Crossover

To observers of the automotive industry, the term "crossover vehicle" is about as fresh as yesterday’s news. Almost every manufacturer has been making various versions of these so-called dual-purpose vehicles for the better part of a decade now.

But just what is a crossover vehicle? Simply put, it’s the offspring of two completely different types of automobile that captures the benefits of both parent vehicles — the best-of-both-worlds concept, so to speak. Examples of this would be a cross between a car and a minivan (i.e. Mitsubishi Space Wagon and Chevrolet Zafira) or a car and an SUV (i.e. Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CR-V).

From a marketing perspective, these vehicles may be success stories. But from a practical standpoint, they’re hardly the design triumphs that their creators claim them to be. As a car the Mitsubishi Galant is much more elegant and will deliver much better overall performance than the Space Wagon. Conversely, Mitsubishi’s own Space Gear minivan is definitely a more efficient people-hauler than the Space Wagon.

Ditto the car-likeness of the popular CR-V and RAV 4. They’ll never better the Civic and Corolla as far as car-like dynamic attributes are concerned. They’re also veritable wimps when it comes to true off-roading, a task better left to genuine 4x4s.

Still, the prospect of a "multi-tasking" car seems too compelling to resist. Which is why we now see three distinctly different interpretations of the crossover vehicle applied to the local automotive scene.

AUV cum SUV

The three local AUV manufacturers have been trying to out-SUV each other’s top-of-the-line offerings for the last two model generations. However, the crown now firmly rests on Isuzu’s new Crosswind XUV.

Never mind the fact that it’s only got rear-wheel-drive. (The big Expeditions, Suburbans, Pajeros, Patrols and Troopers are all motivated by their rear wheels as well, no thanks to the government’s defective tax ruling on 4x4s.) The range-topping XUV boasts all the requisite SUV trim to make it a bonafide member of the club: macho-looking 15-inch 6-stud alloy wheels with humongous 235/70R15 all-terrain tires, plastic body cladding, two-tone paint treatment, front bumper overrider, foglamps, roof rails, and the ultimate SUV touch, a tailgate-mounted spare tire with body-colored hard shell cover.

Inside, you’ve got leather seats with love-it-or-hate-it color-keyed stitching, all-power features, a keyless entry system, an in-dash CD player/tuner, and an available automatic transmission.

The XUV is also ready to put its money where its mouth is, thanks to a direct-injection turbodiesel engine that puts out the highest torque rating in its class. With retail prices of P809,000 and P849,000 for the manual and automatic transmission variants, the Crosswind XUV will give quite a few RAV 4 buyers second thoughts before plunking down that extra half-million bucks. At least until the 2002 Honda CR-V came alongÖ

SUV cum car cum AUV

The all-new CR-V may be the newest of the bunch but it needs little introduction. The biggest news isÖthe price. With a sticker of P899,000 for the M/T variant (P959,000 for the A/T), price is the defining AUV element in the CR-V portfolio. That and the so-called ten-seat capacity that enabled this new Honda qualify for the ten-seat excise tax exemption.

The ’02 CR-V is still based on the Civic, from where it takes its car-derived genes — and its front-wheel-drive system. It loses the old CR-V’s Real-Time 4WD drivetrain, again, to qualify for the tax break. But as long as you don’t take it off road, you’d never know it’s gone.

Fortunately, much of the features and attributes that made the previous CR-V so popular are still present: the fancy 2-DIN-sized audio system with CD player, the wet-cargo bucket in the rear, the numerous storage bins, the collapsible picnic table and the dual-opening tailgate. And it’s still as feather-light to drive as a car.

Further setting it apart from potential AUV rivals is its array of high-tech features: ABS, EBD (Electronic Brakeforce Distribution), dual airbags, 4-wheel disc brakes, toe-control strut front/double wishbone rear suspension, variable length intake manifold, seatbelt pretensioners, and a catalytic converter.

Its engine - as big as the Accord’s - is even more advanced, thanks to the latest i-VTEC technology that matches Variable Timing Control with Honda’s renowned VTEC program for even better valve timing that results in more power, less fuel consumption and lower exhaust emissions. The new CR-V is probably the best execution of the crossover concept to date.

Car cum SUV

Whereas the CR-V and RAV 4 look like compact SUVs that have passenger car underpinnings, the Subaru Forester resembles a traditional station wagon — albeit a tall one - with an SUV drivetrain. And what a drivetrain!

The Forester possesses what could be the most sophisticated all-wheel-drive hardware (and software) this side of a multi-million-peso Range Rover. Having a three-time World Rally Championship-winning heritage does that. Basically the full-time AWD system’s computer, with the help of a state-of-the-art viscous center differential, continuously varies the amount of torque to each wheel for maximum traction.

The Forester’s homely station wagon looks belie an off-roading prowess that’s second to none. It boasts close to eight inches of ground clearance, just like a genuine 4x4. Its leather 4-spoke Momo steering wheel and deep bucket seats wouldn’t be out of place in a Ferrari. Dual airbags and ABS are just two of its many active and passive safety features while a proliferation of bins and other storage outlets as well as multi-configuration seats in the Forester’s spacious cabin (which accommodates one meter-high objects in the cargo area) enhance its SUV-like versatility.

Of course, no discussion of any Subaru is complete without mentioning its unique horizontally opposed engine, a design it shares with all Porsches. The "flat-four" motor gives the car a low center of gravity which, when matched with AWD, enables Subarus to out-corner most front- or rear-wheel-drive cars, never mind most tippy SUVs. Throw in a slippery road and it’s no contest.

At P1.218M and P1.268M for the manual and automatic models, respectively, the Subaru Forester beautifully fills a niche composed of buyers who can afford a true-blue SUV and desire its off-roading abilities but prefer the driving performance and comfort of a car.