The ever-expanding crossover and SUV segment is set for further expansion in the next couple of years that’ll seemingly allow it to eclipse all other segments with ease (if it hasn’t done so already). The sheer number of crossovers and SUVs bound to arrive by MY 2020 is staggering. Considering the direction into which the auto industry has been going these past few years, this doesn’t really come as a surprise.
After a number of great MY 2019 crossovers and SUVs have already started making their impact on the market, let’s now take a peek at what the future has in store for us. Which of the numerous upcoming models will be the best of the upcoming 2020 crossovers?
Before we move on, however, let us first run through a quick methodology explanation. Although all upcoming crossovers and SUVs have been taken into account, regardless of their class and price range, all-electric and hybrid-exclusive models have been covered separately in our list of the best hybrid SUVs 2020 will bring to market.
This doesn’t mean we’ll automatically disqualify every hint of a non-internal-combustion-exclusive crossover, but only those that haven’t got a good old petrol or diesel engine as an option. In other words, models with both conventional and modern electrified powertrains will still find their way onto this list of the best crossovers 2020 is bringing our way.
10. Land Rover Defender
The robust Land Rover Defender hasn’t been available for a few years now, but that’s all changing for MY 2020. What’s more, the all-new 2020 Land Rover Defender is also making its way back to the U.S. market after being absent from it for more than 20 years.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Landy is a vastly improved off-road specialist – especially in the safety and convenience features department. It’s also be available in both of traditional lengths – the 2-door Defender 90 and the 4-door Defender 110. Unlike it was the case in decades past, the new car sports an independent suspension. More precisely, it gets an integral link setup with air springs.
Design-wise, however, the Landy both has and hasn’t changed dramatically – depending on how you look at it. It remains a sharp, angular SUV it always was, but it does adopt the current Land Rover lineup’s cues more or less, all over the place.
The dedicated off-road SUV will be available with numerous powertrain configurations, but not all of them will make it to the U.S. There are initially two engines to choose from although the First Edition models will only be offered with a larger 3.0L turbocharged inline-six mill with a mild-hybrid setup, capable of putting up 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The smaller 2.0L turbo four will be making 296 horsepower and both will be paired with an 8-speed ZF gearbox with a 2-speed transfer case.
The new Land Rover Defender looks like it has all of its bases covered; from adequate power to solid fuel economy scores – not to mention unparalleled off-road capability.
09. Kia Telluride
The 2020 Kia Telluride isn’t the first large SUV from the South Korean car manufacturer, but it is the first with a shot at success. The unlucky Borego arrived at the least opportune of moments and never really stood a chance, but the all-new Telluride is already making an impact.
The three-row SUV shares almost everything it’s got with the Hyundai Palisade but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Platform and equipment sharing has given both companies a competitive edge over its rivals as both SUVs represent an extremely good value for money to families large and small.
Even the entry-level Telluride LX models are well-equipped with blind-spot monitors, automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, and rear parking sensors standard from the get-go. They start from just under $32,000, while the range-topping SX units warrant $10,000 more.
There is one small issue with the Telluride, however. Although its 3.8L V6 packs 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, it’s the only engine available at the moment. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the Telluride is available in both the front and all-wheel drive configurations.
Even a modern transmission doesn’t help much when it comes to fuel economy though, as the mid-size SUV returns 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway at best. Solid numbers for a vehicle of its size, but a hybrid would have still been appreciated.
The Kia Telluride has instantly become one of the better family vehicles money can buy the moment it arrived to the market which is evident by its solid sales in the first few months of production. If the Koreans want this to last, they might want to address one of Telluride’s current issues.
08. 2020 Kia Soul
The funky subcompact box on wheels has become one of the most surprising tenants of the best crossovers lists over the years, so it should come as no surprise that we’re ranking it among the best 2020 crossovers available on the market. The Korean wonder might be small on the outside, but it’s rather comfortable and spacious inside thanks to its shape and innovative folding seats.
The Koreans are selling around 200,000 units a year on a global level at the moment, of which three quarters were marketed in the U.S. during 2016. That figure fell to 115,712 units in 2017 and 104,709 models in 2018 which is a result of Soul’s dated platform and other market conditions like competition, for instance. That’s why the Koreans have decided to introduce the third-generation Soul which made its debut at the 2018 LA auto show and started selling in the second quarter of 2019.
The next-gen Kia Soul doesn’t look all that different than the outgoing car. At least not at first glance. While the boxy shape remains the third-generation Soul’s trademark, everything else has been redesigned. The new model, for instance, sports a new uni-light up front and liftgate-mounted tail-lights at the back. It’s more aggressive-looking than the jolly old fellow the second-generation used to be.
The sluggish base engine was one of Soul’s weakest points in previous years. The third-gen model switched to a new lineup of engines taken from the recently introduced Hyundai Kona with base engine now being a larger 2.0L 4-cylinder mill good enough for 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with the new CVT gearbox in all but the entry-level trim which gets a 6-speed manual as a standard transmission.
