible offers style in spades and promises better off-road capability than your typical small SUV. Like its coupe and four-door siblings, the 240-hp, 2.0-liter turbo-four, nine-speed automatic, AWD, and the Terrain Response system will be standard, so you can enjoy going into the wilderness with the top down.
2017 Maserati Levante
Maserati’s first new product since the midsize Ghibli debuted in 2013 will also be its first foray into the crossover market. Called the Levante, the high-riding Italian will likely come with the same powertrains as its sedan sibling, meaning a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 in two states of tune mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Expect AWD to be standard across the board in the Levante and the exterior design to mirror closely that of the Kubang concept that was shown in 2011.
2016 Mazda CX-9
As the last vehicle in Mazda’s lineup to receive the full Skyactiv treatment, the 2016 CX-9 weighs between 198 to 287 pounds lighter than its predecessor. The old Ford-sourced V-6 has also been ditched and replaced with a new 2.5-liter turbo-four that’s good for 310 lb-ft of torque and 227 to 250 hp depending on the type of fuel you use. Featuring seating for up to seven passengers and a new interior with real wood and aluminum accents — and Nappa leather upholstery in the range-topping Signature trim — the CX-9 aims to punch above its weight.
2017 Jaguar F-Pace
Jaguar’s first crossover, the 2017 F-Pace, was revealed at the 2015 Frankfurt auto show and seeks to broaden the automaker’s audience. In the U.S., the F-Pace will be available initially with a 3.0-liter supercharged V-4 in 340- or 380-hp tune or a diesel turbo-four from Jaguar Land Rover’s Ingenium family. Both will be mated exclusively to an eight-speed automatic gearbox. A limited-edition model called the F-Pace First Edition will also be available and will come standard with just about everything in the range-topping F-Pace S except for a key that can be worn as a watch, which costs $400.
Alfa Romeo Midsize SUV
Following the sexy Giulia sports sedan in Alfa Romeo’s revival will be an SUV that will compete against the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. Code-named project 949, Alfa’s SUV will ride on the same rear-drive architecture as the Giulia, called Giorgio, which will also underpin a number of Fiat Chrysler models. Expect the new SUV’s powertrains to mirror those of the Giulia, which include a new 2.0-liter turbo-four with direct-injection and FCA’s MultiAir 2 variable valve actuation system as the entry-level motor.
2018 Ford Expedition
For its next generation, the hulking behemoth known as the Ford Expedition will adopt some exterior styling cues from the current-generation Ford F-150, as evident in recent spy shots. Like the F-150, the Expedition will most likely switch to an aluminum-intensive body construction to make it weigh less and improve its fuel economy so it can meet ever-tightening CAFE standards. Under the hood, expect the redesigned Expedition to retain the current model’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6, which has been tuned for 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.
2018 Jeep Grand Wagoneer
We learned from a recent interview with Jeep’s CEO, Michael Manley, that the Grand Cherokee’s redesign was pushed back so that the brand can focus on the larger Grand Wagoneer. Intended as a three-row contender against luxury entries such as the Audi Q7 and beefy Land Rover SUVs, the Grand Wagoneer will seat up to seven passengers. Expect the Grand Wagoneer to come with Jeep’s renowned off-road prowess and trail-rated performance, which should make it one of the more capable all-terrain luxury offerings once it hits the market.
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Car News Magazine – Source: Motor Trend