Best MPV/Crossover (Final VOTE for Best Full-Size Car)

[YSSMAN]

The results are in despite some awkward voting procedures (I apologize for hitting the wrong button). Here are the final choices:

- Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8)
- Chrysler 300
- Citroen C6
- Volvo S80
- Dodge Charger

Vote, but focus more on the next category:

BEST MPV/CROSSOVER​

Given that the MPV is one of the more popular vehicle options in Europe, I figured this is worth a go. However, knowing that the MPV and Minivan were at one time related, but now the minivan has pretty much passed here in the US, it has been the duty of the Crossover to replace it in most of the model lineups here in the US.

For those who do not know what an MPV or Crossover is:

A minivan, multi-purpose vehicle, people-carrier, people-mover or multi-utility vehicle is a type of automobile similar in shape to a van that is designed for personal use and has between four and nine seats. Minivans are taller than a sedan, hatchback or a station wagon, and are designed for maximum interior room.

So this would include everything from the Ford C-Max and Mazda5 up to the Toyota Sienna and Chrysler Town and Country.

A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction.

So they're a bit bigger than the MPV, but perform similar tasks. Models on the small end would include vehicles like the Honda CR-V and Toyota Highlander, up to vehicles like the Volvo XC90 and Cadillac SRX.

For this test, we're going to set the price limits at the following:

- £35,000
- €40,000
- $40,000

Depending on how well the nominations go, I may accept doubles from people for one MPV and one Crossover.

---

I'll make my nomination in a few moments...

 

[JCE]

Man...it would be too obvious for me to pick the G8. But I have to...I just have to.

I nominate the Ford Edge for the Crossover/MPV poll.

Something completely new from Ford. Its brilliant inside and out, there is not one thing on this vehicle besides the chome grille that I do not like--no no--love. Based on the Mazda6/Fusion platform, it provides surprisingly good handling for a vehicle this size. Acceleration is actually quite decent as well. And, the interior is pretty good for an American car. I must comment on the comfort--it is so quite and comfy you could easily take long trips and never get tired. has the New 3.5L D35 Duratect engine producing 265bhp + 250lb.ft. of torque, which is a surprise from Ford as it is a V6 and not a V8 making this kind of power. Smooth engine, responsive, and as a bonus it has one killer moonroof (aka Vista Roof). Chrome grille does grow on you, it just takes time. I'd prefer to have it painted the same color as the body.

My approval rating is an even 100%. Ford finally got something right.

 

[ND4SPD]

My vote goes to the Mazda CX-9. It looks stunning, definately one of the better looking vehicles in its category. The interior is beautiful, roomy and it also happens to comfortably seat 7 people unlike the Ford Edge, but like the Ford edge it shares the same powerful 3.5L Duratech that lets this vehicle move with authority. I honestly don't like SUV's one bit, but if I had to choose an SUV to suit my tastes, this would be number 1 on my list.

 

[Tornado]

I think the Cadillac SRX, and all those other things that are really just wagons (Subaru Forester, Ford Freestyle, etc.) should be banned on sheer principle, because it is so obviously a station wagon.
Anyways I nominate the Dodge Caravan; because, despite being 6 years old and about to recede into doom starting next year when it is redesigned, it still manages to be in the top 3...Wait a minute. No! No Caravan. Stop!

Skoda Roomster. 5 people in absurd comfort, out the door for only 25,000 Euros fully loaded. Starts in at less than a Golf does, at only around 16,000 Euros.
It also looks cool. And it is called the Roomster. Roomster. Roomster...Its even fun to say. I want one, and I want VW to bring it here. Yesterday.

 

[YSSMAN]

Lets see, crossovers crossovers...

Okay, I got it! The 2008 Buick Enclave CXL AWD!

Buick really hit the nail on the head with this one. For about $36K, you get a pretty large crossover (for the segment) that gets nearly 30 MPG on the highway, a six-speed automatic connected to a silky-smooth 3.6L V6, AWD, a quieter-than-Lexus interior, a stunning exterior, and the fact that you are buying from the boys in Lansing, Michigan (my neighbors) makes it that much sweeter...

The only thing that will make the Enclave better will be the presumed V8 option for 2009, and depending on which version they choose, it all adds up to one sweet crossover.

And for the MPV?

Its the Citroën C4 Picasso!

