Sport utility vehicle

A sport utility vehicle or suburban utility vehicle (SUV) is a vehicle classified as a light truck, but operated as a family vehicle. SUVs are similar to a large station wagon or estate car, tho’ typically featuring tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high center of gravity, high ground-clearance and especially four- or all-wheel-drive capability for on- or off-road capability. Some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or large sedan.

Popular in the late-1990s and early–mid-2000s, SUVs sales temporarily declined due to high oil prices and a declining economy. The traditional truck-based SUV is little by little being supplanted by the crossover SUV, which uses an automobile platform for lighter weight and better fuel efficiency. By 2010, SUV sales around the world were growing, in spite of high gas prices.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a “sport utility vehicle” is “a rugged automotive vehicle similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis”. [1] The “SUV” term is defined as “a large vehicle that is designed to be used on rough surfaces but that is often used on city roads or highways.” [Two] The “SUV” acronym “is still used to describe almost anything with available all-wheel drive and raised ground clearance.” [Three]

North America Edit

There is no definition for an SUV. [Four] Most government regulations simply have categories for “off-highway vehicles,” which in turn are lumped in with pickup trucks and minivans as “light trucks.” [Four] The auto industry has not lodged on one definition. [Four]

Nevertheless, four-wheel-drive SUVs are considered light trucks in North America (and two-wheel-drive SUVs up to the two thousand eleven model year [Five] ) where they were regulated less stringently than passenger cars under two laws in the United States, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for fuel economy, and the Clean Air Act for emissions. [6] Kicking off in 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars. [7]

Many people question “how can an SUV be called a truck?” [8] Albeit the original definition of the “light truck” classification included pickups and delivery vans, usually SUVs and minivans are included in this category because these vehicles are designed to “permit greater cargo-carying capacity than passenger carrying volume.” [8] Manufacturing, emissions, and safety regulations in the U.S. classify “an SUV is a truck”; however, for local licensing and traffic enforcement, “an SUV may be a truck or a car” because the classification of these vehicles varies from state to state. [9] For industry production statistics, SUVs are counted in the light truck product segment. [Ten]

Other markets Edit

The term is not used in all countries, and outside North America the terms “off-road vehicle”, “four-wheel drive” or “four-by-four” (abbreviated to “4WD” or “4×4”) or simply use of the brand name to describe the vehicle like “Jeep” or “Land Rover” are more common. [ citation needed ]

In Europe, the term SUV has a similar meaning, but being newer than in the U.S. it only applies to the newer street oriented one, where-as “Jeep”, “Land Rover” or 4×4 are used for the off-roader oriented ones. Not all SUVs have four-wheel drive capabilities, and not all four-wheel-drive passenger vehicles are SUVs. Albeit some SUVs have off-road capabilities, they often play only a secondary role, and SUVs often do not have the capability to switch among two-wheel and four-wheel-drive high gearing and four-wheel-drive low gearing. While automakers tout an SUV’s off-road prowess with advertising and naming, the daily use of SUVs is largely on paved roads.

In India, all SUVs are classified in the “Utility Vehicle” category per the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) definitions and carry a 27% excise tax. [11] Those that are four metres (157 inches) long, have a 1,500 cc (92 cu in) engine or larger, along with one hundred seventy mm (6.7 in) of ground clearance, are subject to a 30% excise duty. [12]

Albeit designs vary, SUVs have historically been mid-size passenger vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis similar to that found on light trucks. Early SUVs were mostly two-door models, and were available with removable tops. However, consumer request shoved the SUV market towards four-doors, and by 2002, all full-size two-door SUVs were gone from the market, the last ones being one thousand nine hundred ninety nine model year Chevrolet Tahoes. Two-door SUVs were mostly carry-over models, and their sales were not viable enough to warrant a redesign at the end of their design cycle. The Jeep Wrangler remained as a compact two-door figure style, albeit it was also joined by a four-door variant beginning with the two thousand seven model year, the Wrangler Unlimited. [13] The number of two-door SUV models enlargened in the 2010s with the release of the Range Rover Evoque and the Nissan Murano convertible, albeit both vehicles are unibody.

Most SUVs are designed with an engine compartment, a combined passenger and cargo compartment, and no dedicated trunk such as in a station wagon assets. Most mid-size and full-size SUVs have three rows of seats with a cargo area directly behind the last row of seats. Cargo barriers are often fitted to the cargo area to protect the vehicles occupants from injury from unsecured cargo in the event of unexpected deceleration or collision.

SUVs are known for high ground clearance, upright, boxy figure, and high H-point. This can make them more likely to roll over due to their high center of gravity. Bods of SUVs have recently become more aerodynamic, but the sheer size and weight keeps their fuel economy poor.

