2009 Luxury Crossover

crossover, CUV

​        With an increase in crossover sales, it was a wonder when the luxury marks were going to get involved.  Well it seems that 2008 was the year to mark the take off of luxury crossovers.  Although there are many more to come within the next year, AutoLooks felt it would be fitting to talk about this new and emerging market.  

​The luxury crossover market first kicked off when Infiniti decided to make a luxury version of its Murano CUV.  And since then many others have been getting on board.  With the likes of Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz and even Lancia getting on board.  Now within the next 24 months we expect to see even more models coming out, from many other luxury marks.

            Now considering that a crossover is a mixture of two or more vehicles, its no wonder why this years A+ winner, would be made out sports car and a wagon.  So for this year we have to name the second generation, and the one that started it all the 2009 Infiniti FX50, the AutoLooks A+ winners.  Although the name has changed from FX45 to FX50, this is essentially the same vehicle. Still built on the same platform as before, the new FX50 tends to lean more towards an off road sports car, rather than a family crossover.  From its aggressive headlamps, to its large wheels, the FX50 really sets the standards high.  The only downfall is that its front grille is still way too big.  This is one feature that everyone thought would be fixed for the second generation.  I guess we’ll have to wait until generation three.
            So with every winner comes one loser. And this was not an easy task, considering all of the contenders had the soul of a sports car.  But one in particular had more of a wagon like feel to it.  And that is why for this year the Rusty will have to go to the 2009 Infiniti FX35. Although it seems odd that the winner of this category also holds the bottom spot too, it is not a complete and total loss. The major downfall to the FX35 is that it seems that it was rushed to the market too quickly.  Even though it still seems somewhat sporty, the front end tends to throw the whole rest off.  With odd looking headlights, to an oversized front bumper, the entire front is not all there.  The biggest downfall to this model is the skirt kit.  This black trim seems to make the vehicle appear more like a wagon rather than CUV, and it adds a bit of cheapness to the underbody.

​Everett J.

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Luxury Crossover Contenders:
 
A+         2009 Infiniti   FX50
2nd       2009 BMW     X6
3rd        2009 Lancia   Delta
Rusty    2009 Infiniti  EX35