The range-topping GT-Line Turbo models benefit from a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder from the Kona Limited and Ultimate trims. This engine makes 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque in Hyundai’s crossover, but it generates 201 ponies in the next-gen Soul in order to exceed the outgoing Soul turbo engine’s specifications. This powertrain sports a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission as its sole option.
07. 2020 Genesis GV80
The upcoming GV80 will be the first of two new Genesis crossovers. Hyundai’s luxury division is undergoing an extensive lineup expansion these days and the introduction of their very first crossover was the obvious move. The Genesis GV80 will be the larger of the two crossovers, based on the Hyundai Santa Fe. However, the GV80 should be both longer and wider than the Santa Fe, thus eliminating any resemblance between them.
Slotting in the mid-size SUV spot, the Genesis GV80 should target the likes of BMW X5, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS Class, and a number of Japanese luxury crossovers. It’s not yet clear whether the GV80 will ride on the Santa Fe platform or be underpinned by a stretched Genesis sedan platform, but we do know it’ll be available in both the rear and all-wheel-drive configurations.
The 2020 Genesis GV80 is expected to draw power from a trio of engines but not all of them are destined for the U.S. market. A 3.0L diesel inline-six is the one we can safely chalk off. However, a 2.5L turbocharged 4-cylinder capable of putting up 280 horsepower and a 3.5L turbocharged V6 with 380 ponies should be more than sufficient.
Like it is the case with the Genesis sedans, the GV80 crossover will also adopt an 8-speed automatic transmission as its sole offering. Again, like the Genesis sedans, the GV80 crossover will be more affordable than its competitors without eschewing on the quality part. In turn, this should make it one of the best value-for-money options in its class and we can’t wait to finally see it in person, as it will likely be one of the most sublime 2020 crossovers headed our way.
06. 2020 Aston Martin DBX
Topping the list of the most surprising 2020 crossovers we can expect to see, the 2020 Aston Martin DBX is the latest in the line of ultra luxury crossovers after the likes of Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Rolls Royce Cullinan. Scheduled to begin production in late 2019 or early 2020, the DBX should reach the dealerships by Spring time 2020.
The crossover will be assembled at the company’s new facility in St Athan, Wales, UK, and will likely start from around $192,000 prior to extras. The concept DBX was first unveiled in 2015, but the production model doesn’t have too much in common with it. However, some of the concept car’s cues have been transitioned to the end-product as DBX’s sloping roofline unmistakably screams “coupe crossover.”
At launch, the 2020 Aston Martin DBX starts off with the AMG Mercedes-Benz-supplied 4.0L twin-turbo V8 which cranks up 542 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to a 9-speed automatic gearbox that’s routing all the power to the rear. Further down the line, the British will also provide a plug-in hybrid take on their latest model, while an all-electric version won’t be coming anytime soon.
Most importantly for the British automaker, the Aston Martin DBX will almost certainly become one of the company’s most important and best-selling models from day one.
05. 2020 Ford Bronco
One of the most anticipated new arrivals for 2020 is getting closer with each passing day. The iconic Ford Bronco is – as themselves at the Blue Oval state – back by popular demand. The beloved 4×4 SUV will benefit from all the latest technology its predecessors didn’t have, and should retain the most important bit of the older generations – their soul. How that will turn out in practice remains to be seen.
For now, we do know it’ll sport the mid-sized Ranger’s underpinnings and that it’ll compete with the Jeep Wrangler, meaning it’ll be as capable an off-roader as any of its predecessors. It’ll even get front and rear Dana axles with AdvanTEK gear technology, but we don’t know whether the front ones will be solid or independent.
The 2020 Ford Bronco will also sport a removable roof, and should come in both the 2-door and 4-door configurations. However, the company has apparently pushed its arrival to the second part of 2020 which would mean it’ll most likely arrive as a 2021-year model. Meanwhile, they’ve also announced a smaller Bronco Sport model which will actually be the first of the two to arrive.
People from the Blue Oval are still keeping the Bronco’s powertrain lineup a secret, but considering the off-road SUV will share a platform with the Ranger, it wouldn’t be surprising if it actually borrowed the mid-size truck’s engines as well. More particularly, this could mean it’ll get a 2.3L EcoBoost 4-cylinder with around 270 horsepower on tap and a 10-speed automatic transmission tied to it. We can also see the Bronco getting a larger optional 2.7L EcoBoost V6 with additional power, but we’ll know more closer to the arrival date.
When it finally does arrive, the new Ford Bronco should start from around $30,000 or thereabouts. It will be assembled at the Michigan Assembly Plant together with the Ford Ranger pickup. This is definitely one of the most exciting 2020 crossovers to keep your eye on.
04. 2020 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer
The FCA was in the middle of the expansion of their Jeep division’s lineup before, sadly, the CEO Sergio Marchionne unexpectedly died on July 25, 2018, at age 66. He was one of the sternest advocates for the new dedicated three-row Jeep crossover/SUV that would slot above the Grand Cherokee. The company’s indecision cost them dearly as such a vehicle would have certainly helped propel them to new heights by now.