A mini SUV (also called subcompact SUV or subcompact crossover) is a class of puny sport utility vehicles. The term usually applies to crossovers based on a supermini (B-segment cars in Europe) platform such as the Daihatsu Terios, Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X, Honda Vezel, Jeep Renegade, Mini Countryman, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, Opel Mokka, Peugeot two thousand eight and Renault Captur.

An extended length SUV, also sometimes called a long-wheel based SUV, are vehicles that are similar to a full-size SUV, except that these vehicles have a larger cargo area (around one hundred thirty in (Trio.30 m)) and passenger space that can seat up to eight or nine people (with the available third row seating that when folded or eliminated adds more cargo space). Albeit these extended length SUVs are mostly sold in North America because of their size and the roads are made and designed differently, they can also be found in other countries, exported to such places like The Philippines and The Middle East. The vehicles are two hundred twenty one in (Five.61 m) to two hundred twenty three in (Five.66 m) in length and can be distinguished by the rear wheel area not touching the rear doors. Presently, the only vehicles built under this segment are the Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition EL, Ford Excursion, GMC Yukon XL and Lincoln Navigator L.

Origins Edit

Early SUVs were descendants from commercial and military vehicles such as the World War II Jeep [14] and Land Rover. [15]

The earliest examples of longer-wheelbase wagon-type cars were the Chevrolet Carryall Suburban (1935, RWD only), GAZ-61 (1938, 4×4), Willys Jeep Station Wagon (1948), Pobeda M-72 (GAZ-M20/1955), which Russian references credit as possibly being the very first modern SUV (with unitary assets rather than body-on-frame), International Harvester Travelall (1953), Land Rover Series II one hundred nine (1958), and the International Harvester Scout eighty (1961). These were followed by the more ‘modern’ Jeep Wagoneer (1963), International Harvester Scout II (1971), Ford Bronco (1966), Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-55 (1968), the Chevrolet Blazer / GMC Jimmy (1969), and the Land Rover Range Rover (1970). The actual term “sport utility vehicle” did not come into broad popular usage until the late 1980s; many of these vehicles were marketed during their era as station wagons.

According to Robert Casey, the transportation curator at the Henry Ford Museum, the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) was the very first true sport utility vehicle in the modern understanding of the term. [16] Developed under the leadership of AMC’s François Castaing and marketed to urban families as a substitute for a traditional car (and especially station wagons, which were still fairly popular at the time), the Cherokee had four-wheel drive in a more manageable size (compared to the full-size Wagoneer), as well as a plush interior resembling a station wagon. [16] With the introduction of more luxurious models and a much more powerful 4-liter engine, sales of the Cherokee enlargened even higher as the price of gasoline fell, and the term “sport utility vehicle” began to be used in the national press for the very first time. [16] “The advent and instant success of AMC/Jeep’s compact four-door Cherokee turned the truck industry upside down.” [17]

The corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard was ratified in the 1970s to regulate the fuel economy of passenger vehicles. Car manufacturers evaded the regulation by selling SUVs as work vehicles. [Legal] The popularity of SUV enhanced among urban drivers in the last twenty five years, and particularly in the last decade. Consequently, modern SUVs are available with luxury vehicle features, and some crossover models adopt lower rail heights to accommodate on-road driving.

Keith Bradsher explained the rise of the SUV with American Motors’ (AMC) lobbying the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a waiver of the United States Clean Air Act. The EPA subsequently designated AMC’s compact Cherokee as a “light truck”, and the company marketed the vehicle to everyday drivers. [Nineteen] AMC’s effort to affect rulemaking switching the official definition of their fresh model then led to the SUV boom when other auto makers marketed their own models in response to the Cherokee taking sales from their regular cars. [20]

Popularity Edit

SUVs became popular in the United States, Canada, India, and Australia in the 1990s and early-2000s. U.S. automakers could love profit margins of $Ten,000 per SUV, while losing a few hundred dollars on a compact car. [21] For example, the Ford Excursion could net the company $Legal,000, while they could not break even with the Ford Concentrate unless the buyer chose options, [22] [23] leading Detroit’s big three automakers to concentrate on SUVs over petite cars.

