► SUVs explained ► What an SUV is not ► What they can do for you
Howdy, folks!
Think you know all about SUVs?
Like everyone else, you probably know them as the big family cars that climb Everest, cross the Safari and do well on tough terrain.
Sure, they are that, but there's also a bit more to SUVs these days . . . And seeing as car manufacturers seem to want to change the meanings of car classes left, right and centre, it's always important to know just what it is we're talking about.
Whilst it can't be denied that SUVs are one of the more better-known vehicle types, their use has now extended well beyond the traditional off-roading capability that you might know them for.
Yep, these bad boys have now evolved far beyond their conventional use, making them as equally suited to the high street as to the dirt track.
As luck would have it, your friendly neighbourhood leasing experts at LeaseLoco are here to tell you all about them!
Lets hit the road, shall we.
What is an SUV?
An SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) is large, robust, and historically designed to be driven for off-road purposes. For that reason, they tend to be four-wheel drive and offer a heightened and raised up driving position, giving you a good view of the road in front of you. The spacey interiors mean that you can normally seat up to nine people – ideal if you have a large family. They're traditionally aimed at people who do outdoor sports at the weekend, so think mountain-biking, canoeing, and camping.
In terms of how they look and feel, it's probably accurate to say that they are somewhere in between a truck, a minivan, and an average family car. And because they can fit in a lot of people, they're perfect if you don't fancy all the added weight of a people carrier. Plus, we think that people carriers tend not to look as nice as SUVs, but that's a matter of taste . . .
To put it mildly, then, SUVs are highly practical. They also come with bigger wheels and higher clearance height than other smaller cars like hatchbacks and saloons. This protects them from damage by rocks and other pieces of debris when you drive over rough surfaces and terrain. They also typically come with a large boot to store all your goods, further adding to their practicality.
However, on the downside it's worth noting that SUVs generally tend to be more expensive and have at times been criticized for their negative environmental impact. They're much less fuel-efficient than smaller vehicles of a similar price range (all good things come at a cost, eh?). That doesn't mean that you won't find an SUV with a very good return on fuel economy. Some do have that, and there are now a number of hybrid and electric SUVs for you to choose from.
SUV History
The honour of the first SUV probably goes to the Depot Hack from the 1920s. Long distance travel at the time was done by train and the majority of passengers brought on luggage, so the Depot Hack was built to accommodate that need.
That though was a fairly rare exception, as the proper origins of SUVs can be traced all the way back to the Land Rovers and Jeeps of World War II. So their initial use was as military vehicles, which makes sense given their durability and off-road capabilities. These vehicles (we'll call them prototypes) were of course large, fitted with four-wheel drive, and had spacious interiors. Most importantly, they could handle any kind of tough terrain thrown at them. So far so good . . . we know all that.
However, the American term 'SUV' didn't come into use until a later date, and the first proper commercial SUV is generally agreed to have been the Jeep Cherokee, released in 1984. (Modern jeep SUV models include the Chevrolet Suburban and the Jeep Wrangler.)
How Popular is the SUV?
Their popularity has really picked up in the last 20 years or so, and statistics show that SUV sales continue to be on the rise. In 2015, they accounted for 13.5 per cent of the market and in 2018, that figure saw an increase to just over 21 per cent. This increase in popularity shows that they're now not just used for off-roading, but also for leisure and driving in comfort and style.
Many families prefer them over estate cars and MPVs, and according to MarkLines, SUVs represented 36.8% of the world's passenger car market in 2017.
Why the Sudden Popularity?
Nope, it's not because more and more people are venturing out from the city at weekends and going on long adventure drives out into the middle of nowhere, although we aren't saying that's a bad idea . . .
Instead, the reason is that car manufacturers are now including some of the latest gadgets and technology with their modern SUVs, all whilst stepping up the interiors in terms of comfort, giving you a more luxurious experience than before. So whilst SUVs are designed to be driven off-road and are usually four-wheel-drive vehicles, many that are purchased are driven around cities and on highways and never get to see a muddy field!
But of course, you also get the good old-fashioned space and practicality that SUVs have traditionally been known for. Same as always.
Is an SUV an MPV?
Nope, not quite.
An MPV (multipurpose vehicle) is a minivan or people carrier that's mainly intended for transporting five to seven people in maximum comfort. On the other hand, an SUV transports slightly less people and is mainly intended as an off-road vehicle, even though we've seen how in recent years that situation has slightly changed. But you're still going to have better luck going over a bumpy dirt road in an SUV than in an MPG.
The earliest MPV models came out in the 60s. Maybe you recall or have seen the old-style hippie vans in some American movies? Yep, that's them. And Volkswagen recently released their brand new VW ID. Buzz as a testament to their old Volkswagen T1 from the 60s. We do think it looks amazing!
What's the Difference Between an SUV and a Crossover SUV?
