Crossover SUVs are the perfect combination of tough and efficient. They’re also able to traverse uneven, snowy roads effortlessly – a quality Norwegian drivers need. Here are the top crossover SUVs for Norway’s terrain:
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
After years of uncertainty, Alfa Romeo finally decided to venture into the world of crossover SUVs. Alfa Romeo has got two things down pat – design, and drivability. It is built on the same platform as the Giulia sedan. It blends luxury appointments, sharp looks, zippy acceleration, and crisp handling. It is lightweight and responsive thanks to a carbon fiber construction and driveshaft.
The Stelvio is a looker whose beauty goes beyond its outer shell. It brings the Italian passion to the wild world of crossovers with an exquisitely crafted cabin and sculpted sheet metal. It bundles a wide array of standard equipment including roof rails, Brembo brakes, a power liftgate, adaptive suspension dampers, dual-zone automatic climate control, xenon headlights, leather upholstery, adjustable drive settings, and ambient interior lighting. Tech features are a 6.5-inch central touchscreen, four USB ports, a rearview camera, smartphone integration, and an eight-speaker stereo system.
The base Alfa Romeo Ti model receives a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline I-4 unit that spits out 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. Moving up to the beastly Quadrifoglio trim you get a Ferrari-derived twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 that churns out 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. The performance-oriented trim comes with stickier tires and stiffer suspension tuning. Both engines link to an eight-speed auto-transmission. Fuel economy numbers are not yet available for the brand-new Stelvio.
2018 Audi Q5
Audi’s best-seller, the Q5 is thoroughly redesigned for the 2018 model year. Despite being larger than its predecessor, it reduces weight by about 200 lbs thanks to the refreshed VW Group’s MLB chassis. The current model also provides more power and fewer trips to the gas pump. It slots between the larger Q7 and compact Q3 and comes with a myriad of standard features, some of which are paid-for options on its competitors.
The 2018 Q5 gets revamped exterior styling cues including LED daytime running lights and standard HID headlights flanking a bold single-frame grille. It also receives sports LED taillights and dynamic rear turn signals around back. The cabin sports automatic xenon headlights, a new digital virtual cockpit, smartphone integration, rotary and touchpad controls, and tri-zone automatic climate control. The Q5 provides advanced safety equipment notably a pre-sense city system, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-jam assist.
A revised turbocharged 2.0-liter TSFI four-cylinder unit pushes out 252 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque on the base Q5. Notably, the said output is 32 hp and 15 lb-ft more than last year’s model. The SQ5 carries a 354 hp, 369 lb-ft turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. Audi’s Quattro AWD system and seven-speed dual-clutch are standard. According to the regulators, the four-cylinder manages 23/27/25 mpg while the high-performance SQ5 returns 19/24/21 mpg city/highway/combined.
2018 BMW X3
Another best-seller, the X3 offers superlative handling, impressive build quality, ample legroom, and an attractive design. It gets an extensive revamp for the new model year to include more appealing exterior aesthetics, better aerodynamics, larger infotainment displays, a wider array of equipment, and a new M Performance model.
As is customary with BMWs, the current X3 comes with more features than most drivers knew they needed. Standard tech includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Gesture Control, three-zone automatic climate control, a new iDrive 6.0 system, the ParkNow service that finds parking spaces, Wi-Fi-hotspot, and smartphone integration.
Additional features comprise a roof spoiler, Air Curtains, sports seats, SensaTec upholstered dashboard, and leather upholstery. The Driving Assistance package adds lane departure warning, Frontal Collision Warning, Active Blind Spot Protection, rear cross-traffic alert, Traffic Jam Assistant, and Active Cruise Control, among others.
The base X3 xDrive30i seeks motivation from a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 good for 248 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The high-performance X3 M40i utilizes a 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 that cranks out 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to all wheels exclusively. Other powertrains including a plug-in hybrid are offered. Experts estimate that the four-cylinder returns 22/29/25 mpg while the inline-6 delivers 20/27/23 mpg city/highway/combined.
2018 Jaguar F-Pace
Jaguar targets drivers with taste and class (traits common in Norway). The F-Pace is curvy where competitors are lumpen and lithe when the rivals are lumbering. It is practical, gorgeous, spacious, laden with goodies, and offers potent powertrains. It is the British automaker’s only crossover and goes into 2018 with minor changes including a third engine option, a new Shell app, and a more loaded active safety suite.
Standard features include adaptive LED headlights, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, Jaguar’s InControl multimedia interface, a head-up display, and a Meridian premium audio system. Drivers also get an 8.0- or 10.2-inch touch-sensitive entertainment screen and a 12.3-inch digital control display in place of knobs.
The F-Pace carries a plethora of safety devices including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assists, blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking, driver condition monitoring, and forward collision warning.
The 2018 F-Pace offers three powertrain options: a 180 hp, 318 lb-ft 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4, a 247 hp, 269 lb-ft 2.0-liter gas turbo-four, and a 340 hp or 380 hp, 332-lb-ft 3.0-liter supercharged V6. The first, second, and third engine delivers 26/33 mpg, 24/27 mpg, and 18/23 mpg city/highway respectively.