The higher cost of union labor in the U.S. and Canada compared to the lower wages of non-union workers at non-U.S. companies like Toyota, made it unprofitable for American auto makers to build petite cars in the U.S. [24] For example, the General Motors factory in Arlington, Texas where rear-wheel-drive cars were built, such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was converted to truck and SUV production, putting an end to full-size family station wagon and overall terminating production of rear-wheel drive full-size cars. Due to the shift in the Big Three’s strategy, many long-running cars like the Ford Taurus, Buick Century and Pontiac Grand Prix fell behind their Japanese competitors in features and pic (relying more on fleet sales instead of retail and/or strong incentive discounts); some were discontinued. [25] [26] [27]

Buyers were drawn to SUVs’ large cabins, higher rail height, and perceived safety. Full-size SUVs often suggested features such as three-row seating, to effectively substitute full-size station wagons and minivans. Wagons were seen as old-fashioned. Additionally, full-size SUVs have greater towing capabilities than conventional cars, and can haul trailers, travel trailers (caravans) and boats. Enlargened ground clearance is useful in climates with powerful snowfall. The very low oil prices of the 1990s helped keep down running costs. The SUV was one of the most popular choices of vehicle for female drivers in the U.S. [28] [29]

Social scientists have drawn on popular folklore such as urban legends to illustrate how marketers have been able to capitalize on the feelings of strength and security suggested by SUVs. [30] Popular tales include narratives where mothers save the family from armed robbery and other incidents by taking the automobile off road, for example.

In Australia, SUV sales were helped by the fact that SUVs had much lower import duty than passenger cars did, so that they cost less than similarly tooled imported sedans. However, this gap was step by step narrowed, and in January two thousand ten the import duty on cars was lowered to match the five percent duty on SUVs. [31] [32]

Sales of SUVs and other light trucks fell in the mid-2000s because of high oil prices and declining economy. In 2008, General Motors announced plans to close four truck and SUV plants, including the Oshawa Truck Assembly. [24] The company cited decreased sales of large vehicles in the wake of rising fuel prices. [33] The business model of focusing on SUVs and light trucks, at the expense of more fuel-efficient compact and midsized cars, is blamed for declining sales and profits among Detroit’s Big Three automakers since the mid–late-2000s. The Big Three were slower to adapt than their Japanese rivals in producing petite cars to meet growing request due to inflexible manufacturing facilities, which made it unprofitable to build puny cars. [34] However, beginning in 2010, SUV and light truck sales have began an upward trend due to lower gas prices and a revival of the North American economy. [35] In 2013, General Motors eyed its sales for its large SUVs enlargened by 74%, making them the largest producer of SUVs in the United States. [36] However, the “petite and compact SUVs, when compared with other vehicles in the light truck segment, has made this vehicle segment the third highest selling vehicle segment in the automotive market in 2013.” [Ten] With the redesigned GM and Ford large SUVs being introduced in two thousand fourteen (for the two thousand fifteen model year), it has seen a slight resurgence among consumers due to better fuel economy and fresh engines, along with updated and newer features. [37]

Commencing in 2015, sales of SUVs commenced predominant the industry. At the end of 2016, sales of SUVs and light duty trucks had surpassed traditional car sales for the year by over three million units. [38] Manufacturers like Hyundai have began reducing their production of traditional cars in favor of SUVs citing reduction in sales and difficulty rivaling with other manufacturers. [39]

SUVs are sometimes driven off-road on farms and in remote areas of such places as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, South America, Russia and parts of Asia which have limited paved roads and require a vehicle to have all-terrain treating, enlargened range, and storage capacity. The scarcity of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly resulted in the popularity of vehicles with the naked minimum of electrical and hydraulic systems, such as the basic versions of the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs for urban driving have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example, the Hummer H1 was developed from the HMMWV, originally developed for the military of the United States. [40]

As many SUV owners never used the off-road capabilities of their vehicle, newer SUVs (including crossovers) now have lower ground clearance and suspension designed primarily for paved roads. [41]

Some buyers choose SUVs because they have more interior space than sedans of similar sizes. In areas with gravel roads in summer and snow and ice in winter, four-wheel drives suggest a safety advantage due to their traction advantages under these conditions. [ citation needed ]

The sport utility vehicles have also gained popularity in some areas of Mexico, especially in desert areas or in cities where drivers frequently encounter potholes, detours, high water and rough roads. Enlargening use is also attributed to the high number of filth roads outside major population centers, resulting in washboard and mud in the rainy seasons. [42]

Some very modified SUVs, together with their more rugged off-road counterparts, are also used to explore places otherwise unreachable by other vehicles. In Australia, China, Europe, South Africa, South America and the United States at least, 4WD clubs have been formed for this purpose. Modified SUVs also take part in races, including the Paris-Dakar Rally, the Baja racing series, TREC events, King of the Hammers in California and the Australian Outback. [ citation needed ]

The Trophee Andros ice-racing series is another competition where SUVs participate as well.

Many 4×4 mud racing events and other activities take place via the US organized by clubs and associations.

