2018 Best Small Luxury Crossovers

The 2018 BMW X3 is the luxury crossover to get if you want a good all-around vehicle that can take on a twisty road with gusto. Its exterior is attractive but not extremely interesting, and the interior is more of the same. It’s staid, practical, and sophisticated. Aside from its quality driving dynamics, the model excels in ease of use, top-notch interior materials, and high-quality infotainment system. The only bad thing about the BMW is its lack of standard equipment and the significant rise in price as you add optional equipment.

With a crossover from Porsche, you expect it to handle well and be fast and fun. The Macan certainly delivers in these areas. Add in the attractive and sporty styling to the equation, and you have a quality machine. The Macan gets high marks for its technology, too offering an up to date infotainment system and plenty of available features. The main downside to this model is that its upscale cabin is a little on the smaller side. Its cargo area is also smaller than much of the competition, making this one of the less practical vehicles in this segment.

Acura has a new RDX for the 2019 model year, but it’s out right now. The model is completely new and offers a better driving experience, cabin, and technology than ever before. It’s also the most spacious in its class. The model’s strong engine and all-new, exclusive platform put its handling prowess almost on par with BMW, and its new True Touchpad Interface infotainment system is revolutionary. The new technology is good, but it might take a little getting used to. If you can figure it out, and you like the styling, the RDX might be the perfect ride.

If you’re looking for the most stylish luxury crossover and a silky smooth ride, you should look no further than the Volvo XC60. This model won SUV of the Year at the North American International Auto Show for 2018 for good reason. It’s very well rounded. It’s practical, offers good driving dynamics (though it’s not super sporty), a spacious interior, and modern tech in terms of infotainment and safety. Drivers seeking a sporty experience should look to BMW and Porsche. Also, the infotainment system is a little on the slower side, but otherwise, there’s not much to dislike.

If you want a crossover that has style and the heart and soul of an Italian sports car, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio is an excellent choice. Less utilitarian than basically every other vehicle on this list, the Stelvio is built for style and the most tightly twisted road you can find. All that said, it does bring comfortable seating and a respectably sized, albeit smaller than the competition, cargo space. If you’re willing to pay for Italian styling, love driving, and don’t mind lower than average predicted reliability the Stelvio is a real winner.

Jaguar has a crossover, and it’s almost as elegant as the brand’s sedans and sports cars. The F-Pace crossover offers a comfortable and spacious interior, a robust engine lineup, and looks that will make your neighbors envious. The model has modern technology, but its infotainment system can be a little frustrating to use. Also, it has a harsher, sportier ride than some of the competition. If you want a diesel you can get it, which is a bit of a novelty in this segment. Unfortunately, the diesel engine isn’t nearly as quick as the gasoline ones. That said, it is miserly with fuel, so you have a choice to make: do you want your big cat to go fast or go far?

Some people may say the Audi Q5 is boring to look at, but we find it to be very attractive. It’s a subdued style we like a lot, and that same sensibility translates into the driving characteristics. The Q5 is competent on a curvy road, but not super sporty. The interior is as sleek, sophisticated, and ergonomically correct. The infotainment system has plenty of features and is easy to use. Our biggest complaint with the Q5 is that it seems to have no soul. It’s the opposite of something like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, and for many people, that’s just fine.