Sport utility vehicle

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A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States
A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States

A sport utility vehicle, or SUV, is a passenger vehicle which combines the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or station wagon. Most SUVs are designed with a roughly square cross-section, an engine compartment, a combined passenger and cargo compartment, and no dedicated trunk. Most mid-size and full-size SUVs have three rows of seats with a cargo area directly behind the last row of seats. Compact SUVs and mini SUVs, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Vitara, may have five or fewer seats.

It is known in some countries as an off-road vehicle or four-wheel drive, often abbreviated to 4WD or 4x4, and pronounced "four-by-four". However, not all SUVs have four-wheel drive capabilities (see Mazda Tribute, for example). Conversely, not all 4WD passenger vehicles are SUVs (see, for example, Subaru Impreza).

More recently, manufacturers have responded to buyer's complaints that SUVs "drive like trucks" and demands for "carlike ride" with a new type of SUV. A new category, the crossover SUV uses car design and components for lighter weight and better fuel efficiency, but is no longer designed or recommended by the manufacturer for off-road usage or towing.

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[edit] Design characteristics

Although designs vary, the SUV are stereotypically medium sized non-commercial passenger vehicles constructed using a body-on-frame chassis similar to that found on crew cab or light truck. They can be either gas or Diesel. [1]

Common features include:

  • High ride height and seating position
  • Utilitarian/High drag body configuration
  • High capacity engine
  • Long-travel suspension (for off road/rough road use)
  • High load and tow capacity
  • Large interior cabin space
  • 5-7 Seats
  • 4WD, or the ability to be equipped with 4WD

Due to consumer trends, several companies now also produce crossover SUV models, based on a unibody architecture eg. Toyota RAV4. Typically, these models are lighter and more fuel efficient than traditional SUVs. Crossover models sacrifice off road features and load capacity for a performance/ride experience more closely matching that of a large model family car, while maintaining much of the appearance of a traditional SUV, these crossovers are not SUVs in the literal sense.

See also: crossover SUV

[edit] History

Sport utility vehicles were originally descended from commercial and military vehicles such as the Jeep and Land Rover. [2] SUVs have been popular for many years with rural buyers due to their off-road capabilities. The Toyota Land Cruiser, Land Rover, Jeep Wagoneer and the Ford Bronco were early SUV examples, followed by the Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Jimmy. International Harvester also sold SUVs, notably the three-door Scout and the five-door Travelall.

In the last 25 years, and even more in the last decade, SUVs have become popular with urban buyers. Consequently, more modern SUVs often come with luxury features and some crossover SUVs, such as the Nissan FX-45, Hyundai Genus, and BMW X3, have adopted lower ride heights and utilize unibody construction to better accommodate on-road driving.

[edit] Popularity

SUVs became popular in the United States, Canada, and Australia in the 1990s and early 2000s for a variety of reasons. Vehicle buyers were drawn to their large cabins, higher ride height, and perceived safety. Additionally, some full-size SUVs have far greater towing capacities than conventional cars, allowing owners to tow travel trailers (caravans), trailers, and boats with relative ease.

A large growth in SUV popularity and sales is due to advertisement targeted towards women. Women constitute more than half of SUV drivers, and SUVs are one of the most popular vehicle choice of women in the United States. Template:Bradsher, 2001 A common relation of this is in the term "Soccer Mom"

In Australia, a unique situation resulted in the growth in popularity of SUVs. There, SUVs have a much lower import duty than cars. This means a typical SUV has a price advantage over a similarly-equipped, imported sedan. However, in recent years, the import duty has been lowered for cars as well, and is currently at 10% (compared with 5% for SUVs).

Some of the SUV's popularity can be attributed to it "utilitarian" - "bigger is better" - image. The size and weight appealing to insecurity on the road, or a desire to be respected through one's vehicle.

In the mid 2000s, however, their popularity has waned, due to higher fuel prices, rollover accident fatalities and higher relative pollution.

Current model SUVs (crossovers) take into account that 98% of SUV owners never go offroad. As such, some SUVs now have lower ground clearance and suspension designed primarily for paved road usage. [3] However with the advent and popularization of air suspension, many SUVs such as the Touareg, and Land Rover's Range Rover have the benefits of a low suspension while on road with the ability to raise it to go offroad where a car or other vehicle might not be able to. In addition increased ground clearance is useful in climates with heavy snow.

In addition, full-sized SUVs such as the Chevrolet Suburban and Ford Expedition have replaced old-fashioned full-size station wagons and bear similar features; such as 3-row seating and front bench seat.

[edit] SUVs in remote areas

SUVs are often used in places such as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Northern Canada, South America and most of Asia, which have limited paved roads and require the vehicle to have all-terrain handling, increased range, and storage capacity. The low availability of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly allow model vehicles with the bare minimum of electric and hydraulic systems to predominate. Typical examples are the Land Rover and the Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs intended for use in urbanised areas have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example the Hummer H1 is derived from the HMMWV, originally developed for the US Armed Forces.