Numerous luxury vehicles in the form of SUVs and pickup trucks are being produced. Luxury SUV is principally a marketing term to sell fancier vehicles that may have higher spectacle, convenience, technology, or brand picture. The term lacks both measurability and verifiability, and it is applied to a broad range of SUV sizes and types. [ citation needed ]

Nevertheless, the marketing category was created in one thousand nine hundred sixty six with Kaiser Jeep’s luxurious Super Wagoneer. [43] [44] It was the very first SUV to suggest a V8 engine, automatic transmission, and luxury car trim and equipment in a serious off-road model. It came with bucket seating, air conditioning, sun roof, and even a vinyl roof. Land Rover followed suit in one thousand nine hundred seventy by introducing the Range Rover. The trend continued with other competitors adding convenience features to their rudimentary and truck-based models.

The production of luxury models enlargened in the late-1990s with vehicles such as the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. These luxury SUVs generated higher profit margins than non-luxury SUVs did. [45] [46] For some auto makers, luxury SUVs were the very first SUV models they produced. Some of these models are not traditional SUVs based on light truck as they are classified as crossovers.

The luxury SUV class encompasses both smaller 5-passenger SUVs and larger 7-passenger SUVs, with luxury features both inwards of the cabin but also in the outside. Buyers looking for a luxury vehicle that offers more cargo capacity than a sedan may choose a luxury SUV. This is also a vehicle aimed for those who choose an SUV with a little more style. [47]

Luxury SUVs typically suggest the most expected safety features including side airbags, Six pack and traction control, and many of them also come with electronic stability control, crash resistant door piles, dynamic head restraints and back-up sensing systems. [47]

The U.S. News & World Report Rankings and Reviews ranks premium midsize SUVs and crossovers based on an in-depth analysis by its editors of published auto ratings, reviews and test drives. [48] Ranking is based on the score on spectacle, exterior, interior, safety, and reliability obtained by the vehicles.

In Australia and Fresh Zealand, the term SUV is not widely used, except by motoring organizations, [49] the press, [50] and industry bods. [51] Passenger class vehicles designed for off-road use are known as “four-wheel drives”, “4WDs”, or “4×4s”. Some manufacturers do refer to their products as SUVs, but others invented names such as XUV, [52] (HSV Avalanche XUV or GMC Envoy XUV) or act utility vehicles (AUVs). [53] The term “AWD”, or all-wheel drive, is used for any vehicle which drives on all four wheels, but may not be designed for off-road use. “Crossover” is a marketing term for a vehicle that is both four-wheel-drive and primarily a road car.

The pejorative terms “Toorak Tractor” and Mosman taxi are used in Australia to describe vehicles such as Range Rovers used in wealthy urban areas with fine roads, fine dining, and special designer shopping precincts where off-road capability is not required. The terms alludes to the affluent Melbourne suburb of Toorak and the sydney suburb of mosman these terms have been in use at least as early as the late 1980s. The equivalent term “Chelsea Tractor” became prominent in the United Kingdom around two thousand four to describe vehicles such luxury SUVs used in urban areas such as Chelsea, London, where their four-wheel-drive capabilities are not required and the car is believed to be a status symbol rather than a necessity. [54] The term “4×4” (four-by-four) is also common even for vehicles not used in urban areas. “AWD” is not commonly used in the UK. The less capable SUVs also pick up the name “soft-roader” because while they emerge designed to go off road, in many cases they’re not actually capable of it.

In Norway the term “Børstraktor” (Stock Exchange Tractor) serves a similar purpose. [55]

In Finland the term “katumaasturi” is commonly used to designate SUVs. [56] It harshly translates to street-off-roader, or street-4×4. This marks the difference with what is called “maasturi” which is a vehicle with off-road capability.

In Sweden they are often called “stadsjeep” (city jeep).

In the Netherlands they are known as “P.C. Hoofttractors” after the special P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street.

In the United States, “mall rated” is an equivalent.

Sport utility vehicle

A sport utility vehicle or suburban utility vehicle (SUV) is a vehicle classified as a light truck, but operated as a family vehicle. SUVs are similar to a large station wagon or estate car, however typically featuring tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high center of gravity, high ground-clearance and especially four- or all-wheel-drive capability for on- or off-road capability. Some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or large sedan.

North America Edit

Nevertheless, four-wheel-drive SUVs are considered light trucks in North America (and two-wheel-drive SUVs up to the two thousand eleven model year [Five] ) where they were regulated less stringently than passenger cars under two laws in the United States, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for fuel economy, and the Clean Air Act for emissions. [6] Commencing in 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars. [7]

Other markets Edit

Albeit designs vary, SUVs have historically been mid-size passenger vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis similar to that found on light trucks. Early SUVs were mostly two-door models, and were available with removable tops. However, consumer request shoved the SUV market towards four-doors, and by 2002, all full-size two-door SUVs were gone from the market, the last ones being one thousand nine hundred ninety nine model year Chevrolet Tahoes. Two-door SUVs were mostly carry-over models, and their sales were not viable enough to warrant a redesign at the end of their design cycle. The Jeep Wrangler remained as a compact two-door bod style, albeit it was also joined by a four-door variant kicking off with the two thousand seven model year, the Wrangler Unlimited. [13] The number of two-door SUV models enlargened in the 2010s with the release of the Range Rover Evoque and the Nissan Murano convertible, albeit both vehicles are unibody.

