What's the difference between an SUV and a Crossover?
- Thread starter Shel_B
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4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I think of SUV as body on frame like mine are …
CUV is unibody like XT5 etc …
CUV is unibody like XT5 etc …
IMO a crossover is a lifted hatch or wagon, like the Tiguan or Highlander. FWD based and limited capability.
SUV is your X5, Touareg, Suburban/Tahoe, etc. AWD/4WD and more capable.
SUV is your X5, Touareg, Suburban/Tahoe, etc. AWD/4WD and more capable.
SUV=large and heavy vehicles
Crossover=smaller lighter vehicles
IMO a crossover gets much better mileage than an SUV. It's kind of a gray area between the two. Just my 2 cents.
Crossover=smaller lighter vehicles
IMO a crossover gets much better mileage than an SUV. It's kind of a gray area between the two. Just my 2 cents.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
This is like the 4wd / AWD debate - could last forever.
Traditionally when SUV's came out - they were built on truck chasis. They were thought of as heavy duty, but also for someone not wanting a truck, cumbersome and got poor mileage.
So manufacturers starting building them on car chasis - think Rav4 or CR-V. At that time they still called them SUV's but switched to CUV to make it synonymous with comfortable and efficient.
So for me CUV = car chasis and SUV = body on frame or truck type chassis.
But no one polices these categories so a manufacturer can call it whatever they like - like AWD / 4WD
Traditionally when SUV's came out - they were built on truck chasis. They were thought of as heavy duty, but also for someone not wanting a truck, cumbersome and got poor mileage.
So manufacturers starting building them on car chasis - think Rav4 or CR-V. At that time they still called them SUV's but switched to CUV to make it synonymous with comfortable and efficient.
So for me CUV = car chasis and SUV = body on frame or truck type chassis.
But no one polices these categories so a manufacturer can call it whatever they like - like AWD / 4WD
Does CUV mean crossover? Is our Lexus 450h a SUV, CUV, crossover or what?
Actually, don't waste your time because I will forget pretty soon anyways. All good.
Actually, don't waste your time because I will forget pretty soon anyways. All good.
I love it when I confuse those who weren’t around for 80s vehicle marketing terminology by telling them I drive a “compact SUV” and then they learn it’s an 85 K5 Blazer! Next to almost any modern “mid-sized SUV” the Blazer is huge.
CUV - FWD based, no low range
SUV - RWD based, low range. I don't use the BOF as an identifier. My uniframe Liberty or Discovery are proper SUVs with great off road abilities and towing abilities despite not being body on frame (although the Liberty is a ladder frame with the body welded to it, whereas the discovery is unibody). Same with a Grand Cherokee. But I see an X5 or GLC or GLS or X3 as a cross over- RWD based yes, but not designed for any "rugged" utility, no low range etc.
SUV - RWD based, low range. I don't use the BOF as an identifier. My uniframe Liberty or Discovery are proper SUVs with great off road abilities and towing abilities despite not being body on frame (although the Liberty is a ladder frame with the body welded to it, whereas the discovery is unibody). Same with a Grand Cherokee. But I see an X5 or GLC or GLS or X3 as a cross over- RWD based yes, but not designed for any "rugged" utility, no low range etc.
Yep, things change over time. My "midsize" Nissan Frontier pickup is bigger and more capable than my F150's I had in the 80;s.
Is it a tomayto or a tomahto or does it mayto or mahto? I dunno.
A weight distributing hitch on a unibody vehicle is not a great situation.
quote-
When you place the trailer’s tongue weight on a vehicle with a steel frame, the weight can distribute through the frame rails without issues. A unibody vehicle is not nearly as rigid as a steel frame, so distributing trailer tongue weight on a unibody vehicle can be problematic.
Honda-for example on some model years of the Ridgeline says a WD hitch is not recommended.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
I like the term Cute Ute..
The first unibody Cherokee could hardly be called a CUV.
The first unibody Cherokee could hardly be called a CUV.
Then there was BMW who called their vehicles Sports Activity Vehicles..... Who knows, maybe they still do.
I had a neighbor who bought that line hook, line and sinker. He bought the BMW, and justified his choice because none of it's competitors were in the "Activity" segment.
I had a neighbor who bought that line hook, line and sinker. He bought the BMW, and justified his choice because none of it's competitors were in the "Activity" segment.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
At least I included a distinction within the subject matter … they have to be UV …
and being relative comparison - I included some vehicles …
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
SUV: Tahoe, X5, Pilot, Durango etc.
CUV: Tiguan, CR-V, RAV4 etc.
Crossover: I would say Outback falls into it.
In the end, I think it comes down to how manufacturer wants to classify it. BMW classifies their X3,5 as SAV, Sport Activity Vehicle. And they are more capable than many body on frame SUV’s, towing and off roading wise.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Yep. Few months I was next to Chevrolet Colorado, and thinking how is this considered now midsize.
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