...Quirks alive! I love this thing! The French are so good at making cars seem so odd and yet so loveable, and this certainly is one of them. I'm a fairly modest fan of the C4 to begin with, so leading me here isn't hard, but this just rocks. I love the look inside and out, I hear the performance isn't half bad, and the prices don't seem too shabby either.

The only thing that would ever stop me from buying a Picasso would probably be a C-Max, but that is for someone else to nominate...

 

[Famine]

Mazda5 - car looks, car driving, Mazda reliability, 5-star safety, but 7 seats if you need them. Oh, and a sliding door so that the little brats or their inattentive mother don't smash the rear door open into your car in the car park.

Only thing it could do with is an MPS option.

 

[G.T]

Ford S-Max

Good looking car, and has a sort-of MPS version unlike the Mazda with its top of the range 2.5 I-5 turbo engine. Pretty big in person too...

I do prefer the new C4 Picasso though.

 

[TheCracker]

Well, i'm going to have to nominate the Subaru Forester for this segment aren't I?. Not the best looking vehicle ever, but then its always damage limitation when it comes to designing challenging vehicles like these isn't it. The Forester, like all Subarus are solid, reliable and honest in a 'does-exactly-what-it-says-on-the-tin' sort of way. They're civilized at motorway speeds, have plenty of grip for dry, wet and even snowy/icy conditions. They are spacious enough for most people's needs and in Turbo form offer plenty of performance.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Dodge Caliber

Look at that muscular stance, that furious grin, that poised stance. Guaranteed to make the S-max/C4 picasso oil-leak in their garages!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

But wait! It starts at under £12K!!

 

[TheCracker]

Dodge Caliber
Look at that muscular stance, that furious grin, that poised stance. Guaranteed to make the S-max/C4 picasso oil-leak in their garages!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

But wait! It starts at under £12K!!

[/JOKE]

 

[Danny]

Renault (Grand) Espace.

Still looks good, top of the range (3.5L Grand Espace) slides neatly under the £35k limit and it as versatile as they come.
Plus, rather nice to be in and bags of space.

 

[Famine]

And in that picture the brakes and steering have already failed, sending the driver into a tree.

 

[TheCracker]

And in that picture the brakes and steering have already failed, sending the driver into a tree.

Good job he had acres of low-quality plastic surrounding him to protect from the impact!

 

[ExigeEvan]

And in that picture the brakes and steering have already failed, sending the driver into a tree.

Not to mention the Sat Nav!


Danny, I think you'll need to get GG in here for any hope of votes.

 

[Danny]

And in that picture the brakes and steering have already failed, sending the driver into a tree.

He's obviously parked up. Parking sensors, along with the rest of the luxury kit will see to that,

Good job he had acres of low-quality plastic surrounding him to protect from the impact!

Hardly low-quality...

Also,

Not to mention the Sat Nav!


Danny, I think you'll need to get GG in here for any hope of votes.

Wow, 3 hataz in a row.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Wow, 3 hataz in a row.

I wasn't hating, just following the group to look cool

The the grand espace's rear overhang scares the living hell out of me.

It doesn't look much there, but you don't get a true idea of it's scale from that.

 

[TheCracker]

The the grand espace's rear overhang scares the living hell out of me.

Its it's kamikaze/dive bomber style depreciation that you should be scared of

 

[Danny]

Oh hush Dan.
It looks nice, goes nice, is a nice place, you could hold a nice party inside and it's nice if you have a large family.

 

[Jay.]

IMO the Grand Espace is damn ugly.
It looks like a 2 tonne silver brick.
They may appeal to some people but not me I'm afraid.

The Mazda CX9 on the other hand.
Now that's class.

Good looks, with 7 seats.
Good performance, 263bhp, 3.5ltr, 24v, V6.
2WD or AWD through a 6 speed box.
20" Wheels as standard on GT model.
Less than $35K

 

[Jim Prower]

MPV: Honda Odyssey

Okay, I'm not really in on the MPV segment, but one vehicle that consistently ranks near the top of the MPV Rankings in the U.S. is the Honda. From what I can tell, it's somewhat fun to drive, and that JDM model?....Bring it over as an Acura and, baby you got one hot MPV lineup...

I wouldn't reccommend the Chrysler twins to anyone 'till I've seen reviews of the '08s.

I make every effort to ignore the Crossover segment.

 

[JCE]

Mazda5 - car looks, car driving, Mazda reliability, 5-star safety, but 7 seats if you need them. Oh, and a sliding door so that the little brats or their inattentive mother don't smash the rear door open into your car in the car park.

