That was a popular distinction maybe 20 years ago, but the line is fuzzed and functionally, the term “crossover (CUV) is dead. But, like all terms automotive, it’s just marketing.” Crossover" seemed friendlier to women to get them to drive tall cars. Now everything is classed as a [size] suv. Some classic suv examples were always unibody like the jeep Cherokee. Edit: I see now your other comment touches on offroad capability. So does a 2wd “suv” (by your definition) then get declassified? Does a body-on-frame tall wagon with viscous coupling awd get declassified?
And no (takes a deep breath to survive an emotional down vote onslaught), there is no legal difference between 4x4, 4wd, or awd. A manufacturer can choose any term to apply to any type of 4-wheel locomotion. Every definitive trait has some counter example that still counts because people “feel” it’s good enough.
Every definitive trait has some counter example that still counts because people “feel” it’s good enough.
There’s an aphorism in statstics / science: “all models are wrong, but some are useful.” I feel that the distinction between genuine off-road-capable SUVs and crossovers/tall cars/glorified station wagons or minivans is useful, even if it isn’t completely definitive. Generally speaking, if it’s a unibody vehicle it probably isn’t very good off-road, and therefore doesn’t really deserve to be called an “SUV.”
So does a 2wd “suv” (by your definition) then get declassified?
A 2WD SUV is less general-purpose, but I think they still have enough potential to count (think desert-racing prerunners, which are often 2WD but legitimate off-road vehicles).
That was a popular distinction maybe 20 years ago, but the line is fuzzed and functionally, the term “crossover (CUV) is dead. But, like all terms automotive, it’s just marketing.” Crossover" seemed friendlier to women to get them to drive tall cars. Now everything is classed as a [size] suv. Some classic suv examples were always unibody like the jeep Cherokee. Edit: I see now your other comment touches on offroad capability. So does a 2wd “suv” (by your definition) then get declassified? Does a body-on-frame tall wagon with viscous coupling awd get declassified?
And no (takes a deep breath to survive an emotional down vote onslaught), there is no legal difference between 4x4, 4wd, or awd. A manufacturer can choose any term to apply to any type of 4-wheel locomotion. Every definitive trait has some counter example that still counts because people “feel” it’s good enough.
There’s an aphorism in statstics / science: “all models are wrong, but some are useful.” I feel that the distinction between genuine off-road-capable SUVs and crossovers/tall cars/glorified station wagons or minivans is useful, even if it isn’t completely definitive. Generally speaking, if it’s a unibody vehicle it probably isn’t very good off-road, and therefore doesn’t really deserve to be called an “SUV.”
A 2WD SUV is less general-purpose, but I think they still have enough potential to count (think desert-racing prerunners, which are often 2WD but legitimate off-road vehicles).