The 10 Best Japanese Crossovers of 2021

It is impossible to list all the advantages of this car within the framework of one review. Attractive design, powerful stuffing, the best options. And this is only a small part of what the new Infiniti boasts. The main thing that manufacturers have focused on, having replaced the fourth generation of this model, is advanced equipment. On board this crossover is everything that is known to modern developers and engineers. Everything is top notch but...

As sales statistics show, the car sells very poorly, and it's hard to say what it is connected with. On the one hand, a rather high price tag, which, depending on the configuration, can range from 2.8 to almost 4 million. On the other hand, design. Yes, it is unique, and the car does not look like competitors, but this can both attract a buyer and scare it away. And in terms of equipment, both external and internal, this car can be safely called the best in its class, but apparently, the buyer could not appreciate the new model, or it is too ahead of its time.

If such concepts as “style” and “pedigree” are of decisive importance for you, then this car is especially for you. The best crossover in terms of design and appearance, however, as always with Lexus. As the manufacturers of this say, let's not be afraid of this word, a masterpiece, they tried to create a truly unique crossover that would be perfect for young people, regardless of gender and hobbies. Style is in everything here, from the exterior of the body to the interior equipment. An infinite number of different details, invisible at first glance, but creating an indescribable feeling of high cost and wealth.

By the way, the cost of the car is quite democratic, at least by the standards of Lexus, and as for the technical equipment, it is also the fastest and most powerful car carrying a 3 liter engine with 250 horsepower on board. Parameters that are relevant even for an SUV, but low ground clearance will not allow you to overcome severe off-road conditions, although this model does not initially set such a goal.

Ordinary car enthusiasts and various experts often like to label cars and classify cars into specific classes and categories. But there are models that simply cannot be defined in a specific class, and the Honda Pilot is one of them. This is a crossover, and relatively small dimensions and low ground clearance tell us about this. This is an SUV, as under the hood it has a three-liter engine with 6 cylinders.Its power is almost 250 horsepower, and with such a unit, the car is easily selected even from the deepest pits and ditches. This is a business class car, as it has the most strict and equipped interior. The best options currently known and the rigor in each line.

But, let's dwell on the fact that this is still a crossover, and the best in its category, and it did not get into the top rating solely because of the relatively high cost. Here is the lowest price for the basic configuration, and the maximum equipment can increase the price tag by almost a million rubles, and compared to most Japanese crossovers, this is very expensive.

In most cases, a crossover is a city car. He can take you out of the city, but he will hardly feel as comfortable as possible there. But there are real legends among Japanese cars. A full-fledged SUV in a compact body. And this is Jimmy. A real off-road monster that will cope with even the most difficult obstacles. There are practically no barriers for him, and despite this, it is more correct to attribute it to crossovers, and not to SUVs, as some experts do.

Compact dimensions Jimmy will feel great on narrow city streets, as well as excellent handling and responsiveness. Plus, permanent or plug-in all-wheel drive, which makes agility and dynamism even more impressive. The internal spaciousness will also please, which should not deceive when looking at the appearance of the car.The cabin easily accommodates five people, and the trunk will allow all passengers to fit their luggage there.

Not the cheapest Japanese crossover, but definitely the most diverse in terms of equipment. The starting price for this model starts at 1.9 million, and it already includes rain and fog sensors, climate control and heated seats. Quite a decent set. Adding a couple of hundred thousand for the Comfort package, we get a multimedia display enlarged to 8 inches, a heated steering wheel and a rear view camera. The third equipment - Elegance has a leather interior, electric tailgate and keyless entry. Elegance+ adds adaptive cruise control and permanent blind spot monitoring. And the best equipment is Premium. It has a top-end audio system and electric adjustment of the passenger seat. Also, the usual roof changes to a panoramic one with a large sunroof.

As for technical equipment, here the choice is more modest. Two engine options are offered with a volume of 2 and 2.5 liters. There are options for both gasoline and diesel power, and the box is installed automatic or mechanical. Regardless of the choice of engine and transmission, the car remains very agile and perfectly obeys the driver. A great option for both city trips and long-distance forays into the harsh off-road.

