Today’s crossover/SUV craze has produced some very practical vehicles that can go through all types of weather and perform suburban family duties without breaking a sweat. However, the battle to fill niche segments such as subcompact crossovers and SUVs with coupelike rooflines has led to the creation of some of the least practical cars on the road today. These cars are the antithesis of what a crossover should be. They’re more focused on looking different than being practical. Some have no reason to exist, but you can thank brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Nissan for finding a new niche in the market and forcing the rest of the industry to jump onto the non-spacious crossover bandwagon.
Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe – 23.0 cubic feet, 60.0 cubic feet with second row folded
A coupelike roofline affects interior space the most, and for its massive size, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe should be able to haul more than 23 cubic feet with the second row up and 60 cubic feet with them down. Because of that rounded roof, not only do you have prominent blind spots in the rear, but you also have less passenger and cargo space. The GLE Coupe, then, is all about style over practicality, so you’ll be getting quite a few stares.
BMW X6 – 26.6 cubic feet, 59.7 cubic feet with second row folded
Essentially the founder of the crossover coupe niche, BMW was one of the first automakers to take the SUV (Sports Activity Vehicle or SAV in BMW-speak) to a new level of weirdness. The car has a sloping roofline that cuts into rear visibility, rear seat space, and cargo capacity, making it less practical. Because its handling belies its size, the X6 excels in the way it drives. Should you need an autobahn-ready crossover, the X6 M comes with a 567-hp, twin-turbo V-8 and agility worthy of the racetrack.
Lexus NX – NX 200t: 17.7 cubic feet, 54.6 cubic feet max with second row folded; NX 300h: 16.7 cubic feet, 53.7 cubic feet with second row folded
Although it’s late to the compact luxury crossover party, the Lexus NX is a solid entry that offers better than expected driving dynamics and a distinctive exterior design that makes it stand out from everything else on the road. It falters in cargo space; hatchbacks such as the Honda Fit offer nearly as much capacity, and the Kia Forte5 trumps it. Style is prioritized over practicality in the NX, and as a result, there’s not much usable space, especially if you love going to Ikea.
Fiat 500X – 18.5 cubic feet, 50.8 cubic feet max with second row folded
Cute and adorable like the 500 hatchback, the Fiat 500X adds a dose of Italian style and charm to the small crossover segment. Interior space, however, is more similar to that of a compact hatchback, meaning you won’t be able to fit as much as in your typical crossover even with the dividable cargo floor. The 500X’s sloping roofline and the available panoramic sunroof also hurt interior capacity and cut into the rear seats and cargo area.
Jeep Renegade – 18.5 cubic feet, 50.8 cubic feet max with second row folded
Like its Fiat 500X sibling, the Jeep Renegade has several quirks and charms, but interior space is not one of them. If a little CUV with off-road chops is what you’re after, the Renegade is not bad, but plan on roughing it if you actually try to use the Jeep for Jeep things. The 50.8 cubic feet of max cargo area won’t pack a whole lot for your longer backcountry excursions.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport – 21.7 cubic feet, 49.5 cubic feet with second row folded
Shorter in length than the seven-passenger Outlander, the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport was one of the original small crossovers to hit the U.S. market. Although its exterior is boxier than some of its rivals, the sloping roofline limits the amount of usable space in the cargo area, so the majority of compact hatchbacks and wagons offer the same or higher levels of practicality for hauling your family and gear.
BMW X4 – 17.7 cubic feet, 49.4 cubic feet with second row folded
The X6’s little brother, the BMW X4, proves that impracticality is alive and well among crossovers. Not only does it have less interior space, but the coupelike roofline also means not much of it is usable. Because it looks like a raised sedan with a swoopy exterior, the X4 is less practical than a wagon or a traditional crossover/SUV and comes with less visibility. A performance-oriented variant called the X4 xDrive M40i will join the lineup next year for speed demons who find the hulking X6 too big.
