A crossover—or crossover SUV, as they are sometimes called—is a lighter sport utility vehicle which is usually built on a frame that was designed for a car. The layout makes them faster and more stylish but they're not as great if you want to go off-roading!

The SUV market in the States is huge, and they are expected to account for 50% of all auto sales by 2020. In turn, around half of all SUV sales in the US are actually crossovers.

It is thought that the first crossover SUV was the AMC Eagle, which was launched by the now-defunct American Motors Corporation in 1979. Described at the time as a compact four-wheel-drive vehicle, there are elements of its engineering and design that would look very familiar to modern drivers of crossover SUVs.

Some think that the history of the crossover goes back even further in time, however, to the 1948 Willys-Overland Jeepster. Willys-Overland was the company which made the first US jeeps, designed especially for rough and ready off-roading, but the Jeepster was a lightweight convertible version of their famous innovation and a way for the company to try and make a dent on the growing passenger vehicle market at that time.

Not all modern crossovers have proven successful, though. While some are worth every dollar, there are plenty of other models which should be avoided like the plague.

25 Worth It: Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is one of those crossovers that is worth every dollar, new or secondhand, and is actually a compact crossover SUV, not much bigger in length or width than a decent-sized family car, just a little taller. This makes this vehicle much more suitable for urban dwellers, many of whom find SUVs too large for their garages or too difficult to get parked in city streets. Japanese auto giant Honda has been making the CR-V since 1995, and there was even a hybrid model launched in 2017 to counter all those bad news stories about SUVs being gas-guzzlers.

24 Worth It: Hyundai Kona

SUVs may have started out as a Detroit creation, but when it comes to the crossover SUVs, it is manufacturers from Japan and South Korea that seem to have taken the lead. Hyundai is one of those auto companies which has embraced the concept of the crossover SUV, launching the Hyundai Kona in 2017. The Kona is a subcompact crossover, even smaller than the Honda CR-V, and barely bigger than the largest saloons and sedans. A battery-powered electric version of the Kona followed in 2018, and the most basic model for 2019 can be picked up for less than $20,000.

23 Worth It: Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe doesn’t sound like a vehicle from South Korea. In fact, the name is a clue as to the market which Hyundai was targeting when it launched this mid-size crossover SUV in 2000. The vehicle did just what it was supposed to on the domestic market, doing a lot to establish Hyundai as a reputable auto manufacturer. At times, the company even had difficulty keeping up with worldwide demand for the popular crossover SUV! Keeping up with the trend of environmentally-friendly SUVs, Hyundai has a hybrid Santa Fe already on sale and a fully electrified model on the way.

22 Worth It: Kia Sorento

Also hailing from South Korea, the Kia Sorento is another successful mid-size crossover that is worth every dollar. The Sorento didn’t start out life as a crossover, though. When it was launched in 2002, it was a compact SUV and was only relaunched as a crossover in 2009. The Kia Sorento scores highly when it comes to safety, making it a popular choice with families, and has enjoyed steady annual sales of around 100,000 every year since its relaunch as a crossover SUV. Best of all, motorists can pick up a brand new Kia Sorento model from a starting price of just $25,000.

21 Worth It: Mazda CX-9

Mazda may be better known for their stylish and sporty roadsters, but they have also produced some impressive crossover SUVs in their time. The first Mazda CX-9, a mid-size crossover SUV, rolled off the production line in 2006 and subsequent models have gone on to win some of the industry’s most significant awards. The model was even a finalist in the World Car of the Year award in 2017. The Mazda CX-9 may be a success in the States, but it isn’t sold at all on the domestic market in Japan, as it exceeds dimension regulations imposed by the Japanese government.

20 Worth It: Subaru Ascent

Also hailing from Japan, the Subaru Ascent is another crossover SUV that is well worth the financial investment. It is also one of the newest crossover SUVs on this list, having only made its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in 2017, before becoming available to consumers in mid-2018. Perfect for large families, with its roomy cabin and three rows of seating, the Subaru Ascent is nevertheless an affordable vehicle, with the most basic model costing just $32,000—and there are plenty of trim options if you want your crossover SUV to be upgraded to a more opulent and luxurious option.

19 Worth It: Toyota Highlander

From a new kid on the block to a much more established name on the crossover SUV market; the Toyota Highlander. The Highlander was one of the first car-based, mid-size crossover SUVs, having been built on the same platform as the Toyota Camry sedan. This is an upscale choice when it comes to the crossover SUV market, thanks to its well-appointed cabin, complete with three rows of seating with enough for seven people and enough USB ports for five separate devices, and the option of an efficient V6 engine which gets 28 miles to the gallon on the highway.

18 Worth It: Buick Enclave

Before anyone starts to think that the only decent crossover SUVs are from Japan, or occasionally from South Korea, up steps the Buick Enclave to fly the flag for domestic auto companies. Available to consumers from 2008, the Enclave was initially a concept car at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show, but Buick soon realized that this mid-size crossover SUV could be a big seller, and the vehicle has consistently sold around 50,000 models in every year since its launch. The Enclave is a more luxurious crossover SUV than some of the other options on this list, which accounts for its $40,000 price tag, but it is still worth every dollar.

17 Worth It: Kia Sportage

Like the Sorento, the Kia Sportage started out as a regular compact SUV, being redesigned and relaunched as a compact crossover SUV in 2004, 12 years after the vehicle was first sold. Early models won plaudits for reliability, meaning that secondhand models could potentially offer motorists value for money, while the 2017 model won the prestigious Red Dot award for car design. Sales of the Sportage suffered a dip in the early 2010s, but newer models are proving increasingly popular with consumers, especially as the crossover SUV has a starting price of just over $20,000 for the most basic model.

