How to choose a suitable crossover and what to look for when buying

Rating of reliable crossovers in Russia (among budget ones)

The top 6 reliable crossovers in the budget range on the Russian market (up to 1.6 million rubles ) included:

• Hyundai Creta, popular in Russia ;
• compact Nissan Terrano and Renault Duster , built on a single platform;
• modernized Mitsubishi ASX ;
• spacious Nissan Qashqai ;
• Russian Lada X-Ray , which differs from its competitors in its simplified transmission with front drive wheels.

Budget cars have a warranty of 100 thousand km or 36 months, and additional service programs are offered. For example, the Russian AvtoVAZ plant provides vehicle repairs on the road or with delivery to the nearest dealership.

If a malfunction is detected, the owner must contact the service operator and leave a request. The mobile team eliminates minor defects on site (for example, installs new fuses or relays) or offers the owner a car evacuation service (in accordance with the contract).

The table shows prices for basic versions of SUVs (excluding discounts for purchasing under a preferential lending scheme or for returning an old car via trade-in).

Table of models with prices

Mitsubishi ASX

A reliable car with a modernized exterior is offered with front-wheel drive or with the original All Wheel Control , which distributes torque between the axles depending on the quality of the road surface.

The car is available in several color options; wheels can have a diameter of up to 18″.

The basic package includes rain and light sensors that automatically turn on the windshield wiper and lighting system. The manufacturer offers an economical 1.6-liter engine; a version with a 2-liter engine is available.

Crossover Mitsubishi ASX.

Hyundai Creta

A popular car in Russia has a 4x2 or 4x4 . The body structure uses elements made of special high-strength steel AHSS , ensuring the safety of the power cage during collisions.

Front airbags are installed as standard; models with side protective elements and curtains are available. In the engine compartment there are in-line gasoline engines with a variable valve timing system, developing from 121 to 150 hp. With . (working volume 1.6 or 2.0 l ).

Hyundai Creta crossover.

Nissan Terrano

This SUV is positioned as an improved version of the Duster , initially equipped with airbags for the driver and passenger.

The installation of air conditioning and an ABS system with support for exchange rate stabilization is provided (except for the basic version).

Only gasoline engines with 114 or 143 hp are offered. With. , working with a mechanical or hydromechanical transmission. The factory warranty is 100 thousand km or 3 years, but the owner can enjoy support for another 24 months or 50 thousand km .

Crossover Nissan Terrano.

Renault Duster

The best crossovers in terms of price-quality include Renault Duster , which is offered to Russian buyers with both gasoline engines (volume 1.6 and 2.0 liters ) and a flexible diesel engine with a turbocharger and a 6-speed manual transmission .

The Duster has a simple interior made of hard plastic; the base includes only a cushion in the steering wheel.

Air conditioning is installed on some models. On versions with all-wheel drive, the Lock transmission mode is provided, which improves the SUV's cross-country ability in mud or deep snow.

Crossover Renault Duster.

Nissan Qashqai

Starting with this model, the Japanese manufacturer began to use supercharged engines (the base is a 1.2-liter unit), which have increased efficiency and improved performance. At the same time, a modification with a 2.0 liter naturally aspirated engine was retained.

The use of an Xtronic CVT variator (only a manual transmission is available on some models) ensures smooth acceleration.

Installation of heated front seats is provided. An extended package (heated steering wheel rim and rear row of seats) is offered as an option.

Crossover Nissan Qashqai.

Lada X-Ray

The Russian car is equipped with front-wheel drive; versions with a 4x4 transmission are not available. Under the hood are 4-cylinder petrol engines with a volume of 1.6 or 1.8 liters that comply with the Euro 5 standard.

The car has a good price-quality ratio , interior comfort and finishing quality correspond to the budget class. In addition to a mechanical transmission, a robot is offered (the unit is equipped with power clutch drives), which reduces the load on the driver when driving in city traffic jams.

Crossover Lada X-Ray.

The best reliable crossovers (rating for 2021)

The most reliable cars with increased ground clearance include:

• medium-sized cars Skoda Kodiaq and Volkswagen Tiguan , equipped with standardized chassis and engines;
• Nissan X-Trail SUV , equipped with a naturally aspirated gasoline engine and adapted for driving on dirt and forest roads;
• Japanese Honda CR-V, characterized by high reliability and increased comfort;
• KIA Sorento , which has a spacious interior and powerful engines;
• premium Lexus NX and Volvo XC60 , distinguished by high-quality interior trim;
• Japanese Toyota RAV4 with engines up to 2.5 liters and manual or automatic transmission;
• popular KIA Sportage , available in several versions;
• Suzuki Vitara SUV , characterized by its small dimensions and bright body colors.