The full-size three-row Jeep SUV is still in the cards, however, and scheduled to arrive sometime beyond MY 2020. What’s more, it’ll wear on of the company’s most celebrated nameplates – the Wagoneer. The 2020 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will be body-on-frame SUVs which will compete with the likes of Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator, despite being imagined as a unibody crossover/SUVs at first.
They’ll only differ in wheelbase length and prices, much like their competitors do. Speaking of prices, FCA’s take on the bulky family-hauling SUV is expected to cost as much as their opponents, which means it’ll likely cost more than $70,000.
Considering the fact the 2020 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will share their underpinnings with the next-gen Ram pickup truck, they’ll most likely also borrow the company’s best-selling vehicle’s engines. In other words, expect a 3.6L V6 on entry-level Jeep Wagoneers and 5.7L and 6.4L Hemi V8s on the remainder of Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer lineups. Also, expect a 48-volt mild-hybrid system at the very least since Jeep’s future lineup is set to be heavily electrified by 2021.
Finally, leaked internal ZF documents suggest the Jeep might be working on a Hellcat-powered Grand Wagoneer Trackhawk which certainly coincides with their deep Trackhawk-branded line of future models as well. The ZF document indicates the almost-standard Hellcat 719-horsepower 6.2L supercharged V8 bits and their own ZF-8HP95X high torque 8-speed automatic transmission.
The new/old SUVs will be built in FCA’s Warren Truck Assembly Plant in Michigan, alongside the Ram pickup trucks. Production is scheduled to commence during the second half of 2021.
03. 2020 Cadillac XT6
The larger XT6 follows in the footsteps of the recently introduced 2019 Cadillac XT4. Being a three-row vehicle, the XT6 slots between the existing XT5 crossover and the large body-on-frame Escalade SUV, and competes with the likes of Lincoln Aviator or even Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Infiniti QX60.
The 2020 Cadillac XT6 asserts the candidacy for one of the best 2020 crossovers around thanks to its widely acclaimed C1XX platform which already underpins the likes of Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse, and its recognizable high-quality finish reserved for GM’s most luxurious division. However, that might just be one of its weak points at the same time.
Standard with the long-awaited three-row, Caddy crossover also sports the company’s latest 10-inch touchscreen display with the CUE system, while the optional electronic safety features will be topped by the Super Cruise hands-free system (only not initially).
The Cadillac XT6 offers only one engine at launch. A 3.6L naturally aspirated V6 unit with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque has been pulled directly from the smaller XT5. Needless to say, a new GM 9-speed automatic transmission is also mandatory. The XT6’s prices start from north of $50,000, but fully loaded units will cost you around $80,000.
02. 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63
The GLE Class might not be among the best crossovers 2020 has to offer, but the next-gen Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 will certainly be among them. A performance successor to the current M/GLE Class second-generation models is currently in advanced level of development considering the latest test mules have shed much of the initial camo and received more than simple provisional externals.
The AMG models have a lower and wider stance than the conventional units (which are already available) and sport bright red Brembos behind the wheel covers. They also sport square-shaped quad exhausts, a larger lid spoiler and a diffuser at the back. Overall, however, the mule doesn’t reveal that many groundbreaking exterior details as emphasis will most likely be on interior this time around.
From a performance standpoint, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 63 is, more or less, an open book. The AMG’s twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 should yet again find itself under the most powerful of the GLE Class models’ hood and should deliver around 600 horsepower without too much fuss. The CUV will be offered with a 9-speed automatic gearbox and a rear-biased 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.
Later on, it’ll be followed by a slightly less powerful AMG GLE 53 model which replaces the outgoing-generation’s AMG GLE 43. Prices should remain in check which means the new model should cost something north of $110,000. Price tag aside, this is likely to be one of the most refined 2020 crossovers we’ll see.
01. 2020 Hyundai Palisade
The South Koreans are working on updating and expanding their lineup of available models, particularly their crossovers. One of the few vacant spots in their portfolio has for a long time been the large three-row crossover SUV position, but not any more. Enter the 2020 Hyundai Palisade.
The newest addition to the Hyundai family offers enough seating for up to eight passengers and competes with a number of family crossovers including the in-house Santa Fe which can also be fitted with three rows of seats.
Assembled alongside the new Kia Telluride large crossover, the Palisade slots above everything the Koreans have to offer at the moment, size-wise. This, in turn, has had a major impact on its price range which starts from around $31,500 and ends up in the high forties (or even low fifties) region with all the option boxes selected.
The largest Hyundai crossover since the unlucky Veracruz was axed in 2013 comes with a single powertrain option. A sturdy 3.8L V6 paired with an 8-speed automatic gearbox is good enough for 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of rotational force.
The Palisade offers both a standard front-wheel-drive and an optional all-wheel-drive configurations. Down the line, the Koreans might decide to add a diesel option as well, but they’ll certainly offer the Palisade with some sort of a hybrid setup. How far down the line, however, remains to be seen. It also remains to be seen how good the Palisade will fare among the numerous upcoming 2020 crossovers.
