What Is Crossover Vehicle?
A crossover, crossover SUV, or crossover utility vehicle is a type of automobile with an increased ride height that is built on unibody chassis construction shared with passenger cars, as opposed to traditional sport utility vehicles, which are built on a body-on-frame chassis construction similar to pickup trucks.
What Is The Best Crossover Vehicle In South Africa?
Popularly known as crossovers, small SUVs strike the perfect balance between the excellent handling of small cars and the utility and high seating position synonymous with large SUVs. This explains why numerous automakers now have several crossover models in their lineup. Which are the best small SUVs in South Africa, and how much do they cost.
What is the best crossover SUV in South Africa today? Here are some top options to consider:
- Peugeot 2008
The Peugeot 2008 is a hugely popular compact crossover SUV manufactured by the French automaker Peugeot. The model was unveiled in 2013 at the Geneva Motor Show and has since sold quite well in global markets. The 2008 model sits below the 3008 in the company’s SUV lineup.
Price: From R454,900
Engine size: 1.2-litre
- Chery Tiggo 4 Pro
The Chery Tiggo is among the most popular models in the Chinese carmaker’s lineup. The Tiggo was unavailable in the South African market for a while before making a huge comeback. It can now be found in more than 30 dealerships across the country.
Price: From R289,900
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- Audi Q3
The Audi Q3 has been among the best-selling small SUVs in South Africa for several years now. The current model has a traverse-mounted, turbocharged engine and an eight-speed automatic gearbox. In addition, this compact SUV also features Audi’s legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive to conquer challenging terrains such as snow and mud.
Price: From R696,100
Engine size: 1.4-litre petrol and 2-litre diesel
- Citroen C5 Aircross
The Citroën C5 Aircross is a small SUV produced by the French automaker Citroen. The model has been in production since 2017 after being unveiled as a concept car at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show. Besides the frugal base petrol and diesel engines, this vehicle also comes in an optional plug-in hybrid variant.
Price: From R604,900
Engine size: 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel
- Ford EcoSport
The Ford EcoSport is among the cheapest crossover SUVs one can purchase in South Africa. The model was originally built in Brazil before its production was expanded to other factories in Russia, Thailand, India, and Romania. The vehicle comes equipped with numerous safety, convenience, and entertainment features.
Price: From R264,783
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- KIA Seltos
The Kia Seltos was first manufactured in 2019 and has since become one of the best-selling small SUVs in South Africa. The model is positioned between the larger KIA Sportage and the smaller KIA Soul. The Seltos comes with a heads-up display as standard and KIA’s renowned built-in air purifier with active air quality monitoring.
Price: From R504,995
Engine size: 1.6-litre
- Haval Jolion
The Haval Jolion is one of the best-selling Chinese compact SUVs in South Africa. The vehicle has been in production since 2020 and comes with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine that outputs 156 brake horsepower. It also features a 7-speed transmission coupled to a four-wheel-drive system.
Price: From R309,900
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- Honda CR-V
This compact crossover SUV has been manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1996. It is built on the company’s Honda Civic platform but with an SUV body design. The CR-V sits between the smaller HR-V and the larger Honda Passport/Pilot.
Price: From R799,900
Engine size: 1.6-litre
- Hyundai Creta
This Hyundai SUV is also known as the Hyundai ix25, depending on the market country and origin country. It is a good-selling subcompact crossover SUV that has been produced by Hyundai since 2014, mainly for emerging markets. It is manufactured in China, Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Russia. The Creta’s frugal 1.5-litre engine has excellent fuel economy figures.
Price: From R510,500
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- Renault Kiger
The Renault Kiger has one of the smallest engines among modern-day compact SUVs. The 1.0-litre engine makes the Kiger one of the most economical crossovers to purchase. The car is designed and manufactured in India and sits below the Renault Duster in the company’s lineup. Buyers can choose between a manual or automatic transmission.
Price: From R204,900
Engine size: 1.0-litre
- Hyundai Venue
This small hyundai SUV is derived from the company’s Accent platform and was its smallest SUV before the launch of the Hyundai Casper. The Venue is extremely light, making it quite economical on fuel while still having commendable load capacity and performance.
Price: From R304,900
Engine size: 1.2-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel
- KIA Sportage
Arguably one of the most popular South Korean vehicles in South Africa, the KIA Sportage is a common sight on Mzansi roads. The Sportage slots between the KIA Niro and Seltos models. This crossover comes with a significantly big 2.0-litre engine.
Price: From R663,995
Engine size: 2.0-litre
- Nissan Magnite
This 999-cc Nissan comes equipped with a manual or automatic transmission to suit every potential buyer’s preference. It is also the smallest SUV produced by Nissan today. The 1.0-litre engine is similar to those of other models in the top crossover SUV list in terms of consumption.
Price: From R256,999
Engine size: 1.0-litre
- Renault Triber
The Renault Triber is marketed as an MPV (Multi-purpose Vehicle) and is among the few compact SUVs to feature three-row seating. This seven-seater vehicle provides the perfect blend of comfort, space, and fuel economy. It also comes equipped with numerous safety and driver assistance features as standard.
Price: From R193,400
Engine size: 1.0-litre
- Suzuki Vitara Brezza
This small Suzuki SUV was unveiled at the 13th Auto Expo in 2016 and marked Suzuki’s fourth attempt at making a crossover SUV, with the other three being the S-Cross, Grand Vitara, and the Gypsy. The car is powered by a 1.5-litre engine capable of developing 103 brake horsepower.
Price: From R313 900
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- Toyota Corolla Cross
This Toyota SUV is among the newest compact SUVs to hit the South African market. Still, it’s hard to do a SUV comparison in South Africa without considering the Toyota Cross. The model was launched in 2020 and placed as a more practical and larger alternative to the hugely popular Toyota C-HR.
Price: From R401,800
Engine size: 1.8-litre
- KIA Sonet
The KIA Sonet is positioned below the KIA Seltos. It is designed and marketed in numerous emerging markets, including Latin American countries, the Middle East, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and South Africa. At less the R300,000, the KIA Sonet is among the most affordable small SUV cars in South Africa.
Price: From R275 995
Engine size: 1.5-litre
- Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester has been part of Subaru’s lineup since 1997. This SUV is renowned for its amazing all-wheel-drive system and Subaru’s world-famous reliability and durability. The Forester is also among the largest compact SUVs, making it ideal for buyers who prioritize interior space.
Price: From R496,000
Engine size: 2.0-litre
- VW T-Cross
The Volkswagen T-Cross is a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen. It shares a platform with the Polo Mk6 and was officially launched in April 2019. The T-Cross is positioned below the T-Roc and alongside the Taigo/Nivus models. It is also the smallest SUV model from Volkswagen.
Price: From R368,900
Engine size: 1.0-litre
- Toyota Urban Cruiser
Which is the best compact SUV in South Africa? The answer is the Toyota Urban Cruiser. The model is relatively new and has not been in the South African market for long. Still, if one was to choose the best small SUV in South Africa, the Urban Cruiser would be up there with the best. This compact SUV features an economical 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and is available in both an automatic and manual transmission.
Price: From R343,300
Engine size: 1.5-litre