It's time, isn't it? You've held out, but all your friends have done it, and you're feeling left out. You haven't jumped on the crossover bandwagon yet, and you can hear the snickering, so it's time to start looking.
And because you've put up with that rusty little hatchback for so long, you want something roomy; not a giant, earth-shaking 4x4, mind you; this will be almost exclusively for city driving. But gas prices are still low-ish, and you want cargo space for bikes, the occasional piece of furniture from that country market – and elbow room for the family. Something a step up from a compact is in order; there are a multitude of mid-size crossovers out there. You don't want to spend much, so let's keep it to less than $12,000; keeping up with the neighbours can only go so far. Plus, you insist on getting something as new as possible, which eliminates the more luxurious rides.
Sensible
The Mazda CX-7, discontinued in 2012, is possibly the most sporty for driving on this list, with sharp steering and corner-carving capabilities, and can be found up to around 2011. But with that firm, sports-oriented suspension comes a harsh ride that transmits rough roads right into the cockpit; road noise is also pretty high. Cargo space is tight, and buyers should look for the optional turbocharged four-cylinder with 244 horsepower. There were no recalls for this Mazda.
Ford has found success with its mid-sized Edge. The crossover is balanced more for comfort than for sportiness – as an exciting drive, it's not. Found in our budget up to around 2009, the Edge has a strong 3.5-litre V-6 with a six-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive; passengers will find it roomy, especially in the back. Despite being the same length as the CX-7, it has a cavernous space for cargo. It has just two recalls concerning a rusting fuel tank and defective daytime running lights.
The Nissan Murano was one of the first crossovers to offer no pretensions about going off-road; it was made for the city and is the most stylish crossover here. It's also a sporty driving car but, as such, its ride also suffers with a stiff suspension. While the passenger space is roomy, cargo room is relatively small. Respectable power came from a 3.5-litre V-6 mated to a CVT – again, AWD is out there – and these can be found only up to around 2007. Reliability, especially concerning that transmission, wasn't great; recalls include those for seat belts, a failing alternator, air bags, a failing steering lock, defective air intakes and tire pressure monitors.
Indispensable
Once again, the Honda Pilot tops another list for a sensible used-car choice. It's bigger than the other models but still lives in that mid-sized category and, as such, it has the most cargo room. It can be found up to around 2008; a bit older than some here, but its reliability has been so good it's considered a "good bet" by Consumer Reports, and has just two recalls that deal with seat belts and air bags. It also comes with a third row of seats, as well as available AWD. Its V-6 is powerful and gets good fuel economy at 12.4 litres/100 km. For more luxury, its cousin, the Acura MDX, is available, though you won't find it as new as the Pilot.
Questionable
Remember what we were saying about not needing the giant 4x4 off-roader? The Hummer H3 may not be giant (at least compared with these choices) but unless your daily commute is over boulders and rutted trails, this would be a poor choice. It's available at this price up to around 2007, which means the only engine choice was a V-6 that was woefully underpowered for a beast that comes in around 2,200 kilograms. The drive is far more refined drive in something smoother.
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