This is the fifth generation of the lineup from Honda.Almost every year, the company releases restyled models, but from year to year, the changes are insignificant, and the current model differs little from the previous one. Moving on to the fifth generation, it became clear that Honda decided to change the direction of this model. If initially it was positioned as a compact SUV, the main task of which is to overcome impassability and make long journeys, now it is a typical urban crossover, featuring better handling and excellent driving characteristics.

There are two engine options to choose from. The first volume of 2 liters and a capacity of 130 horses. And the second is 2.5 liters of volume and already 186 forces and acceleration to 190 kilometers per hour. Regardless of the chosen engine, the handling of the car remains excellent, but the main advantage that both users and experts note is the build quality. This is the most reliable crossover, besides the most convenient to repair. True, spare parts of the original type for it are quite expensive, but it should be understood that their replacement will be required extremely rarely.

A true legend of the Japanese car industry. The most inexpensive, and at the same time reliable crossover, which has already reached the fourth generation, and is invariably popular with motorists all over the world. The updated model has become more spacious and overweight, but this did not affect the driving characteristics. Despite the fact that under the hood of the car there is a relatively small engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, the maximum speed developed by the car is two hundred.

In the city, speed characteristics are not so important.Maneuverability and controllability are more valued here, and these qualities can also be called the best in Vitara. The ideal car for the money, reliable, powerful enough, and since 2019 also the most spacious, both in the cabin and in the trunk, which has increased by almost a hundred liters, without compromising the comfort of passengers. But the optional filling is inferior to the market leaders, but this is fully justified by the price.

Japanese concern, famous for the fastest and most powerful cars. The CX 5 is no exception, despite the fact that we have a crossover, and even an SUV, but compact and comfortable. From the crossover, there is a salon and a body, and from an SUV, a powerful 2.5-liter engine that produces 195 horsepower and accelerates the car to 200 kilometers. Also of note is the very high ground clearance, which here is 210 millimeters, which is a lot, and makes it easy to travel off-road.

As for the update released in 2019, the manufacturer did not present anything revolutionary. The changes affected the interior design. Salon has become more severe and serious. Frivolous, according to some owners, inserts and other bells and whistles have disappeared. There was a larger 7-inch display and the ability to control all multimedia directly from the steering wheel. The headlights have also changed to LED. But under the hood, nothing has changed. The same set of five engine options and three gearbox options. And this is the best choice in terms of technical equipment, but significantly affecting the cost of the car.

The first Qashqai rolled off the assembly line back in 2006, and then the Japanese manufacturer could not even imagine that in just a couple of years it would become the best-selling crossover. The model was originally developed for sale in Europe, taking into account the requirements of local motorists, but despite the fact that all production is located in the west, the quality and reliability remained Japanese, that is, very high.

In 2019, Nissan introduced an updated Qashqai model, but it did not become the next generation. Changes received the body and appearance. Useful options have been added, but in general the car has remained the same as before restyling. There are three filling options to choose from, from the most economical, with a 1.2-liter engine, to the largest, with a 2-liter engine and fuel consumption in the city of 9.8. The box and engine type are selected by the buyer, and the set of options remains static. There are quite a few of them, and several interesting “chips” have been added to the restyled model. In particular, Qashqai received improved multimedia and full steering control. It can be seen that Nissan has directed its gaze to a young audience, and systematically captures it.

This model first appeared on the market 10 years ago, and is still popular and is sold on the secondary market, being in excellent technical condition. The manufacturer, seeing such a hype, releases updated versions almost every year, and in 2019 the fifth generation entered the market.

There are no special differences in the filling here. The body has changed a little, becoming 10 centimeters longer and wider.The clearance and trunk volume have increased, which, of course, is a plus in the model's piggy bank. There are a wide variety of build options to choose from. Engine displacement ranges from 2 to 2.5 liters. Box of three types: automatic, mechanical and variable. Also, the engine can be gasoline or diesel. And of course, a huge selection of options that the future owner chooses at his own discretion, significantly adjusting the cost of the car. As for the advantages and reasons for assigning the “best choice” characteristic, the main feature here is the highest quality. As mentioned above, first-generation models are still found on the secondary market, despite the fact that they are already more than 10 years old.