[edit] Other names

Outside of North America and India, these vehicles are known simply as four-wheel-drives, often abbreviated to "4WD" or "4x4". They are classified as cars in countries such as the UK where the U.S. distinction between cars and 'light trucks' is not used. In Australia, the automotive industry and press have recently adopted the term SUV in place of four-wheel drive in the description of vehicles and market segments however the term four-wheel-drive is still used for vehicles possessing 4x4 capability and other characteristics which make labelling it an SUV misleading. In Australia the term SUV is generally associated with vehicles not actually intended to be used in harsh off-road conditions whilst the term 4x4/4wd/four-wheel-drive applies to heavier, more rugged vehicles. (The term "Utility" or "ute" in Australia refers to an automobile with a flatbed rear or pick-up, typically seating two passengers and which is often used by tradesmen. It is typically not a 4WD vehicle.)

For decades, SUVs were often referred to generically as "jeeps". This practice was actively discouraged by every owner of the Jeep trademark, and this terminology is now almost entirely out of use.

[edit] SUVs in recreation and motorsport

SUVs are also used to explore off-road places otherwise unreachable by other vehicles. In Australia, China, Europe, South Africa, South America and the United States at least, many 4WD clubs have been formed for this purpose. Modified SUVs also take part in races, most famously in the Paris-Dakar Rally, and the Australian Outback.

With the increasing urbanisation of the world, SUVs are also used by those seeking unmodified landscapes and isolation, especially in nations with large wilderness areas lacking extensive road networks. Since most roads are meant to directly connect locations, many natural features of interest are inaccessible or not visible to most vehicles. The ability to travel without having to use roads is part of the appeal of SUV ownership due to a sense of independence this invokes in many people.

SUVs also allow drivers to connect on an aesthetic level with the physical environment by allowing owners to go off road, SUVs promote a greater value being applied to wilderness areas, an attachment difficult to gain through reading or simply seeing things on television. SUV clubs often promote this ideal and a commercial manifestation of this can be seen in the number of tourism operators dependent on SUVs for their activities, Australia being a strong example.

[edit] Slang

In southern England, SUVs are often referred to in derogatory terms as "soft roaders" or "Chelsea tractors", due to their popularity among affluent people living in central London areas such as Chelsea. In the UK they are occasionally known as jeeps or Land Rovers no matter what make they actually are, although the increasing prevalence of these vehicles in recent years has decreased this colloquial usage. In New Zealand they are occasionally called "Fendalton tractors" or "Remuera tractors" after the higher priced suburbs in Christchurch and Auckland respectively. In Australia, Victoria, they are sometimes referred to as "Toorak Tractors", though this is rare. In Norway, they are known as 'bourse tractors' due to yuppie stereotypes. In Russia they are sometimes called "parquet off-road vehicles" due to their limited cross-country abilities. In Amsterdam they are often called "PC Hooft-tractors" after the city's most exclusive shopping street. SUVs are also criticized in the Netherlands for similar reasons, and some environmentalists are pushing local governments to deny SUV users parking spaces.

[edit] Luxury SUV

Main article: Luxury SUV

Many more luxurious SUVs and pickup trucks have been introduced lately. Early models include the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. A particularly "hot" model right now is the Land Rover Range Rover, included in many rap songs and popular among celebrities (rap musicians particularly).

A luxury SUV is basically an SUV that is equipped with luxury car interior trims and gadgets.

[edit] Criticism

Main article: SUV Criticism
A Ford Excursion SUV next to a Toyota Camry
A Ford Excursion SUV next to a Toyota Camry

SUVs have been criticized for many reasons, most notably getting poor gas mileage and therefore contributing to global warming and emitting more smog-forming pollution.

Other reasons include being dangerous to other motorists driving smaller vehicles, as they are very incompatible with smaller vehicles, which means they are very likely to run over a smaller vehicle and crush it. They are also likely to roll over when crashes occur.

In urban areas with larger SUVs are criticized for the problems they cause due to their length and width, such as impeding traffic flow and the inability to fit into marked stalls.

[edit] List of SUVs by brand

2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Hummer H3
Hummer H3
Lexus Rx400h
Lexus Rx400h
Nissan Xterra
Nissan Xterra

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

[edit] References

  • Gladwell, M. (2004, January 12). Big and bad. The New Yorker, LXXIX, 28-30. [2]
  • Motor Trend. (Complete information on the Motor Trend reference is unavailable. However, the article was Motor Trend's announcement of the Lexus RX 300 as the 1999 SUV of the Year.)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Consumer Search [1] SUV-Review
  2. ^ Keith Bradsher. High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way. Published by PublicAffairs. ISBN 1-58648-203-3
  3. ^ "The Unstoppable SUV," Keith Naughton. Newsweek, July 2, 2001

[edit] Additional reading

  • Keith Bradsher. High and Mighty: SUVs--The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way. Published by PublicAffairs. ISBN 1-58648-203-3
  • Adam Penenberg. Tragic Indifference : One Man's Battle with the Auto Industry over the Dangers of SUVs. Published by HarperBusiness. ISBN 0-06-009058-8

[edit] External links

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