Five Best-Selling Luxury Crossovers

Sitting in traffic at the stop light or cruising the freeways, it's impossible not to notice crossovers of every size all around. And sales of luxury crossovers reflect that proliferation. Today we continue a two-part series on the best-selling luxury crossovers in 2010. 


Audi Q5
Number six on the best-selling luxury crossovers in 2010, the compact Audi Q5 posted a 70.5-percent increase in 2010 with sales of 23,518 - compared with 13,790 the year before. Although the Q5 hasn't changed much since 2009, with its sleek profile and exterior styling, ultra-luxurious cabin with comfortable seating front and back, and handling that's more like a sport sedan with quattro all-wheel drive, what's not to like? Base powerplant in the 2.0T is the 211-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The base price is $35,200. Opt for the 3.2 and get the more powerful 270-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6 engine. Of course, that starting price reflects the bump in horsepower (and other goodies), with 3.2 Premium starting at $42,500. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Audi Q5 a Top Safety Pick for 2011.

 
Lincoln MKX
Platform-mate to the Ford Flex, the five-seat 2011 Lincoln MKX mid-size luxury crossover gets a new look, more powerful 305-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 engine, upgraded interior materials, and new MyLincolnTouch system standard. There's abundant rear cargo room (even though there's no third-row bench), heated and cooled 10-way power-adjustable front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and cruise controls, Sirius satellite radio, and much more. Available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), the base price is $39,375 and $41,225, respectively. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway (FWD) and 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway (AWD).


Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
As Mercedes-Benz models go, the GLK-Class compact luxury crossover is fairly affordable, starting at $35,500. Sleek exterior design, smooth, powerful ride, strong V-6 performance, and impressive fuel efficiency are high points of the 2011 Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class that comfortably seats five adults. That it handles so well isn't a mystery: it's based on the C-Class sedan chassis. Another IIHS Top Safety Pick, the Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class is number eight of the best-selling luxury crossovers in 2010. Sales of 20,946 last year were down 4.5 percent from year-before sales of 21,944



Acura RDX
Number nine on the list of best-selling luxury crossovers in 2010 is the Acura RDX with 2010 sales of 14,975, up 48.5 percent from 10,153 sold in 2009. The five-passenger compact luxury crossover is powered by the 240-horsepower 2.3-liter turbocharged in-line four-cylinder engine, available with FWD or super-handling AWD. Some reviewers say RDX has a stiff ride, while others say it offers nimble performance. Fuel economy is 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway in FWD and 17/22 city/highway mpg in AWD configuration. Fold the second-row seats down and there's 60.6 cubic feet of cargo volume.



Volvo XC60
Last, but not least, is 10th-place Volvo XC60 which sold 12,030 units in 2010 for an increase of 29.9 percent over 2009 sales. The five-passenger compact XC60, the smallest of Volvo's three crossovers (the others being the XC70 and XC90), received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. For 2011, the Volvo XC60 is available in FWD and AWD, with starting MSRP ranging from $32,400 to $38,400. Power comes from a 240-horsepower 3.2-liter V-6 engine in 3.2 and 3.2 R-Design and 300-horsepower 3.0-liter turbocharged six in T6 AWD. With rear seats folded down, there's an impressive 67.4 cubic feet of cargo space.