2009 Crossovers

2009 Crossover design ratings

​      With a big switch from SUV’s to more fuel efficient car based vehicles, its no wonder why there is now a scramble at companies to create the next crossover.  This market has been around since the 1950’s with the introduction of the Ford Ranchero.  Since then we have never really seen many other half breed 

​vehicles, well until recently.  With the introduction of the Chrysler Pacifica a few years ago, most companies are now seeing the benefit of large car based, people movers.  Now auto giants like Toyota and GM are paving the way for a new breed of CUV’s (Crossover Utility Vehicle – GMC Acadia) and Tall Wagons (Dodge Journey).  Some of these cars seem more like cars and others seem more like trucks, but when considered, they’re all the same segment of the market.  Well at least for this year.

       When making a decision about who has the best looking crossover, you first have to look at which market they are going after.  Is this model after sedan/wagon sales, or is it after SUV/Minivan sales.  And for this we find that the winner of the A+ award would go to a vehicle that blends all of these segments together.  So for this year we name the 2009 Dodge Journey the AutoLooks A+ winner.  With its tall and rugged stance, to its sleek automotive lines, the Journey really takes the win for the best of all worlds.  Even though it has many great features, it still would be good if Dodge scrapped the chrome grille in favour of a more stationary painted grille, like the one on the Charger and Viper.
            And with that we come to the bottom of the barrel, the Rusty crossover of the year.  This model, although very similar to the Journey, seems to look more like a wagon with a horrible lift kit.  Sort of like seeing a Chevette on a Blazer frame.  So for this year we name the 2008 Ford Territory the Rusty AutoLooks Crossover of the year.  This model is way too bland for anyone to really like, even with a turbo under the hood.  The shape is very similar to many others in the market and the Territory looks like it could tip over at any time.  And who is Ford kidding, adding a skid plate to a wagon.  I don’t care where Aussie’s travel with their wagons, I don’t think they go out in the sand dunes in this vehicle.

Everett J.

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Crossover Contenders:
 
A+         2009 Dodge   Journey
2nd       2009 Ford       Edge Sport
3rd        2009 Honda   Element SC
4th        2009 Ford      Flex
5th        2009 Toyota   iSt
6th        2009 Nissan   Murano
Rusty    2008 Ford      Territory