All manufacturers offer a 100 thousand km warranty, subject to routine maintenance. KIA provides limited service for 5 years or 150 thousand km (applies only to some units).

The Volkswagen concern carries out post-warranty repairs according to the “kulanz” scheme, in which the client pays only the cost of the work, and spare parts are supplied by the manufacturer free of charge. To participate in the program, you must undergo maintenance at a dealer and fill out a service book.

The table shows prices for the starting models of the top 10 crossovers (excluding dealer discounts).

Price table for starting models

Skoda Kodiaq

Cars are offered with a 5-seater interior. Additional folding chairs for 2 passengers are available for a surcharge. The cars have an extended wheelbase, but the rigid suspension and increased ground clearance allow them to drive on dirt roads or puddles up to 300 mm deep.

The body panels are galvanized and can withstand up to 10-12 years of operation without the risk of through corrosion. The cars are equipped with supercharged gasoline or diesel engines of up to 2 liters with a service life of at least 300 thousand km (subject to regular maintenance).

Crossover Skoda Kodiaq.

Volkswagen Tiguan

Reliable 2nd generation Tiguan SUVs are offered to customers from the end of 2021. The cars use gasoline engines with power from 125 to 180 hp. and a 150-horsepower diesel.

All engines are equipped with a variable boost system, which improves efficiency by flattening the torque curve. SUVs are equipped with 6 airbags, an ABS unit with a stability control system. An advantage is the electrically heated front windshield, which quickly removes a layer of frost or ice.

SUV Volkswagen Tiguan.

Nissan X-Trail

The cars are equipped with naturally aspirated gasoline engines of 2 or 2.5 liters, developing power of 144 and 171 hp. With. respectively.

A diesel 130-horsepower version (volume 1.6 liters) with a supercharging system is available. The machines use a 6-speed transmission with manual gear shifting or a CVT.

By default, a 2-zone climate control system, an electrically heated windshield and a package of options that increase driving comfort (for example, a body vibration damping system, a smooth start assistant on a slope) are used.

Crossover Nissan X-Trail.

Honda CR-V

The stylish SUV is available only with an automatic transmission (variator) and an all-wheel drive system. Reliable naturally aspirated engines develop power of 150 or 186 hp. With. (with a volume of 2.0 and 2.4 l), a continuous variable valve timing system i-VTEC is provided.

LED running lights are standard equipment; on some vehicles, LEDs are installed in the headlights. The body goes through a priming cycle in a cataphoresis bath and is covered with a layer of enamel with thermal drying and anti-corrosion treatment.

Crossover Honda CR-V.

KIA Sorento

Introduced in the fall of 2021, the new KIA Sorento has an increased level of passive safety and improved handling . The manufacturer used projection-type headlights with LED elements and aluminum wheels enlarged to 20″.

An electronic selector is used to control the transmission operating modes in the cabin.

The interior is decorated with premium materials with increased wear resistance. There is 2-zone climate control with air supply to the 3rd row of seats, which can be removed for carrying cargo.

KIA Sorento car.

Lexus NX

The premium car comes with a 150-horsepower engine with a displacement of 2.0 liters. By default, a continuously variable variator is used, the torque is transmitted to the front wheels (a modification with all-wheel drive is offered as an option).

For fans of a sporty style, a model is available with a supercharged engine (power 238 hp), and there is a version with a hybrid power plant that provides fuel economy. Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, a radio with a color display and support for Apple Carplay and Android Auto.

Lexus NX crossover.

Toyota RAV4

The new generation RAV4 crossovers received a body with increased interior dimensions and retained 4-cylinder engines of 2 and 2.5 liters. Manual or automatic transmission is available.

The car received head optics with LEDs designed for the entire service life. Standard equipment includes tinted glass in the luggage compartment and rear doors.

All parts have special markings to protect against theft. The production range for 2021 includes a special Style model with expanded equipment.

Toyota RAV4 car.

KIA Sportage

The car is offered in 21 modifications with naturally aspirated engines with a capacity of 150 or 184 hp. With. The reliable SUV is distinguished by rich equipment.

