Auto repairs can be a costly expense that can unexpectedly affect any individual. Auto service plans will help you avoid and prepare for these unexpected expenses by covering a variety of your vehicle's components.
Back in the old days, a family car was limited to a station wagon or minivan. These days, there are a lot more options for a family-friendly vehicle, including minivans, SUVs, and crossover vehicles. A crossover is a great way to get a new car that combines the space needed for your growing family with fuel efficiency and the drivability you experience in a standard sedan.
A crossover (sometimes called a crossover utility vehicle) combines the chassis and outline of a car with the features and added space of a small SUV. A crossover is built on the platform of a standard sedan, but it contains features like a hatchback, more spacious seating, and higher ground clearance. Crossovers are available in a lot of different seating arrangements and configurations, and while not as large as a full size SUV, they tend to take their styling and design from SUVs. Crossovers also tend to be more fuel-efficient than larger SUVs while still offering space for the whole family, making them an ideal choice for a family vehicle.
Because buying a new car is a big decision, it is best to consider your lifestyle and how you plan to use it in order to make the best choice. For example, do you intend to take your car off-road? Do you need something for hauling kids or for carrying cargo? Do you need a car that will fit a certain image, like if you will be meeting colleagues or customers for work? Do you need a car that has a hatchback for extra cargo room? The crossover market is very diverse and accommodating, and the advantage to buying a crossover is that all of your needs, whatever they may be, can usually be met!
If you need a crossover that will carry a lot of passengers for carpool and transporting children around town, the Acura MDX, Hyundai Santa Fe, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, and Nissan Pathfinder all offer seating for up to seven passengers. If you need a crossover that can get you around in bad weather or on snow covered roads, you may want to consider the Subaru Forester or Crosstrek. The Nissan Pathfinder, GMC Acadia, and GMC Acadia Denali also offer four-wheel drive, making them great options for off-road and bad weather driving.
In general, most crossover vehicles tend to be more fuel efficient than their larger SUV brothers. Some of the top contenders for fuel efficient conventional engine crossovers are the Mazda CX-5 (29 miles per gallon combined), Nissan Juke (29 miles per gallon combined), BMW X1 (28 miles per gallon combined), Nissan Rogue (28 miles per gallon combined), and the Buick Encore (28 miles per gallon combined).
Additionally, a number of manufacturers now offer crossovers as hybrids or electric vehicles. Some examples of this include the Toyota RAV4 EV (fully electric), Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Lexus RX 450h (hybrid), Porsche Cayenne Hybrid, and Audi Q5 Hybrid.
Fortunately, the luxury automakers have not neglected the crossover market. So if you are looking for options that combine the features and performance you expect in a luxury car with the advantages of crossover SUV, there are many options to choose from. For sporty handling, options include the Porsche Macan, the Porsche Cayenne, or the Audi Q5. If you are looking for a vehicle that provides the comfort and handling of a luxury sedan, consider the Lexus RX350, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class or GLK-Class, BMW X3 or X5, Infinity QX50, or Cadillac SRX.