Most SUVs are designed with an engine compartment, a combined passenger and cargo compartment, and no dedicated trunk such as in a station wagon bod. Most mid-size and full-size SUVs have three rows of seats with a cargo area directly behind the last row of seats. Cargo barriers are often fitted to the cargo area to protect the vehicles occupants from injury from unsecured cargo in the event of unexpected deceleration or collision.

SUVs are known for high ground clearance, upright, boxy figure, and high H-point. This can make them more likely to roll over due to their high center of gravity. Figures of SUVs have recently become more aerodynamic, but the sheer size and weight keeps their fuel economy poor.

A mini SUV (also called subcompact SUV or subcompact crossover) is a class of petite sport utility vehicles. The term usually applies to crossovers based on a supermini (B-segment cars in Europe) platform such as the Daihatsu Terios, Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X, Honda Vezel, Jeep Renegade, Mini Countryman, Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, Opel Mokka, Peugeot two thousand eight and Renault Captur.

Origins Edit

Early SUVs were descendants from commercial and military vehicles such as the World War II Jeep [14] and Land Rover. [15]

The earliest examples of longer-wheelbase wagon-type cars were the Chevrolet Carryall Suburban (1935, RWD only), GAZ-61 (1938, 4×4), Willys Jeep Station Wagon (1948), Pobeda M-72 (GAZ-M20/1955), which Russian references credit as possibly being the very first modern SUV (with unitary figure rather than body-on-frame), International Harvester Travelall (1953), Land Rover Series II one hundred nine (1958), and the International Harvester Scout eighty (1961). These were followed by the more ‘modern’ Jeep Wagoneer (1963), International Harvester Scout II (1971), Ford Bronco (1966), Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-55 (1968), the Chevrolet Blazer / GMC Jimmy (1969), and the Land Rover Range Rover (1970). The actual term “sport utility vehicle” did not come into broad popular usage until the late 1980s; many of these vehicles were marketed during their era as station wagons.

The corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard was ratified in the 1970s to regulate the fuel economy of passenger vehicles. Car manufacturers evaded the regulation by selling SUVs as work vehicles. [Eighteen] The popularity of SUV enlargened among urban drivers in the last twenty five years, and particularly in the last decade. Consequently, modern SUVs are available with luxury vehicle features, and some crossover models adopt lower rail heights to accommodate on-road driving.

Popularity Edit

SUVs became popular in the United States, Canada, India, and Australia in the 1990s and early-2000s. U.S. automakers could love profit margins of $Ten,000 per SUV, while losing a few hundred dollars on a compact car. [21] For example, the Ford Excursion could net the company $Eighteen,000, while they could not break even with the Ford Concentrate unless the buyer chose options, [22] [23] leading Detroit’s big three automakers to concentrate on SUVs over petite cars.

The higher cost of union labor in the U.S. and Canada compared to the lower wages of non-union workers at non-U.S. companies like Toyota, made it unprofitable for American auto makers to build puny cars in the U.S. [24] For example, the General Motors factory in Arlington, Texas where rear-wheel-drive cars were built, such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was converted to truck and SUV production, putting an end to full-size family station wagon and overall terminating production of rear-wheel drive full-size cars. Due to the shift in the Big Three’s strategy, many long-running cars like the Ford Taurus, Buick Century and Pontiac Grand Prix fell behind their Japanese competitors in features and picture (relying more on fleet sales instead of retail and/or mighty incentive discounts); some were discontinued. [25] [26] [27]

In Australia, SUV sales were helped by the fact that SUVs had much lower import duty than passenger cars did, so that they cost less than similarly tooled imported sedans. However, this gap was little by little narrowed, and in January two thousand ten the import duty on cars was lowered to match the five percent duty on SUVs. [31] [32]

