History of the SUV

The BMW X5, an example of a modern SUV.

'Sport utility vehicle' or 'SUV' is a marketing term used for vehicles that resemble station wagons, but are built on a light-truck chassis. Such design enables them to have the interior space of minivans, yet possess the towing capacity of small trucks. With origins in the World War II era of the 1940s, SUVs eventually gained the zenith of its popularity towards the end of the 20th century, only to experience decline in favor within the first decade of the 21st century.

Origins

During World War II, there was a growing need for lightweight yet rugged vehicles that could traverse all kinds of terrain. Such vehicles are referred to as off-road vehicles, since they are capable of driving on and off paved or gravel surfaces. Three manufacturers--Bantam, Ford and Willys-Overland--responded to the challenge. It was Willys, however, that won the U.S. government contract to produce the vehicles, churning out more than 300,000 Government Pigmy Willys or GPWs by the end of the war. The GPW was eventually named "Jeep," possibly after someone mistook the first two letters to mean "general purpose."

Prototypes

After the end of the war in 1945, returning soldiers wanted Jeeps to use back home in the U.S. Thus Willy began to manufacture a series of Jeeps for civilian use. Entries in the Civilian Jeep or CJ series included the Jeep Wagon (1946), Jeep Truck (1947) and Jeepster (1948). Such vehicles were nicknamed "Utility Vehicles" to denote their rugged origins and necessity.

Limitations

Although the Jeeps--as well as other utility vehicles by other car manufacturers--had some success in the rural areas of the U.S. in the 50s and 60s, they were yet to crack the mainstream due to poor highway performance and stiff suspensions. People were also weary of the short wheelbase, narrow stance and high ground clearance of these vehicles, which made them top heavy and prone to rollover.

Mainstream Acceptance

By the 1970s, however, several car manufacturers were responding to the limitations of utility vehicles by lowering ground clearances, installing larger engines and softening suspensions. Vehicles like the Ford Bronco, the GMC Jimmy and the Chevrolet Blazer enjoyed popularity mainly due to these adjustments. Utility vehicles ceased being simply machines that took people from one place to another, and the word "sport" was added as a prefix to the "utility vehicle" marketing term to denote their increasing use in recreation and motorsport. SUVs reached the height of their popularity in the 1990s, primarily due to large interiors, relatively ride height, towing capabilities and perceived safety.

Decline

By the mid-2000s, however, sales of SUVs began to drop, attributable to high gas prices and an ailing economy. Some automakers, such as Honda, staved off sales crises by focusing more than ever on developing and marketing their small and mid-size cars, which provide better gas mileage than SUVs. Detroit's Big Three automakers--General Motors, Ford and Chrysler--were comparatively slower to adapt to consumers' changing tastes, although by 2010, they had closed a number of SUV plants. GM in particular discontinued the Hummer--an enormous SUV notorious for its horrendous gas economy--in 2010.

References

• BajaInsider.com, History of the SUV
• High and Mighty - SUVs: The World's Most Dangerous Vehicles and How They Got That Way; Keith Bradsher; 2002
• CNNMoney.com: GM: Trucks Out, Cars In, Chris Isidore, 2008
• San Francisco Chronicle, Why Honda is growing as Detroit Falls Behind, Tom Krisher, 2008
• America's Sorry Love Affair with SUVs