Facts About SUVs

Sport/utility vehicles, or SUVs, have been around since the early days of automobiles. Their recent spike in popularity, however, and the backlash against their large presence on American roads, is simply another chapter in the evolution of our car culture.

Defining SUVs

Opinions differ as how best to define an SUV. This is due in part to the recent proliferation of SUVs that took place in the 1990s and 2000s, with new models coming to market that defied traditional expectations for SUVs. One fact common to most definitions is that SUVs must be built on a light truck frame, as opposed to a frame used for a passenger car. This differentiates SUVs from station wagons, which are built on car frames, even though they may share features like a large seating capacity and rear liftgate. Today, many models that would have been considered station wagons in the past are instead marketed as crossover utility vehicles (CUVs).

Early SUVs

While most early American automakers, including Ford, Olds and the Dodge brothers, built trucks with SUV characteristics based on their existing cars, the first true SUV to be built on a truck frame was the Chevrolet Suburban in 1935. Following World War II, American automakers took some of the designs they produced for the military and adapted them for civilian use, The most famous example of this is Jeep, which became a major brand with its off-road capable SUVs. The British brand Land Rover was also successful in turning its military vehicles into SUV models that could be marketed to the general public.

Important Models

Several SUV models have been important in popularizing the vehicle segment. Among these is the Jeep Cherokee, which was first sold in 1984. The Cherokee features standard Jeep features like a heavy-duty suspension and all-wheel drive, but was smaller than previous SUVs that has been marketed as work vehicles. The Cherokee was aimed at drivers who could get by with a regular car, but preferred the cargo capacity, off-road capability and rugged styling of an SUV. The Ford Explorer, which arrived in 1990, offered another mid-size option and helped establish the SUV as a practical alternative to cars and station wagons for all types of drivers.

Fuel Efficiency

One issue that has continued to surround SUVs is their fuel efficiency, which is generally regarded as poor. Their large size and weight require the use of bigger and more powerful engines, making most SUVs among the least-efficient vehicles in an automaker's lineup. While some large SUVs are subject to a federal "gas guzzler" tax, others are actually rather efficient. Fuel saving systems such as displacement on demand or the option of a hybrid electric powertrain make SUVs like the Ford Escape Hybrid much more efficient than their competitors.

Luxury SUVs

As SUVs became popular in the 1990s, most luxury brands brought models to market, creating an entirely new category known today as the luxury SUV. These are SUVs that, while capable of some level of off-road performance, are intended primarily for street use and contain luxury features above and beyond those found on most cars and trucks. The Lexus LX was introduced in 1996, with the Cadillac Escalade following in 1999. Also in 1999, BMW introduced its X Series SUVs, coining the term "Sports Activity Vehicle" to differentiate its SUVs from other non-luxury models. Today, Mercedes, Lincoln, Buick and even Porsche produce at least one luxury SUV model.

References

• History of Pickup Trucks and SUVs
• History of the SUV

Resources

• SUV Reviews