The manufacturer installs a steering wheel with button blocks for the radio. There is a central locking control panel in the key housing.

On expensive models, the Drive Wise driver assistance package is available (lane keeping assistant, frontal collision prevention and blind spot monitoring systems, automatic headlight control unit).

Crossover KIA Sportage.

Volvo XC60

The mid-sized crossover is available with both classic internal combustion engines and a hybrid power plant (the price difference between the models is almost 2 times).

By default, the car is equipped with 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels; the body structure includes reinforcements to protect the interior cage and passengers in collisions.

Volvo traditionally pays additional attention to safety issues: in addition to 6 airbags, there is a seat belt indication for all seats (light and sound) in the cabin.

Volvo XC60 car.

Suzuki Vitara

The crossover with a 5-door monocoque body is designed to carry 5 passengers and work with a trailer weighing up to 1500 kg. High-quality plastic is used to trim the interior; the door panels have elements made of fabric or suede (depending on the configuration).

The standard equipment includes a reliable 1.6 liter naturally aspirated engine (with manual or automatic transmission with 4x2 or 4x4 drive). For the expensive model, a 1.4 liter engine with a compressor is offered, characterized by improved performance and increased requirements for fuel quality.

SUV Suzuki Vitara.

Chery Tiggo 4

When you have to choose an inexpensive crossover with good equipment, you can pay attention to this Chinese. In its maximum configuration, it now costs about 1,300,000 rubles. At the same time, for that kind of money you can get an almost luxury car. But at the same time it is intended only for the city and the highway. Even minor off-road conditions are undesirable for the Chinese, since its ground clearance is low and there is no all-wheel drive. In addition, there is a risk of damage to the already unreliable suspension elements. But for urban conditions the car is almost ideal, as it has small dimensions and low fuel consumption. In addition, there are configurations with a CVT, which is very convenient in traffic jams. True, the continuously variable transmission is not durable. Therefore, even at a relatively low mileage, expensive repairs or replacement may be required. To avoid this, it is recommended to choose versions with manual transmission.

The crossover is available only with gasoline engines, some of which are very powerful. The maximum power of this car is 147 “horses”. The motors are believed to be quite reliable. The car is equipped with many security systems and electronic assistants. It's quite comfortable. The interior is decorated with fairly high-quality materials. And the main disadvantage of the car, in addition to possible poor quality assembly, is the very small trunk. Therefore, the car is unsuitable for transporting goods.

Which crossover to choose in 2021? (short summary)

When choosing a car model, it is necessary to compare crossovers according to the following indicators:

• price and the possibility of receiving a discount;
• cost and frequency of maintenance;
• distance to the nearest dealer;
• interior capacity and engine efficiency;
• additional factors (for example, cross-country ability or ability to work with a trailer).

New

When purchasing a new small SUV for frequent use on unpaved roads, it is recommended to choose a Renault Duster or an analogue of the Nissan Terrano.

Hyundai Creta and Mitsubishi ASX cars are suitable for driving on hard surfaces. The most reliable mid-size SUV sector is occupied by the Volkswagen Tiguan, Nissan X-Trail and Honda CR-V.

For supporters of premium brands, Volvo XC60 . All of the machines reviewed are highly reliable and will not let their owners down, subject to timely routine maintenance.

Used

International research agencies annually publish ratings of reliable crossovers based on reviews from owners and information from official dealers.

The durability of a vehicle is determined by the quality of components and operating conditions. Used crossovers allow you to save money on your purchase or purchase a car with increased dimensions and improved interior trim. At the same time, the risk of unit failure should be taken into account. The cost of repairs may be comparable to the savings achieved.

The most reliable crossovers for Russian roads (with mileage) include Tiguan (1st and 2nd generation), Skoda Yeti, Nissan X-Trail and Toyota Highlander.

The buyer can choose used Renault Duster, KIA Sportage or Hyundai Tucson . Before purchasing, you need to diagnose the car and check the condition of the body.

If the buyer does not have experience, it is recommended to contact companies involved in the selection of used cars. The service will cost 20-40 thousand rubles. and will reduce the risk of buying a car restored after an accident.

Mercedes-Benz GLC

The German model could have been higher in this rating if not for its overly sensitive steering. Such characteristics are not typical for family crossovers, which are regularly used for driving long distances. In addition, the basic version of the GLC has a fairly stiff suspension. In this regard, in order for a German crossover to provide driving pleasure, you have to overpay a lot for the introduction of air suspension.