Only thing it could do with is an MPS option.

I like the Mazda5 myself, and if only Mazda would make a limited production Mazdaspeed5 it would make the 20-something dad's very happy despite ruining their lives by getting married and having kids.

Ford S-Max

Good looking car, and has a sort-of MPS version unlike the Mazda with its top of the range 2.5 I-5 turbo engine. Pretty big in person too...

I do prefer the new C4 Picasso though.

I do like that S-Max, and with the Focus ST powertrain it is even more brilliant. That would be a great people carrier like the Mazda5.

Is that a Forester XT sir? Great looking vehicle there. I'm shocked that there are this many good looking people carriers...they've come along way.

And in that picture the brakes and steering have already failed, sending the driver into a tree.

Good job he had acres of low-quality plastic surrounding him to protect from the impact!

Not to mention the Sat Nav!

You three actually made me laugh outloud spilling my drink. 👍

I like the US spec Odyssey, it does everything a minivan should--and even more. Looks cool, is actually decent in the acceleration department, and turns on a freaking dime--making it super easy to park. As far as minivans go, this is number 2 on my list behind the Quest SE with all those see-through roofs.

And that (Japanese/Asian) spec Odyssey actually looks...dare I say it...sporty?! Definately prefer that exterior to the US one.

 

[YSSMAN]

Not that this necessairily adds to the topic at hand, but I've figured out a way in which we will do the final "best of" thread thing...

I'm thinking doing something like a bracket system that we see for the NCAA tournament here in the US. Round up the top 52 models, stick them against each other with assorted rankings, and let them have at it.

Of course, specifics have yet to be nailed-down, but we'll see what happens...

 

[1X83Z]

\
Something completely new from Ford. Its brilliant inside and out, there is not one thing on this vehicle besides the chome grille that I do not like--no no--love.

1. The extremely cheap interior plastics reflect significantly on the windshield, which is so steeply-raked that when you drive the vehicle it's like you're driving towards extremely cheap interior plastics.
2. The speedometer is the single worst invention ever known to man. No, Ford, I don't like speedometers the size of my thumb, and yes, Ford, I'd prefer if, in the future, you could make it so that most numbers are right side up. Not even all numbers, like in normal cars. But most of them.
3. If I paid what Edge owners paid, I'd want something other than cheap plastic at least in one place in the interior.
4. Speaking of cheap plastic, is that the best radio you could come up with?
5. And the best gear selector?
6. And why - oh please tell me this - are the a-pillars so wide you could lose a tractor-trailer in them? Between that and the reflective-cheap-plastic windshield, you can't see crap out of this car.
7. Speaking of seeing crap out of this car, I have yet to drive a vehicle - ANY VEHICLE - whose back window was so tiny. The Chrysler Pacfica runs a close second. Seriously - the rear view mirror is only about 60% occupied by that back window.
8. No steering wheel audio controls, but the lights turn on when you unlock the car. In the daytime.
9. Pay more than $27,000 for the base model with all wheel drive and more than half of the interior switches are blank. Fear not though - the doors still lock themselves at 18mph.
10. Living life on the edge - without Tiptronic. Hyundai offers Tiptronic in their minivan. Get a freaking clue, Ford.

The Edge's sole asset is its engine, which - I'll be fair here - is the strongest of any midsize SUV I've driven, which includes all major competitors. You floor it in the Edge and in some circumstances it might take a second, but you'll always get incredible mid-range punch. Like, incredible punch. Like, I don't want to **** around here - truly INCREDIBLE punch. I drove a Pathfinder today not long after an Edge and was saddened by its "lack" of power (it's more powerful, but slower) in comparison.

However perhaps that is offset by the fact that five out of every seven Edges I see are rentals, not including the ones on our fleet.

 

[Metar]

The things I'd nominate are already there.

The Forester, from expirience, is a great car - but not much of a people carrier, but rather a station-wagon with a lift-kit. Seriously, I bang my head in it against the roof more than I do in our Peugeot. Great car, decent performance (though from a guy who's used to the extreme power and torque a 1.4l French engine produces, this doesn't mean much), and it has those cool, cool gadgets - I've never seen a car with a fold-down compartment for sunglasses and two mirrors for the passenger to put make-up with - including a small place to put a pen, or Mascara if following the previous logic, in. The Citroen looks cool, the Oddysey even more...


BTW, is the Scenic 4x4 still made? That thing kicked ass, back when they made it.

