Best Crossover Vehicles 2011

Many people find it difficult to differentiate between a crossover and SUV. The crossovers are not a completely different type of cars, however, they incorporate the best features of passenger vehicles and SUVs. The first crossover vehicle introduced in the market was AMC Eagle (1979/80). The crossover market has picked up in recent years with many different models being introduced.

Top Crossover Vehicles for 2011

The best crossover vehicles 2011 can be found in the list presented below. A variety of features including the safest and most affordable ones are described in this article.

Subaru Forester
The Subaru Forester is one of the best crossover vehicles for 2011. This car comes with a 2.5 liter engine that generates a power of 170 hp. The 5-speed manual transmission is available only in the 2.5X and 2.5X Premium trims. The 4-automatic transmission comes in 2.5X Limited, 2.5X Touring, 2.5XT Touring and 2.5XT Premium models. This vehicle has a 4-wheel independent suspension. Following are the different electronic features incorporated in the design of this car: TomTom Navigation System, SIRIUS Satellite radio, 6-speaker audio system, etc. There are also a variety of features included in the design for the purpose of comfort. The 10-way power adjustable driver's seat, one-touch folding rear backs, heated front seats, panoramic moonroof, rear seatbacks with a 60/40-split flat folding, etc are the important features of this car. Safety features of the Subaru Forester are the 4-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), traction control system (TCS), tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDS), etc. Starting price of the Subaru Forester is around $20,500.

2011 Lincoln MKX
This car has a V6, 3.7 liter engine that generates 305 hp power at 280 lb-ft torque. The selectshift automatic transmission of this crossover has 6 levels of speed. This car has models with four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive systems. In case of the four-wheel drive model, fuel economy is 19 mpg (city) and 26 mpg (highways). For the all-wheel drive model, these values are 17 mpg (city) and 23 mpg (highways). The electronic stability enhancement system, 'Advance Trac' comes with the Roll Stability feature. Roll-rate of the vehicle is measured with the vehicle-roll motion sensor of this advanced system. Efficiency of brake utilization is increased with this feature. The MyKey feature of Lincoln MKX is useful for the purpose of safety. One can pre-program the limit for top speed of this vehicle with MyKey. Apart from limiting the top speed at 80 mph, warning audio signals are given at different speeds i.e. 45 mph, 55 mph and 65 mph. This feature also doesn't allow to deactivate the Traction Control System. Starting price of this crossover vehicle is $39, 375.

2011 Acura MDX
The V6, 3.7 liter engine of Acura MDX is made with an aluminum alloy. Power of 300 hp is generated at a torque of 270 lb-ft. The braking system of this crossover is best-in-class and comes with 13 inch ventilated front discs and 13.2 solid rear discs; this braking system delivers equally good performance in icy, wet and dry road conditions. The Acura MDX is therefore, amongst the safest crossover vehicles of 2011. The hydraulic power assist feature of steering system functions differently at different speeds. The advantage of this steering system is that one experiences a firm grip on highways (while driving at high speeds). The steering wheel can be turned easily while in a parking lot (at slow speeds). The tri-zone Automatic Climate Control system of this crossover adds to the comfort of driver and passengers. The warming of one side of the cabin (due to sunrays) in transit is dealt with by the automatic climate control feature; this system is GPS-linked and keeps track of the sun's position; based on the position of sun, set zone temperatures are maintained. The different trims of Acura MDX are priced between $42,500 and $54,000.

2011 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explore is amongst the best crossover vehicles for 2011 in the economy class. Engine of the Ford Explore is a V6 one with 3.5 liter capacity. This engine produces a power of 283 hp at 252 lb-ft torque. The 6-speed automatic transmission system is standard for this crossover while, the 6-speed SelectShift automatic transmission system is optional. 'Intelligent 4WD System' of the Ford Explorer provides traction on different surfaces; wet roads, gravel and even snow on the road can be dealt with effectively by means of this system. With all these features packed in at a relatively lower price than other crossovers, the Ford Explorer is amongst economical vehicles. It is therefore, one of the best affordable crossover SUVs in the market. The starting price of this crossover vehicle is around $28,200.

The crossover vehicles are known to deliver the performance just like SUVs and also incorporate the luxury features of passenger vehicles. There are many different crossover vehicles in the market which pack in a variety of features. Each of these models have their own specialty. One should be able to make an appropriate choice from the best crossovers vehicle for 2011 presented in this article.