Trend Tracking - the compact cross-over

A vehicle segment enjoying growing popularity is the compact cross-over.  It's a trend that is gaining momentum. 

The compact cross-over meets the best middle ground, making effectively the perfect all-rounder car – small enough to drive easily, yet high enough to see out better, with a price low enough to buy this instead of a “normal” car.  Moving up from a sedan or hatch, or moving down from a too-large cross-over/SUV/pick-up/van?

The one that made the biggest splash is the Ford EcoSport.  It is available in 1.5 petrol, 1.0 3-cylinder ecoboost turbo, or 1.5 TDCi diesel.  Priced from R 207 900 to R 261 900, Ford can’t seem to build them fast enough… and for good reason!  The EcoSport has just the right mix of ingredients that make a great car.

Others competing with this ingenious vehicle type include GWM M4 selling at R 184 900 (cheapest in its class) and others from R 200 000 to not far above the R 250 000 price point include Fiat 500L in 1.4 Easy or Lounge spec selling at R 247 900 and R 262 900 respectively – or wait for the Fiat 500X cross-over to arrive in 2015 – Kia Soul (fresh from its introduction in November 2014) starting at R 239 995 for the 1.6 Start manual or R 251 995 for the automatic, or 2.0 Street manual for R 274 995 (other models are available), Nissan Juke ranging from R 233 000 for the 1.6 Acenta to R 262 400 / R 271 900 for the 1.6 Acenta+ manual or CVT automatic (with 1.5dCi and 1.6T in front-wheel or AWD also available), Peugeot 2008 1.6 Allure (only 1 model currently, meaning no engine choice, and manual only) priced at R 277 900, or Renault Duster being a price buster between R 207 900 for 1.6 Expression and R 259 900 for 1.5dCi Dynamique 4WD… each of the above with its own distinct personality.

As more and more people see the sense in buying this kind of vehicle, more and more car companies are adding their version of a compact cross-over segment.  Trending.