The article was originally produced on September 14, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

SUV Cross Guide

The "high ground clearance four-wheel drive" segment has exploded over the past ten years. The vehicles are no longer obviously intended for terrain where a conventional two-wheel drive car would not make it. The word SUV, which stands for Sport Utility Vehicle, has become synonymous with SUVs, a loved and hated choice of car for many. The driving feeling is of course experienced more positively when you sit a little higher and have an overview. The models have also been accused by environmentalists of being even more environmentally unfriendly. An argument that often fails when you start looking at consumption figures in comparison to older cars, thanks in large part to leaner and more efficient engines which are overlooked due to the size of these cars. CS Life has chosen to divide the SUV and Crossover wagon segment into three groups: 1. Large, medium and compact SUV. 2. Large and medium Crossover as well, 3. Jeep and performance SUV. On the following pages you will find a selection of cars that we have chosen to recommend.

Large SUV – Toyota Land Cruiser

With origins in the military, Toyota's largest SUV model, the Land Cruiser, has become a bestseller. This is a gigantic car with both large external and internal dimensions. Off-road capability is very noticeable with diff locks and low gears and a number of off-road driving programs. External cameras also help when it is difficult to see what the surroundings look like around the car. Something that speaks against it when it becomes really advanced terrain is the car's weight, which is just over 2.5 tonnes. The model that CS Life tested was the luxury model with a diesel V8 engine of 4.5 liters and 286 horses. With a twist of a whopping 650 newton metres, the car never feels sluggish and the power is always at hand. With the rear seats folded up, seven people can fit.

+ Magnificent and luxurious SUV with good off-road characteristics.

- The Land Cruiser's weight is in the barrel when the terrain becomes too advanced.

Between SUVs – Mitsubishi Outlander

The middle class in the SUV segment has just gained a new member and it is the new Mitsubishi Outlander. The model has been around since the early 2000s and is now in its third generation. From the beginning, the model had the peppy turbocharged engine from the brand's Evo rally model. But now the Outlander has become more family-oriented and kinder with two engine options from the start, a two-liter gasoline engine and the one that CS Life drove with a 2.2-liter diesel with 177 horsepower. The model is tipped to be a bestseller in Sweden thanks to a well-measured level of equipment from the start at a reasonable price.

+ Relatively cheap SUV with good equipment level for the normal family. 

- The feeling of quality offered does not feel completely convincing.

Compact SUV – Citroën C4 Aircross

That there is a collaboration between Citroën, Peugeot and Mitsubishi is nothing new and the basis for the C4 Aircross is Mitsubishi's ASX. Soon there will also be a variant with a Peugeot logo called the 4008. The segment for compact SUVs is well filled with competitors such as the VW Tiguan, Nissan Qashqai and Mazda CX-5 which CS Life tested last spring. For extra flexibility, the C4 Aircross is available as a front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive version. Practical and economical for those who know that the driving surface will consist of nothing but city streets. The engine option that CS Life drove was the 150 horsepower diesel, a 1.8 liter machine that can handle most things a normal driver requires. Emissions are 147 grams or 0.56 liters per mile. When car companies share car models such as The C4 Aircross is always a bit of a pain in the end, but thanks to details, Citroën has achieved a better feel for the exterior and interior than for its relative the ASX.

+ Nice Frank's SUV with more flair than its sibling the Mitsubishi ASX.

- The pannorama glass roof gives a lower seat height in the back seat.

Large Crossover – Audi A6 Allroad

It is said that the reason this type of car was born was when BMW did tests with its first version of the X5. Audi had then seen a disguised 5-series model and thought that BMW was working on something similar that later became the A6 Allroad. Volvo was quick to keep up with the trend with its Cross-Country, which with the Allroad became big cash cows for each brand. Now Audi has launched its third generation of the A6 Allroad and it is a luxury cruiser of rank. The version CS Life became familiar with had a final price tag of close to one million kroner. The driving sensation in the A6 Allroad is difficult to match for the competition. 

+ A fantastic long-distance car with all imaginable equipment.

- Expensive!

Between Crossover – Peugeot 508 RXH

This is the first car for Peugeot in the segment which has competitors like Audi A4 Allroad, Subaru Outback to name a few. What separates them is that the 508 RXH has a hybrid line, i.e. two electric motors on the rear wheels that make it four-wheel drive. Together with plastic screen wideners and hasp plates underneath, it gets a more off-road appearance that still fits in with everyday traffic in the inner city. The hybrid drive itself, which can drive the car entirely on electricity or with the internal combustion engine, is silky smooth in the transitions. This happens either at speeds above 50 km/h or when more power is needed. Unfortunately, the robotic gearbox doesn't match up as smoothly.

+ A good and much-needed environmental alternative in the segment

- The French always make it a little more complicated than it should have been.

Jeep – Jeep Wrangler

This quintessential all-terrain vehicle model dates back to World War II and has shared its name with the entire segment. The name Jeep is owned by the Chrysler group and the model was originally a military car produced by the United States under the name Willys. Since then, a large number of versions have been released and CS Life chose to test the classic Jeep Wrangler with two doors. A rather impractical car that also lacks in comfort and road holding but still has a charm beyond many others. Getting up Hammarbybacken was child's play and like driving on a normal road. The Jeep Wrangler is really robust and can handle more difficult off-road conditions than many others in the segment. 

+ Classic, reliable stubborn as a terrier.

- Comfort has its shortcomings in this old type of car.

Performance SUV – Porsche Cayenne GTS

With the development of the SUV segment, performance models have also appeared. With strong engines in lowered chassis, these models have nothing to do off-road but appeal to many buyers. The latest addition comes from Porsche and their SUV model Cayenne, which now has the addition GTS. With a V8 naturally aspirated engine of 420 horses and very good road characteristics thanks to the 24 millimeter lowered chassis, it can match many sports cars even when it starts to turn. When CS Life test drove the Cayenne GTS in Austria earlier this summer, the model offered impressive road characteristics both off and on the track.

+ The power and sound are hard to tire of in this performance SUV that is just as good on the track as it is on the public road.

- Nothing out in the terrain to do despite the possibility of various terrain programs.