Luxury car companies race to make tiny SUVs

High-end auto makers including Audi, Lincoln and Porsche showcased their new compact crossovers at the Detroit auto show this week. That trend follows consumer preference, according to Bloomberg Businessweek, which reports that one in five vehicles sold is a compact crossover.

Mid-range vehicles like Honda, Chevy and Ford currently make up most compact crossover sales; sales of luxury SUVs grew at 16 percent last year.
 
What’s the attraction to these smaller crossovers? Bloomberg says drivers like that they are a bit bigger than a sedan, without riding on a cumbersome truck-sized body. They also provide drivers with a soothing combination of “adventurous” and “safe,” according to Xavier Mosquet, senior partner of the auto practice at Boston Consulting Group.

Read more from Bloomberg Businessweek.