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Are crossovers really that bad to drive?

While the general opinion among car enthusiasts is that the world could do without crossovers i.e. cars which can’t decide what they are: a brash hatchback or a soft off-roader, we personally think there may be some merit to this trend. In this present society of Instagram driven narcissism (a reasonably acceptable thing by the way), it is only fair that this subtle vanity is also projected onto our daily drives. And crossovers do this better than any other cars.
Porsche Macan GTS
Credits: Automobile Magazine
Crossovers have some clear advantages over conventional bodystyles: they’re usually more spacious, the high set driving position is easier to sit in and look out of, and the seemingly big size means you’re in with a better shot in the usual daily traffic skirmishes. But they can be cumbersome and heavier than they need to be. Usually at the expense of efficiency. Most of them are also dynamically hampered, given how much higher they sit off the ground. The vast expanses of sheet metal mean that, as hard as designers may try, a lot of them seem to look anodyne at best. All of this is beside the fact that most of these ‘SUVs’ have little to no off road ability.
However, things seem to be moving in the right direction, the new Porsche Macan, Jaguar F-pace and the Bentley Bentayga all seem to be very competent on the road. The quicker ones have a hot hatch like quality to them and can generally be classified are good to drive (especially by Indian standards). And given that most people who buy these cars aren’t aficionados, these cars’ ability to not lose composure over mid-corner bumps is fairly irrelevant. Also, this is not taking into account more traditional 4X4s like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Range Rover, which in their high powered iterations, are brutal in terms of straight line speed.
The upcoming wave of electrification will further reduce the gap between crossovers and other classes of cars. The advantages of an electric drivetrain better suit these cars (quicker acceleration, lower centre of gravity) and carmakers have been quick to harness this. The upcoming Jaguar I-pace is a prime example. While crossovers right now are still not up there in terms of dynamic ability, the rapid tech developments being seen in cars right now will almost certainly mean that very soon a crossover will not seem a compromise. And given that the general public is fond of these cars, it might open a way for people to own a good car which also makes them feel good about themselves.

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