Sales of SUVs and other light trucks fell in the mid-2000s because of high oil prices and declining economy. In 2008, General Motors announced plans to close four truck and SUV plants, including the Oshawa Truck Assembly. [24] The company cited decreased sales of large vehicles in the wake of rising fuel prices. [33] The business model of focusing on SUVs and light trucks, at the expense of more fuel-efficient compact and midsized cars, is blamed for declining sales and profits among Detroit’s Big Three automakers since the mid–late-2000s. The Big Three were slower to adapt than their Japanese rivals in producing petite cars to meet growing request due to inflexible manufacturing facilities, which made it unprofitable to build puny cars. [34] However, commencing in 2010, SUV and light truck sales have began an upward trend due to lower gas prices and a revival of the North American economy. [35] In 2013, General Motors witnessed its sales for its large SUVs enhanced by 74%, making them the largest producer of SUVs in the United States. [36] However, the “puny and compact SUVs, when compared with other vehicles in the light truck segment, has made this vehicle segment the third highest selling vehicle segment in the automotive market in 2013.” [Ten] With the redesigned GM and Ford large SUVs being introduced in two thousand fourteen (for the two thousand fifteen model year), it has seen a slight resurgence among consumers due to better fuel economy and fresh engines, along with updated and newer features. [37]

Beginning in 2015, sales of SUVs embarked predominant the industry. At the end of 2016, sales of SUVs and light duty trucks had surpassed traditional car sales for the year by over three million units. [38] Manufacturers like Hyundai have began reducing their production of traditional cars in favor of SUVs citing reduction in sales and difficulty rivaling with other manufacturers. [39]

SUVs are sometimes driven off-road on farms and in remote areas of such places as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, South America, Russia and parts of Asia which have limited paved roads and require a vehicle to have all-terrain treating, enhanced range, and storage capacity. The scarcity of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly resulted in the popularity of vehicles with the naked minimum of electrical and hydraulic systems, such as the basic versions of the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs for urban driving have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example, the Hummer H1 was developed from the HMMWV, originally developed for the military of the United States. [40]

As many SUV owners never used the off-road capabilities of their vehicle, newer SUVs (including crossovers) now have lower ground clearance and suspension designed primarily for paved roads. [41]

The sport utility vehicles have also gained popularity in some areas of Mexico, especially in desert areas or in cities where drivers frequently encounter potholes, detours, high water and rough roads. Enhancing use is also attributed to the high number of filth roads outside major population centers, resulting in washboard and mud in the rainy seasons. [42]

The Trophee Andros ice-racing series is another competition where SUVs participate as well.

Many 4×4 mud racing events and other activities take place via the US organized by clubs and associations.

Numerous luxury vehicles in the form of SUVs and pickup trucks are being produced. Luxury SUV is principally a marketing term to sell fancier vehicles that may have higher spectacle, convenience, technology, or brand photo. The term lacks both measurability and verifiability, and it is applied to a broad range of SUV sizes and types. [ citation needed ]

In Australia and Fresh Zealand, the term SUV is not widely used, except by motoring organizations, [49] the press, [50] and industry bods. [51] Passenger class vehicles designed for off-road use are known as “four-wheel drives”, “4WDs”, or “4×4s”. Some manufacturers do refer to their products as SUVs, but others invented names such as XUV, [52] (HSV Avalanche XUV or GMC Envoy XUV) or activity utility vehicles (AUVs). [53] The term “AWD”, or all-wheel drive, is used for any vehicle which drives on all four wheels, but may not be designed for off-road use. “Crossover” is a marketing term for a vehicle that is both four-wheel-drive and primarily a road car.

The pejorative terms “Toorak Tractor” and Mosman taxi are used in Australia to describe vehicles such as Range Rovers used in wealthy urban areas with fine roads, fine dining, and sensational designer shopping precincts where off-road capability is not required. The terms alludes to the affluent Melbourne suburb of Toorak and the sydney suburb of mosman these terms have been in use at least as early as the late 1980s. The equivalent term “Chelsea Tractor” became prominent in the United Kingdom around two thousand four to describe vehicles such luxury SUVs used in urban areas such as Chelsea, London, where their four-wheel-drive capabilities are not required and the car is believed to be a status symbol rather than a necessity. [54] The term “4×4” (four-by-four) is also common even for vehicles not used in urban areas. “AWD” is not commonly used in the UK. The less capable SUVs also pick up the name “soft-roader” because while they emerge designed to go off road, in many cases they’re not actually capable of it.

In Norway the term “Børstraktor” (Stock Exchange Tractor) serves a similar purpose. [55]

In Finland the term “katumaasturi” is commonly used to designate SUVs. [56] It toughly translates to street-off-roader, or street-4×4. This marks the difference with what is called “maasturi” which is a vehicle with off-road capability.

In Sweden they are often called “stadsjeep” (city jeep).

In the Netherlands they are known as “P.C. Hoofttractors” after the off the hook P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street.

In the United States, “mall rated” is an equivalent.

Sport utility vehicle

A sport utility vehicle or suburban utility vehicle (SUV) is a vehicle classified as a light truck, but operated as a family vehicle. SUVs are similar to a large station wagon or estate car, however typically featuring tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high center of gravity, high ground-clearance and especially four- or all-wheel-drive capability for on- or off-road capability. Some SUVs include the towing capacity of a pickup truck with the passenger-carrying space of a minivan or large sedan.

