It’s rather difficult to believe that, considering the overwhelming prevalence of compact-sized crossovers on our roads — the most popular automotive segment in Canada — this very same segment didn’t really exist 25 years ago. It wasn’t until the likes of the Toyota RAV4, introduced to North America in 1996 and followed by the Subaru Forester, and Honda CR-V a year later, that buyers began to notice the appeal of these funky little rigs.

Fast-forward to today and just about every automaker has at least one compact crossover in their model lineup and at the top of their sales charts (the exception being the Detroit Three, which, while playing in the same sandbox with the others, thrive by dint of their pickup truck sales). Two of the most popular crossovers in Canada are the CR-V, the fifth generation of which made its debut in 2017, with a refresh last year, and the new-for-2021, third-generation Nissan Rogue.

Suburban commuters not designed for wild adventuring deep in the woods — hence the term “soft-roaders” or, my favourite, “mall assault vehicles” — they are direct competitors, priced and sized to chase the same buyers.

For the full story, check out Driving.ca: https://driving.ca/?p=455671

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