With the growing trend of downsizing and environmental conscienceless now filtering down into the car industry, without a doubt one of the biggest hot spots in the market is now the newly created premium compact SUV segment. BMW pioneered this area of the market a few years back with their X3 SUV, a downsized 'lifestyle' wagon the size of their 3 series saloon.
This became a big hit, as BMW proved you could successfully downsize on that SUV image, while gaining car -like dynamics, a lower centre of gravity, and the feeling that you're driving something much more relevant than a full sized X5 or Range Rover. While the Bavarians clearly carved out a worthwhile niche for themselves, the X3 is largely seen as the poorest car BMW currently makes. The ride is rubbish, the interior quality is patchy at best, and the exterior design is rather troubled (much like the 3 series it's based on).
The British caught onto this promising new segment, and their second generation Freelander grew up to take the X3 head on. Now, the Freelander has been well documented on Euro Car Blog before, so I won't recap on its many bugs. But regardless of the inherent flaws of both the X3 and Freelander 2, their sales success has been such that there is clearly a demand for downsized, premium SUVs that blend SUV practicality and image with car-like dynamics and size. The signs were clear, and many of BMW's traditional competitors have been busy developing their own interpretations of a premium compact SUV. In the last 8 weeks Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo have taken the covers off their own compact SUVs, and Saab is set to reveal their own entrant within the next 12 months. The second generation of this young segment looks set to rip the market right open, and BMW and Land Rover now have the fight of their lives on to remain in touch with these new offerings.
Volvo XC60
Volvo was the first to unveil their new SUV, with the XC60 wowing patrons at the Geneva Motor Show a few weeks back. The XC60 instantly became the best interpretation yet of a car-like compact SUV, with it's sleek style, purposeful proportions, ingenious interior packaging, and frugal engines. Sitting on Volvo's new P24 platform, ride and handling looks set to be in another league to anything else this size, and bio-ethanol blended petrol and diesels are also in the pipeline. Essentially, the XC60 made the X3 and Freelander look prehistoric overnight. For more on the Volvo XC60, click here to read our previous feature.
Mercedes GLK
Mercedes finally pulled the wraps off it's GLK. With it's chunky style and clever AWD system, the GLK even makes some of it's bigger brothers appear tired. Initially, the GLK will only be available in left hand drive, as there are complications in mirroring the trick AWD system, but will eventually land in Europe and Australia by 2010. Mercedes have been quite confident with the GLK, as the Merc SUV did much of it's dynamic development in Europe and around the old Nurburgring. So dynamics will be a strong point, and interior practicality is said to be a strong point too, with many of the tricks in the ML-Class and big GL wagon filtering down into the GLK. One of the biggest surprises with the GLK is the interior quality and design. With the new C-Class drawing much criticism for its lacklustre design and cheap plastics, the GLK's dashboard is clarity in design without the cheap plastics and feel of its sedan cousin.
The textured plastics of the dash itself are some of the best seen in a Mercedes in quite a while, and the dominant woodwork is thankfully tasteful, and works well with the smaller touches of chrome. The console, while still a bit dull in colour, appears to be made of high quality plastics. It remains to be seen if the ambience will be up there with the XC60 and the Q5, but it undoubtedly looks a better place to sit in than the X3 or Freelander, not to mention how it looks from the other side of the street.
Audi Q5
The Audi Q5 came out of hiding this month, featuring all the avant-garde design, supreme interior quality, and sophisticated technology that comes hand in hand with an Audi, all in a trimmed down SUV. A 7-speed triptronic transmission, the latest iteration of the famed Quattro system, and Audi's 'drive select' command control system are just some of the technologies that take a bow in the Q5. The shape itself is similar to it's bigger Q7 brother, albeit with a more resolved and compact proportion to the rear and the hallmark LEDs in the headlights. The dashboard is taken right out of the A4, so the Q5 tentatively goes to the top of the ranks in interior quality, design and ergonomics. I say tentatively as the GLK and particularly the XC60 have entirely new designs which are untested but look extremely promising. Packaging should also be good as Audi is claiming that the cabin is both wider and longer than its competitors. Whether the space has been used efficiently remains to be seen, but nonetheless more space is usually handed down to the passengers. If the new A4 is anything to go by, the Q5 should be quite a good steer, as Ingalstadt has finally learnt how to build cars without suspension and steering shudder.
The common denominator with all three of these SUVs is that they clearly move the game on and are now more convincing compact SUVs than the BMW and Land Rover. Both need to go back to the drawing board, using the Merc, Audi and Volvo as templates, and come up with less compromises sooner rather than later. One gets the feeling that the experience behind the wheel of any of the 3 newcomers will shade their contemporaries quite substantially. Both the X3 and Freelander are now showing their age, an d clearly appear a generation behind their new rivals. BMW will respond first, with a new X3 earmarked for late 2009/early 2010. The priorities are said to be a more resolved body, better ride, and an interior more in line with the new X5. Land Rover, though, have yet to show their hand. With their prolonged sale to Tata only now being wrapped up, any updates on the Freelander 2 are a long way off. This will be concerning for the Brits, as it's the Freelander 2 which sits at the bottom of the pile as it stands. Utilitarian design and off-road ability might attract farmers and rural types, but they mean absolutely nothing to those who actually buy these smaller SUVs.
As it stands, this segment could begin to dominate sales in the premium sector, yet BMW and Land Rover are in trouble of being completely forgotten, as the Q5, XC60, and GLK are incredibly good.
