Buying guides
Best used crossover cars 2022
What is a crossover car and which are the best ones you can buy? Here’s our no-nonsense guide, including our seven favourite used crossovers.
By Cazoo editorial team
You’ve probably heard the term ‘crossover’ applied to cars, but what does that term really mean?
The truth is that there’s no hard-and-fast definition. However, the general consensus is that a crossover is a car that looks like an SUV, thanks to its high ground clearance and rugged design, but is usually more fuel-efficient and affordable, like a hatchback. Crossovers SUVs tend not to have the off-road capabilities or four-wheel drive of larger SUVs.
There are plenty of examples that blur those boundaries, but in essence, a crossover SUV is more about style than anything else and people love them because they mix a tough image with impressive practicality. Here’s our guide to the best used crossovers you can buy, from the smallest to the largest.
1. Seat Arona
The smallest crossover SUV on the list, the Seat Arona is great value for money, comfortable to drive and fuel-efficient.
With a wealth of different colour and trim options available, there’s an Arona to suit many preferences, from classy and understated to bright and bold, and everything in between. Most models have an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless charging.Just as you’d expect from a crossover, the Arona fits a lot of interior space into a compact package. There’s a remarkable amount of headroom and legroom and a 400-litre boot with two floor levels for extra storage.The Arona is fun to drive, absorbs bumps well and is generally very comfortable, so it could make a great everyday car. You can choose between a number of petrol and diesel engines that balance performance and efficiency, and between manual and automatic gearboxes. An updated model went on sale in 2021 with new engine choices, styling tweaks for a more rugged appearance and a freshened interior with a new 8.25-inch infotainment screen.
2. Citroen C3 Aircross
Citroens tend to have fun, interesting styling and the C3 Aircross is a case in point. It’s an appealing mix of the quirky and futuristic and there’s a huge variety of colour and trim options, so you’ll likely find one that fits your individual tastes.
The C3 Aircross is a great little family car, with an airy interior and raised seating that gives everyone a good view out. The boxy shape means you get a decently large boot and you can fold down the rear seats to make space for bigger items. Even more usefully, the rear seats can slide forwards to make the boot bigger or backwards to give passengers more room.
The C3 gives you a comfortable drive with soft suspension and all the petrol and diesel engines available are impressively smooth and efficient.
3. Renault Captur
Renault used all its knowledge from decades of making family cars to create the Captur, which is one of the most cost-effective and practical crossovers around.
For such a small car, the Captur has a huge amount of legroom and boot space and loads of interior storage, including cubbies and large door bins. There are useful MPV tricks too, such as a sliding back seat that allows you to prioritise passenger or boot space and big storage spaces at the bottom of the dashboard.
Ownership costs are low thanks to the Captur’s competitive prices and small, fuel-efficient engines and the driving experience is a great mix of city-friendly nimbleness and comfort. It’s also inexpensive to insure, which is great if you’re sharing it among family members.
Read our Renault Captur review
4. Hyundai Kona
Few small, affordable crossovers catch the eye like the Hyundai Kona – it really stands out from the crowd with its chunky wheel arches, sleek roofline and angular front grille and headlights.
You get a generous amount of equipment including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system (or a 10.25-inch system on higher trims) as well as Bluetooth, cruise control, rear parking sensors and hill-start assist. The Kona’s sporty, sloping roof means the car has less space in the back than you’d find in some rivals but you still get more interior and boot space than you would with a small hatchback.
The Kona is available with a petrol engine, as a hybrid or as a fully electric model that balances power and performance with a long battery range of 300 miles – definitely worth thinking about if you’re environmentally conscious.
5. Audi Q2
The Audi Q2 is the brand’s smallest in its range of ‘Q’ SUV models and it’s a bit different to the rest. Whereas the others – especially the huge Q7 – have a more conventional square SUV appearance, the Q2 is a bit sportier, with a comparatively low roof line. There are lots of trim and colour choices, with the option of contrasting colours for the roof and door mirrors.
The Q2 has a smart exterior and an interior that has a higher-quality look and feel than in most rivals. You’ll find it a luxurious and comfortable car to sit in thanks to supportive seats and a user-friendly dashboard. Even though the roof is low, the Q2 has been cleverly designed to make sure that even tall passengers still have enough headroom.
While you’ll pay a bit more for the Q2 than you would for most rivals, it’s a lovely car to drive and there are four strong engines to choose from.
6. Kia Niro
If you want your crossover with hybrid power then the Kia Niro is a good place to start. In fact, there are two versions to choose from – the standard hybrid model that you don’t need to charge up and a plug-in hybrid version that costs a bit more but gives you better fuel economy. If you want to go fully electric then the Kia e-Niro is one of the best affordable electric SUVs for family driving.
The Niro is extremely practical with loads of space for passengers and a boot that fits golf clubs and a couple of small suitcases. The windows are large, giving you good visibility over the road and the car is quiet on the move. Kia’s solid reliability record is another plus point, as is its class-leading seven-year warranty that transfers to future owners. Buy a used one and enjoy the benefits of the time left on the warranty.
For the price, the amount of kit you get is impressive. The touchscreen infotainment system has 3D sat nav and TomTom traffic services built in and you also get Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless mobile phone charging. One of the best optional extras is the eight-speaker JBL audio system – a must if you love a summer road trip with carpool karaoke. There should be more than enough tech to keep the family happy.
7. Nissan Qashqai
If we had to name one car responsible for bringing the word ‘crossover’ into the public domain it would have to be the Nissan Qashqai. The first version, launched back in 2006, was a real game-changer that showed that car buyers wanted something with the character and practicality of an SUV, but without the high costs and huge size that traditionally went with them. The latest (third-generation) Qashqai, sold new from 2021, brings the successful formula up to date by ditching diesel engines and introducing the latest tech, so it remains one of the best crossovers you can buy.
Previous generations still have everything you’re likely to want, from a quiet and fairly powerful drive to lots of space for the whole family. The interior is surprisingly good quality for such an affordable car and higher trims come with plush, quilted leather heated seats, a panoramic glass roof and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. There are lots of useful high-tech features available, including a 360-degree camera that gives you a bird’s-eye view of your surroundings, helping you park perfectly every time.
Safety is paramount for parents and all generations of the Qashqai have a full five-star score from safety organisation Euro NCAP. Most models are two-wheel drive but you can find four-wheel drive cars too.Read our Nissan Qashqai review
You’ll find a crossover SUV to suit all tastes and budgets at Cazoo. Simply use the search function to find one you love then buy or finance it online. You can choose to have it delivered to your door, or you can collect it from your nearest Cazoo Customer Centre.
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