| A sport utility vehicle, or SUV is a passenger | | | | Utilitarian/High drag body configuration |
| vehicle which combines the towing capacity of a | | | | High capacity engine |
| pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of | | | | Long-travel suspension (for off road/rough road |
| a sedan. Some SUV's seat 8 or more people | | | | use) |
| making them an alternative to two separate | | | | High load and tow capacity |
| vehicles[1][2]. Most SUVs are designed with a | | | | Large interior cabin space |
| roughly square cross-section, an engine | | | | 5-7 Seats |
| compartment, a combined passenger and cargo | | | | Combination safety features (For example, |
| compartment, and no dedicated trunk. Most | | | | multiple air bags and side impact protection) |
| mid-size and full-size SUVs have three rows of | | | | 4WD, or the ability to be equipped with 4WD |
| seats with a cargo area directly behind the last | | | | Low Fuel Economy |
| row of seats. Compact SUVs and mini SUVs, | | | | Due to consumer trends, several companies now |
| such as the Toyota RAV4 and Suzuki Vitara, | | | | also produce crossover SUV models, based on a |
| may have five or fewer seats. | | | | unibody architecture. Typically, these models are |
| It is known in some countries as an off-road | | | | lighter and more fuel efficient than traditional |
| vehicle or four-wheel drive, often abbreviated to | | | | SUVs. Crossover models sacrifice off road |
| 4WD or 4x4, and pronounced "four-by-four". | | | | features and load capacity for a performance/ride |
| However, not all SUVs have four-wheel drive | | | | experience more closely matching that of a large |
| capabilities. Conversely, not all 4WD passenger | | | | model family car, while maintaining much of the |
| vehicles are SUVs (see, for example, Subaru | | | | appearance of a traditional SUV. |
| Impreza), and not all SUV's feature 4wd (see | | | | Sport utility vehicles were originally descended |
| Mazda Tribute). | | | | from commercial and military vehicles such as the |
| More recently, manufacturers have responded to | | | | Jeep and Land Rover. [4] SUVs have been popular |
| buyer's complaints that SUVs "drive like trucks" | | | | for many years with rural buyers due to their |
| and demands for "carlike ride" with a new type of | | | | off-road capabilities. The Toyota Land Cruiser, |
| SUV. A new category, the crossover SUV uses | | | | Land Rover, Jeep Wagoneer and the Ford Bronco |
| car design and components for lighter weight and | | | | were early SUV examples, followed by the |
| better fuel efficiency, but is no longer designed or | | | | Chevrolet Blazer and the GMC Jimmy. |
| recommended by the manufacturer for off-road | | | | International Harvester also sold SUVs, notably |
| usage or towing. | | | | the three-door Scout and the five-door Travelall. |
| Although designs vary, the SUV are | | | | In the last 25 years, and even more in the last |
| stereotypically medium sized non-commercial | | | | decade, SUVs have become popular with urban |
| passenger vehicles constructed using a | | | | buyers. Consequently, more modern SUVs often |
| body-on-frame chassis similar to that found on | | | | come with luxury features and some crossover |
| crew cab or light truck. They can be either gas or | | | | SUVs, such as the Nissan Murano, BMW X5, |
| Diesel. | | | | Acura MDX, and Toyota RAV4, have adopted |
| Common features include: | | | | lower ride heights and utilize unibody construction |
| High ride height and seating position | | | | to better accommodate on-road driving. |