 

[JCE]

1. The extremely cheap interior plastics reflect significantly on the windshield, which is so steeply-raked that when you drive the vehicle it's like you're driving towards extremely cheap interior plastics.

I don't think its that bad actually. But, this I can chalk up to personal preference.

2. The speedometer is the single worst invention ever known to man. No, Ford, I don't like speedometers the size of my thumb, and yes, Ford, I'd prefer if, in the future, you could make it so that most numbers are right side up. Not even all numbers, like in normal cars. But most of them.

Its weird yes, but it didn't ruin my driving experience.

Edge interior pic--SEL or SEL+:

I don't think that's so bad, I've seen much worse. While I prefer other Ford interior items--like the shifter from the F150 Lariat--I still don't think it has a bad interior. I quite think the interior in the above pic is quite good for an American car.

4. Speaking of cheap plastic, is that the best radio you could come up with?

In the models with the CD-6 MP3 radios they are most certinaly not bad radios. I had one in both of my Focus' and they were brilliant head units from a factory cheap vehicle. And the ones with the Navigation like in the above picture are also decent.

5. And the best gear selector?

Again, I'd prefer this gear shifter from the F150 Lariat:

But, I don't think the one that is currently in the Edge is a bad one.

7. Speaking of seeing crap out of this car, I have yet to drive a vehicle - ANY VEHICLE - whose back window was so tiny. The Chrysler Pacfica runs a close second. Seriously - the rear view mirror is only about 60% occupied by that back window.

Small window yes, but I would say the Pacifica is worse. And I can name a vehicle--any vehicle-- with a smaller back window. 350Z roadster. Worse blind spots ever...minus a Lamborghini Countach.

8. No steering wheel audio controls, but the lights turn on when you unlock the car. In the daytime.

The SEL and SEL+ have steering wheel audio controls. See above Edge interior pic.

9. Pay more than $27,000 for the base model with all wheel drive and more than half of the interior switches are blank. Fear not though - the doors still lock themselves at 18mph.

So, Ford offeres a base model with no option equipment...so what? "Blank" switches in vehicles have been around for decades AND from every manufacturer. I don't get the complaint here.

10. Living life on the edge - without Tiptronic. Hyundai offers Tiptronic in their minivan. Get a freaking clue, Ford.

Tiptronic is a personal preference--one which I do not like personally--and one which from at least my customer interaction when I sold Edges also never mentioned. Seriously, most Americans prefer a regular automatic or regular manual transmission. They are yet "convinced" about flappy paddles/tiptronic and CVT transmissions. Give it time and every automatic will be one of the two.

The Edge's sole asset is its engine, which - I'll be fair here - is the strongest of any midsize SUV I've driven, which includes all major competitors. You floor it in the Edge and in some circumstances it might take a second, but you'll always get incredible mid-range punch. Like, incredible punch. Like, I don't want to **** around here - truly INCREDIBLE punch. I drove a Pathfinder today not long after an Edge and was saddened by its "lack" of power (it's more powerful, but slower) in comparison.

What's even better to compliment the engine+tranny is I rather enjoy the ride and handling of the car. That and the AWD system is pretty good too. And, I agree with you on the Pathfinder. It has some low range grunt but right at half the RPM range between the redline and 0-RPM its almost lackluster. The old Pathfinder had some decent power, I guess times change.

However perhaps that is offset by the fact that five out of every seven Edges I see are rentals, not including the ones on our fleet.

I'd probably agree with you and say that maybe you've just been flooded with base models to drive. Drive an SEL+ (top range spec) and tell me that you don't think the interior is better--and it even has all those switches filled out just for you. 👍

 

[TheCracker]

The things I'd nominate are already there.

The Forester, from expirience, is a great car - but not much of a people carrier, but rather a station-wagon with a lift-kit. Seriously, I bang my head in it against the roof more than I do in our Peugeot.

Christ-on-a-bike how tall are you? - i'm 6'2" which gives me a good 4-5 inches of spare head room

 

[Metar]

180Cm... Dunno why, I always get the feeling the roof is too low there. Might've been confused there, so I'm not sure. which generation do you have?

 

[TheCracker]

First gen, but i think the current gen still use the same basic shell. I can't see it having any less head room.

 

[Metar]

Yep, I just re-checked. It's actually spacious.


One thing I always noticed about those Foresters, is their sense of sportyness. Dunno why, it just feels good sitting in them.

 

[Danny]

Ellen MacArthur loves it.