16 Worth It: Subaru Forester

If the Subaru Forester looks vaguely familiar, that could be because the little-known compact crossover SUV shares a platform with the much more popular Subaru Impreza. The Forester, a front-engine, four-wheel-drive vehicle, has won a slew of awards since the early noughties, and later models boast a new feature called X Mode, which allows it to manage some off-road conditions—though drivers still wouldn’t want to take this vehicle too far off the beaten track, as even a compact crossover in X-Mode will struggle with rough terrain. With a starting price of $23,000, however, there is no denying that this is a crossover bargain.

15 Worth It: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota has led the way in hybrid technology, thanks to its popular and best-selling Prius car, so it won’t come as much of a surprise to learn that the company also spotted the opportunity in the hybrid crossover SUV market earlier than most of their competitors, launching a greener version of the Toyota Highlander all the way back in 2005. Environmentally-conscious drivers shopping on a budget should be able to find plenty of secondhand Highlander Hybrids out there, which are just as comfortable as their gas-powered cousin, but which also manage to boast an impressive 29 miles per gallon in the city.

14 Worth It: Mazda CX-5

Building hybrid versions of crossover SUVs isn’t the only way to make these vehicles more environmentally friendly. The Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover SUV that was the very first Mazda ever to employ the company’s proprietary SkyActiv Technology, a collection of features from lighter frames to efficient engines and transmission systems that aim to make the vehicle a little bit greener. The CX-5 was launched by Mazda in 2012, and its US sales have been steadily increasing ever since, thanks to its energy-efficient elements, its impressive design features, inside and out, and its relatively low $24,000 price tag for the most basic model on the market.

13 Worth It: Ford Escape

Back to the US for the final crossover SUV that is worth every dollar, the Ford Escape. Launched in 2001, this compact crossover was developed as part of a joint venture with Mazda, who sells the finished version as the Mazda Tribute on their domestic market. Sales of the Ford Escape have continued to increase and in 2014, the company sold over 300,000 models in the US alone. This crossover SUV may have been co-built with a foreign auto company, but it is undoubtedly a solid vehicle with a starting price of under $30,000 for the basic model.

12 Avoid: Chevy Equinox

There are some excellent crossover SUVs on the market that are great value for money, there are just as many that don’t quite hit the spot as far as consumers are concerned. The Chevy Equinox is one of those crossover SUVs which, despite sales success, has never quite impressed motoring experts. Starting life as a mid-size crossover in 2004, the Chevy Equinox is now a compact crossover, though it comes with very few features for its $24,000 price tag, and if you want any decent extras, you can expect to pay well over $30,000 for a new model.

11 Avoid: Dodge Durango

Newer models of the Dodge Durango mid-size crossover SUV are better value for money than those which were built and sold between 2008 and 2010, when the second generation vehicle was being phased out in preparation for the new innovations contained within the third-generation model. Sales of the Dodge Durango plummeted to as low as just 572 units in 2010, meaning second-hand vehicles from this year are definitely something of a collector’s item! Although improvements have been made and sales have recovered, there is still little to recommend the Durango when compared to many of the imports from Japan and South Korea.

10 Avoid: Dodge Journey

Sadly for Dodge, once one of Detroit’s most successful car manufacturers, another of their crossover SUVs makes it onto the list of vehicles that consumers and motoring experts alike have turned their back on. The Dodge Journey, a mid-size crossover SUV, has been on sale in the States since 2009, and in Europe (as the rebadged Fiat Fremont) since 2011. Annual sales of the vehicle in the US had hovered around the 100,000 mark but have fallen to 80,000 in the last few years as newer crossover SUVs have surpassed the Journey. The basic model may be cheap at $22,000, but consumers don’t get a lot of bang for their buck with this Dodge.

9 Avoid: Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer has been around for a long time (since 1991, to be precise) when it was launched as a mid-size SUV before it was relaunched as a mid-size crossover in 2011. While a special version of the Ford Explorer was developed for law enforcement, the regular model has only seen sales start to pick up in the last couple of years. Older Ford Explorers are clearly not a great option for consumers in the market for a secondhand crossover SUV. In fact, the Explorer is something of a stop-gap measure for Ford, which needed a vehicle for the mid-size crossover market ahead of the relaunch of the iconic Ford Bronco in 2020.

8 Avoid: GMC Acadia

While there are several similarities between the Buick Enclave and the GMC Acadia (not the least of which is the fact that the two mid-size crossover SUVs are built on the same GM Lambda platform) the Buick model is definitely better value for money, boasting a lot more features than the GMC Acadia. First sold in 2007, the Acadia has struggled to break the 100,000 barrier when it comes to annual sales, and it’s starting price of $29,000 for the most basic model is a little on the high side for what is a relatively simple vehicle, both under the hood and inside the cabin.

7 Avoid: Jeep Cherokee

Once upon a time, a jeep was just a kind of vehicle, initially used by the military, until companies spotted the commercial appeal of these rough-and-ready, four-wheel-drive trucks. Now, the company that bears the Jeep name actually makes other vehicles, including the compact-crossover Jeep Cherokee, which started life as a full-size SUV in 1974 and has been slowly shrinking ever since. Consumers buying a Jeep-branded vehicle are buying into the image of these vehicles, and the Jeep Cherokee doesn’t really live up to the tough standards set by the earliest military jeeps, which could cope with any terrain.

6 Avoid: Nissan Pathfinder

Not all of the crossover SUVs out of Japan are resounding successes, despite what you might think from the list of vehicles that are worth every dollar. Unlike some of their competitors, Nissan has never really got the hang of the crossover, and many of its attempts to corner a slice of the market for itself have ended in failure. The Nissan Pathfinder has been built as a mid-size crossover SUV since 2012, and though sales increased, the starting price of over $30,000 for the basic model puts this vehicle well and truly out of the financial reach of many motorists.