Buick Encore – 18.8 cubic feet, 48.4 cubic feet with second row folded
The X6 is the founder of the crossover coupe niche, but the Buick Encore pioneered the premium small crossover segment when it first arrived in 2013. Although it’s spacious for its small size, the Encore is narrow, meaning the available room is limited, especially when you have passengers with you. As a result, the Encore is best for two people or four in a pinch, not for hauling flat-pack furniture. A new Sport touring trim joins the range with a new direct-injected, 1.4-liter turbo I-4 making 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
Chevrolet Trax -18.7 cubic feet, 48.4 cubic feet with second row folded
Closely related to the Buick Encore, the Chevrolet Trax offers the same amount of space for passengers and cargo, making this crossover good for single people or couples without children. Spacious for its size, the Trax faces the same limitations as its premium sibling in that the amount of room you have is barely more and sometimes less than in a more efficient compact hatchback or wagon, meaning it isn’t as practical as its tall, cladded-up body would make you think.
Audi Q3 – 16.7 cubic feet, 48.2 cubic feet with second row folded
Think of the Audi Q3 as an A3 hatchback that’s been raised slightly and given some plastic body cladding. That’s essentially what it is. On the other side of that liftgate there’s a cargo area that’s on the small side due to the angled rear window, so there’s actually less space for your belongings than in hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf. Your friends will also not be comfortable in the rear seats, because there’s not much room back there, especially for tall people.
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe – 19.4 cubic feet, 47.6 cubic feet with second row folded
Perhaps the most stylish crossover on sale today, the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Coupe is eye-catching and commands attention. However, that dramatic exterior design comes at the cost of interior space because the Evoque Coupe has a limited capacity for cargo and room for only two passengers in the back. The crossover’s all-weather, all-road capability, on the other hand, means you’ll be able to venture out into the wilderness in something sexy and distinctive. Should you want something more dramatic, a convertible version of the Evoque is on its way and will likely go on sale in 2016.
Mazda CX-3 – 12.4 cubic feet, 44.5 cubic feet with second row folded (10.1 cubic feet, 42.3 cubic feet with second row folded when equipped with the optional Bose audio system)
With a ground clearance of 6.1 inches, the Mazda CX-3 is no off-road warrior; it’s a hatch with a lift kit. The brand’s Kodo—Soul of Motion— design language gives the CX-3 its sexy looks and premium feel, but it also comes at cost of interior space, as the CX-3’s interior has less room than some subcompacts. Additionally, you won’t be able to haul as much gear as you would in a wagon or a conventional hatch such as the Mazda3 because the CX-3 has less space for passengers and their belongings.
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class – 17.2 cubic feet, 43.6 cubic feet with second row folded
If you’re not happy that Mercedes-Benz only gave the U.S. the GLA-Class and not the A-Class, then you should stop pouting now. Both are essentially the same car; the former comes with body cladding and a slightly higher ride height. The swoopy exterior sacrifices interior space in favor of style, so you won’t have as much room for your friends, and gear will be cramped due to the tight cabin. If you’d like to turn your mini crossover into a hyper hatch, the all-wheel-drive GLA45 AMG and its insane 375-hp, 2.0-liter, turbo I-4 should serve you well.
Mini Countryman – 16.5 cubic feet, 42.2 cubic feet with second row folded
Mini’s first four-door, the Countryman, was the most practical in its lineup until the second-generation Clubman arrived, but it has one of the smallest cargo areas in its class. Passengers will be comfortable—provided you limit it to four people—but because of its diminutive size you don’t have much usable space for cargo, even though it’s boxy.
Mini Paceman – 11.7 cubic feet, 38.1 cubic feet with second row folded
The Countryman is relatively practical, provided you plan ahead and love to play Tetris with your gear, but its two-door sibling, the Mini Paceman, is one of the most impractical crossovers on the road. With seating for only four and a sloping roofline that cuts into rear seat space and the cargo area, you’re left with a crossover coupe that’s retro-chic but lacks the practicality expected of this type of vehicle. Add to that a raked rear window that also diminishes your rear visibility, and you’ve got a puffed car that barely has more space than the third-generation two-door Mini Hardtop.
Nissan Juke – 10.5 cubic feet, 35.9 cubic feet with second row folded
The Nissan Juke came into the market with the intention of looking weird and different from everything else on the road and providing an engaging driving experience. That, however, meant you get a crossover that’s claustrophobic due to small rear windows and a trunk with so much unusable space that there’s a sticker on the liftgate warning you to not put large items in the back with the rear seats up. As a result, you have a fun, high-riding crossover that looks like a robotic frog but can’t carry anything because it’s too focused on being an oddball.
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