Families 'Cross Over' to the Smaller Side of SUVs

Suburban mom Shana Rampersad is looking for a new family car, and it's got to be fuel efficient, stylish and roomy.

In this July 14, 2009 photo released by the Ford Motor Company, the 2010 Ford Flex is shown in...

In this July 14, 2009 photo released by the Ford Motor Company, the 2010 Ford Flex is shown in Denver. The Flex's rectangular design has softened angles that blends the low length of a minivan with the sportier front-end of an SUV. (AP Photo/Ford Motor Co., Sam VarnHagen)

(AP)

That eliminates sedans, sport utility vehicles and even minivans such as the Nissan Quest that's been carrying the Rampersads around New Jersey for years.

On the top of her list is a crossover, a type of vehicle that's built like a car but looks like a downsized SUV. They offer more storage space than a traditional car and use less gas than SUVs, which are built on truck frames. And they're a good fit for families like the Rampersads, who are tightening their belts but still want enough space to haul around children, pets, luggage and sporting gear.

Crossovers — including the Ford Flex, Chevy Equinox, Nissan Murano, and top-selling Honda CR-V — are now among the fastest-growing segments in the auto industry. Their share of the U.S. market has nearly tripled since 2002 as SUVs' share slid by more than half.

For many families, downsizing to a sedan from a minivan or SUV would be too drastic; the equivalent to moving back into a small city apartment after owning a large suburban home. The crossover offers a compromise in tough times, when parents are forced to cut back on spending, fearing they could lose their jobs or see gas prices jump back to last summer's $4 peak.

Because of a tight household budget, Rampersad and her husband have decided to wait until next year to buy a new car. And it'll be a Ford Flex, a four-door that seats seven. The Flex's rectangular design has softened angles and blends the low length of a minivan with the sportier front-end of an SUV. Its second and third rows fold down flat, creating enough room for two adults to camp out.

Although her 1997 Nissan Quest minivan is "excellent" in terms of reliability, the mother of two girls, 9 years old and 9-months in Carteret, N.J., says it's style is "ancient" and it doesn't have enough versatility.