North America Edit

Nevertheless, four-wheel-drive SUVs are considered light trucks in North America (and two-wheel-drive SUVs up to the two thousand eleven model year [Five] ) where they were regulated less stringently than passenger cars under two laws in the United States, the Energy Policy and Conservation Act for fuel economy, and the Clean Air Act for emissions. [6] Embarking in 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to hold sport utility vehicles to the same tailpipe emissions standards as cars. [7]

Other markets Edit

Albeit designs vary, SUVs have historically been mid-size passenger vehicles with a body-on-frame chassis similar to that found on light trucks. Early SUVs were mostly two-door models, and were available with removable tops. However, consumer request shoved the SUV market towards four-doors, and by 2002, all full-size two-door SUVs were gone from the market, the last ones being one thousand nine hundred ninety nine model year Chevrolet Tahoes. Two-door SUVs were mostly carry-over models, and their sales were not viable enough to warrant a redesign at the end of their design cycle. The Jeep Wrangler remained as a compact two-door figure style, albeit it was also joined by a four-door variant embarking with the two thousand seven model year, the Wrangler Unlimited. [13] The number of two-door SUV models enhanced in the 2010s with the release of the Range Rover Evoque and the Nissan Murano convertible, albeit both vehicles are unibody.

SUVs are known for high ground clearance, upright, boxy bod, and high H-point. This can make them more likely to roll over due to their high center of gravity. Figures of SUVs have recently become more aerodynamic, but the sheer size and weight keeps their fuel economy poor.

An extended length SUV, also sometimes called a long-wheel based SUV, are vehicles that are similar to a full-size SUV, except that these vehicles have a larger cargo area (around one hundred thirty in (Trio.30 m)) and passenger space that can seat up to eight or nine people (with the available third row seating that when folded or liquidated adds more cargo space). Albeit these extended length SUVs are mostly sold in North America because of their size and the roads are made and designed differently, they can also be found in other countries, exported to such places like The Philippines and The Middle East. The vehicles are two hundred twenty one in (Five.61 m) to two hundred twenty three in (Five.66 m) in length and can be distinguished by the rear wheel area not touching the rear doors. Presently, the only vehicles built under this segment are the Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition EL, Ford Excursion, GMC Yukon XL and Lincoln Navigator L.

Origins Edit

Early SUVs were descendants from commercial and military vehicles such as the World War II Jeep [14] and Land Rover. [15]

The earliest examples of longer-wheelbase wagon-type cars were the Chevrolet Carryall Suburban (1935, RWD only), GAZ-61 (1938, 4×4), Willys Jeep Station Wagon (1948), Pobeda M-72 (GAZ-M20/1955), which Russian references credit as possibly being the very first modern SUV (with unitary bod rather than body-on-frame), International Harvester Travelall (1953), Land Rover Series II one hundred nine (1958), and the International Harvester Scout eighty (1961). These were followed by the more ‘modern’ Jeep Wagoneer (1963), International Harvester Scout II (1971), Ford Bronco (1966), Toyota Land Cruiser FJ-55 (1968), the Chevrolet Blazer / GMC Jimmy (1969), and the Land Rover Range Rover (1970). The actual term “sport utility vehicle” did not come into broad popular usage until the late 1980s; many of these vehicles were marketed during their era as station wagons.

The corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standard was ratified in the 1970s to regulate the fuel economy of passenger vehicles. Car manufacturers evaded the regulation by selling SUVs as work vehicles. [Legitimate] The popularity of SUV enlargened among urban drivers in the last twenty five years, and particularly in the last decade. Consequently, modern SUVs are available with luxury vehicle features, and some crossover models adopt lower rail heights to accommodate on-road driving.

Popularity Edit

SUVs became popular in the United States, Canada, India, and Australia in the 1990s and early-2000s. U.S. automakers could love profit margins of $Ten,000 per SUV, while losing a few hundred dollars on a compact car. [21] For example, the Ford Excursion could net the company $Legitimate,000, while they could not break even with the Ford Concentrate unless the buyer chose options, [22] [23] leading Detroit’s big three automakers to concentrate on SUVs over puny cars.

