By the end of the decade, more than one in four new cars will arrive in Europe SUV his. Experts predict that. Correspondingly consistently the automakers push suitable models on the market. The number of new releases expected by the fall is double-digit. An overview.
Alfa Romeo can no longer ignore the SUV trend. From now on, the Italians compete against the Jaguar F-Pace, BMW X3 and Audi Q5 with the sporty Stelvio. The first crossover of the Fiat subsidiary is optically and technically based on the mid-range sedan Giulia. And their sporty aspirations are also taken over: For the drive, the Italians provide engines beyond 200 hp. The top model Quadrofoglio Verde even achieves 375 kW / 510 hp thanks to the six-cylinder turbo. The prices for the Italo SUV start at 47.500 euros.
Especially in Europe profitable segment of compact SUV has jeep for a long time lie fallow. This changes in the autumn with the Compass, which competes with 4,40 meters in length against VW Tiguan and Co., but also against larger mini-SUV like the Opel Mokka. The technology shares the all-wheel drive with the smaller Jeep Renegade and is like this most segment competitors in off-road excursions in the bag. But it is also equipped for everyday life on the city and highway thanks to modern infotainment and homely interior. Prices are likely to start at around 25.000 Euro.
The British SUV brand expands the Range Rover family. The new mid-size SUV Velar is intended to fill the gap between the compact Evoque and the half a meter longer Range Rover Sport, also falls significantly flatter and more visually dynamic than its relatives. The showpiece, however, is the interior with a new operating system, in which a touch-sensitive display eliminates almost all classic keys. The range of engines extends to a 278 kW / 380 PS strong V6 gasoline engine. The market launch of the fourth model in the lifestyle-oriented family line of the English will take place at the end of July at prices starting at around 57.000 Euro.
Not completely new, but improved in large parts but the second generation of the Mazda CX-5. The compact SUV remains externally largely faithful and also sticks to platform and engine range. Above all, details have been improved. Thus, the interior now looks significantly more valuable, for a sportier appearance, the front and rear to provide an inch wider track, also the center of gravity was slightly lowered. Among the most important technical changes is the already known from the Mazda6 G-Vectoring-Control. The system takes the torque back very short during fast cornering, which puts more load on the front wheels and keeps the car better in the lane. Prices are likely to change little and start at around 25.000 Euro. It starts at the end of March.
Mitsubishi closes the gap with the Eclipse Cross in the fall between the small compact SUV ASX and the middle-class crossover Outlander. The Tiguan challenger relies on a sporty design with slight coupe bonds and mighty air vents in the chrome-trimmed front. In contrast, the interior is in a tidy state thanks to touchpad operation. As a drive, there are initially two conventional burners, including a 1,5-liter turbo gasoline engine. Four-wheel technology is at least optional. Prices are likely to start in the range of 22.000 Euro.
How popular SUV are, is also evident in Opel. Thus, the Rüsselsheim replace their classic Vans Meriva and Zafira in the medium term by two SUV models, which were developed jointly with the French PSA Group. The first to start in summer is the Crossland X, which places itself as a classic mini-SUV below the slightly larger Mocha X. Unlike this, he waives optional four-wheel drive. The Crossland shares its platform and engines with the end of the year expected competitors Peugeot 2008 and Citroen C-Cross. The base engine is an 1,2-liter petrol engine with 60 kW / 81 PS, prices start at 16.850 Euro.
After the successful cooperation with Nissan at the Qashqai offshoot Kadjar, Renault now also uses a class higher the crossover competence of its alliance partner. Based on the Nissan X-Trail, the French bring the second generation of the middle-class SUV Koleos on the market. However, the relatives can hardly be seen, the 4,67 meter long five-door model is based on the design of the brand flagship Talisman and also shows the typical Renault style with the large touchscreen in the center console. The mid-size SUV is powered by two gasoline or diesel units with up to 127 kW / 172 PS, all-wheel drive is optional. The prices for up to seven-seater Koleos should start in the spring at around 25.000 Euro.
The compact SUV XV should appeal to subaru in the first generation, new customer groups beyond the committed brand fans. The new edition makes that even more consistent with sleek body. As before, the small Japanese manufacturer also relies on the new XV on a boxer engine, which has been extensively modernized and will bring in the future more power with less consumption in line. The continuously variable CVT transmission has also been redesigned, and a new ratio should have a positive effect on acceleration and economy. Four-wheel drive is, as usual with Subaru, series. The market launch will take place in autumn at prices of around 20.000 Euro.
Volvo is consistently pushing ahead with the renewal of its model range. Having recently launched the 90er range in the past two years, 2017 is starting to renovate the smaller 60er models. The summer starts with the mid-size SUV XC60, which is designed in a brand new, elegant design style. For the drive, there are only four-cylinder engines, both diesel and gasoline. A hybrid model will probably come. Traditionally, much emphasis is placed on safety: The Road Edge Detection protects against road congestion, the City Safety System helps to prevent rear-end collisions with other vehicles and collisions with pedestrians and wildlife and, for the first time, a steering assistant intervenes in the event of impending head-on collisions can dodge independently. All this has its price: at least 48.050 Euro.
Market leader VW Tiguan with 4,50 meters in length is already quite a stately car. If you need even more space, from September you can choose the almost 22 centimeters stretched long version "Allspace". The offers more knee room in the rear and optionally an extra large luggage compartment (up to 1.920 liters) or space for two additional passengers. The find on two fold-down seats in the trunk space, which make the XL Tiguan seven-seater. However, the additional stalls in the 30.000 Euro expensive SUV must be paid extra. When driving the well-filled VW shelf offers next to the 1,4 liter small entry-level gasoline engine with 110 kW / 150 PS the well-known 2,0-liter engines up to the 176 kW / 240 PS strong top diesel. All-wheel drive and dual-clutch transmissions need to be ordered and paid extra only for the base engines, otherwise they are standard.
The SUV year is far from over in autumn. At the IAA in Frankfurt, further models will debut, including luxury models Porsche Cayenne and VW Touareg, bestsellers such as Skoda Yeti and Dacia Duster, or newcomers such as Citroen C3 Aircross and BMW X2. The premium SUV DS7 Crossback has also been announced for the turn of the year. (Holger Holzer / SP-X)