The higher cost of union labor in the U.S. and Canada compared to the lower wages of non-union workers at non-U.S. companies like Toyota, made it unprofitable for American auto makers to build petite cars in the U.S. [24] For example, the General Motors factory in Arlington, Texas where rear-wheel-drive cars were built, such as the Chevrolet Caprice, Buick Roadmaster, and Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham was converted to truck and SUV production, putting an end to full-size family station wagon and overall terminating production of rear-wheel drive full-size cars. Due to the shift in the Big Three’s strategy, many long-running cars like the Ford Taurus, Buick Century and Pontiac Grand Prix fell behind their Japanese competitors in features and pic (relying more on fleet sales instead of retail and/or strenuous incentive discounts); some were discontinued. [25] [26] [27]

Buyers were drawn to SUVs’ large cabins, higher rail height, and perceived safety. Full-size SUVs often suggested features such as three-row seating, to effectively substitute full-size station wagons and minivans. Wagons were seen as old-fashioned. Additionally, full-size SUVs have greater towing capabilities than conventional cars, and can haul trailers, travel trailers (caravans) and boats. Enhanced ground clearance is useful in climates with powerful snowfall. The very low oil prices of the 1990s helped keep down running costs. The SUV was one of the most popular choices of vehicle for female drivers in the U.S. [28] [29]

Sales of SUVs and other light trucks fell in the mid-2000s because of high oil prices and declining economy. In 2008, General Motors announced plans to close four truck and SUV plants, including the Oshawa Truck Assembly. [24] The company cited decreased sales of large vehicles in the wake of rising fuel prices. [33] The business model of focusing on SUVs and light trucks, at the expense of more fuel-efficient compact and midsized cars, is blamed for declining sales and profits among Detroit’s Big Three automakers since the mid–late-2000s. The Big Three were slower to adapt than their Japanese rivals in producing puny cars to meet growing request due to inflexible manufacturing facilities, which made it unprofitable to build petite cars. [34] However, embarking in 2010, SUV and light truck sales have began an upward trend due to lower gas prices and a revival of the North American economy. [35] In 2013, General Motors spotted its sales for its large SUVs enhanced by 74%, making them the largest producer of SUVs in the United States. [36] However, the “puny and compact SUVs, when compared with other vehicles in the light truck segment, has made this vehicle segment the third highest selling vehicle segment in the automotive market in 2013.” [Ten] With the redesigned GM and Ford large SUVs being introduced in two thousand fourteen (for the two thousand fifteen model year), it has seen a slight resurgence among consumers due to better fuel economy and fresh engines, along with updated and newer features. [37]

Kicking off in 2015, sales of SUVs commenced predominant the industry. At the end of 2016, sales of SUVs and light duty trucks had surpassed traditional car sales for the year by over three million units. [38] Manufacturers like Hyundai have began reducing their production of traditional cars in favor of SUVs citing reduction in sales and difficulty contesting with other manufacturers. [39]

SUVs are sometimes driven off-road on farms and in remote areas of such places as the Australian Outback, Africa, the Middle East, Alaska, Canada, Iceland, South America, Russia and parts of Asia which have limited paved roads and require a vehicle to have all-terrain treating, enlargened range, and storage capacity. The scarcity of spare parts and the need to carry out repairs quickly resulted in the popularity of vehicles with the naked minimum of electrified and hydraulic systems, such as the basic versions of the Land Rover, Jeep Wrangler, Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser. SUVs for urban driving have traditionally been developed from their more rugged all-terrain counterparts. For example, the Hummer H1 was developed from the HMMWV, originally developed for the military of the United States. [40]

As many SUV owners never used the off-road capabilities of their vehicle, newer SUVs (including crossovers) now have lower ground clearance and suspension designed primarily for paved roads. [41]

The sport utility vehicles have also gained popularity in some areas of Mexico, especially in desert areas or in cities where drivers frequently encounter potholes, detours, high water and rough roads. Enlargening use is also attributed to the high number of mess roads outside major population centers, resulting in washboard and mud in the rainy seasons. [42]

The Trophee Andros ice-racing series is another competition where SUVs participate as well.

Many 4×4 mud racing events and other activities take place across the US organized by clubs and associations.

Numerous luxury vehicles in the form of SUVs and pickup trucks are being produced. Luxury SUV is principally a marketing term to sell fancier vehicles that may have higher spectacle, convenience, technology, or brand photo. The term lacks both measurability and verifiability, and it is applied to a broad range of SUV sizes and types. [ citation needed ]

The production of luxury models enhanced in the late-1990s with vehicles such as the Lincoln Navigator and Cadillac Escalade. These luxury SUVs generated higher profit margins than non-luxury SUVs did. [45] [46] For some auto makers, luxury SUVs were the very first SUV models they produced. Some of these models are not traditional SUVs based on light truck as they are classified as crossovers.

In Norway the term “Børstraktor” (Stock Exchange Tractor) serves a similar purpose. [55]

In Sweden they are often called “stadsjeep” (city jeep).

In the Netherlands they are known as “P.C. Hoofttractors” after the special P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street.

In the United States, “mall rated” is an equivalent.

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