There's not much of a difference at all. The terms 'SUV' and 'Crossover' can often be more or less interchangeable, and car manufacturers sometimes use them incorrectly. Yet when applied properly, there are some subtle differences between proper SUVs and crossover SUVs.
Crossovers are lighter and built on a car platform, whereas traditional SUVs are much heavier, built on a truck chassis. And sometimes brands choose to class SUVs as crossovers if they don't have four-wheel drive. Also, when you look at an SUV, you'll notice that it has a separate body and frame whilst a crossover’s chassis is all one single piece.
So yeah, there are some differences, but you probably don't have to worry too much about a crossover SUV being all that different in terms of driving experience.
Is Every SUV a 4x4?
Nope.
(Just in case you didn't know, a 4×4 is a vehicle in which the engine sends power to all four wheels, but you probably already knew that . . .).
Most SUVs are 4x4s, but not all of them. For example, the Peugeot 3008 only comes with two-wheel drive, even though its superb traction control and all-weather tyres helps to counterbalance that a little.
What you will find is that many smaller SUVs have front-wheel drive only, with four-wheel drive only available for more expensive versions. The majority of larger SUVs come with four-wheel drive as standard.
It's not rocket science to figure out why most come in four-wheel drive . . . It means the SUV is less likely to get stuck in tricky weather conditions involving mud, snow or wet grass, which is where many SUV drivers are going to be travelling. It also lets them handle deep puddles better, though that doesn't mean that we'd recommend going to tackle flood waters!
Like we mentioned earlier, SUVs have always been favoured in four-wheel drive form. It's only in more recent years that manufacturers have started to offer front-wheel drive SUVs for those who don’t make off-roading a priority.
Types of SUVs
All SUVs are big, or so you thought . . .
It might surprise you to learn that SUVs do in fact come in various shapes and sizes. The four main types are:
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Mini SUVs: These are the smallest SUVs out there. Manufacturers include the likes of Nissan, Jeep, Suzuki and Toyota, with the Nissan Rogue being a prime example of a mini SUV. It's no surprise then that mini-SUVs tend to be most popular in Japan, and you might not see many about the UK's roads. Which is a shame, because they're great at parking! Others include the Ford Puma and the Renault Captur.
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Compact SUVs: Their average size being relative to C-segment or compact passenger cars, this class of compact SUVs tend to be made by the likes of Land Rover, Jeep, Lada and Nissan. The Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga are a couple of good examples of a compact SUV.
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Mid-size SUVs: This represents the middle of the road option in terms of size. The practical size of a mid-size SUV, together with its capacity to overcome most terrains, makes this class of SUVs high on the agenda for many car users. Because of that wide scope for marketability, almost every car manufacturer has its own mid-size SUV model. Examples include the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
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Full-size SUVs: The largest of the bunch, even if some have their own dedicated platforms, these full-size conventional models are built on the full-size chassis of a pickup truck. They are often still marketed for their off-road capabilities, but brands like Lincoln and Cadillac tend to favour luxury and comfort with theirs (e.g. the Cadillac Escalade). Some typical examples of full-size SUVs include the Skoda Kodiaq and the Peugeot 5008.
SUV Pros and Cons
As with other vehicle classes, there's no definitive answer as to whether an SUV is good or bad. You've got to weigh up your lifestyle, your needs and other factors compared against the vehicle's price, performance, safety, comfort and benefits.
For example, even with their modern comfort features, an SUV probably isn't going to be much use to somebody who only drives short journeys and constantly needs to park in tight parking spaces around the city.
On the other hand, if you're going to be travelling long distances across the country in all weathers and navigating tricky terrain, an SUV is a fantastic choice of car.
SUV Pros
- Family-friendly interiors
- High seating positions
- Practical
- Storage space
- 'Drive anywhere' ability
- High safety levels
- High seating capacity
SUV Cons
- Size makes them difficult to manoeuvre
- More difficult to park
- Less fuel-efficient than smaller cars
- More expensive than a hatchback or estate car
LeaseLoco SUV Lease Deals
Here are some of the hottest SUV lease deals on offer on our site at the moment:
DS DS 3 Crossback Nissan Qashqai Hyundai Tucson Peugeot 3008 Hyundai Santa Fe
Summing Up
Okay, time to wrap it up folks . . .
Hopefully we've given you a better insight into what SUVs are, what their background is, what they can do for you, and how they're evolving with the times.
If they sound up your street, you can always head over to our SUV deals page and take a look. We've always got a few nice deals floating about, in addition to the ones we listed above.
Drive safe out there!
What do SUV and CUV stand for?
SUV = Sport Utility Vehicle / CUV = Crossover Utility Vehicles
However, as we said, apart from the name there is usually not much of a difference between the two.
What is Considered an SUV?
A large (usually) four-wheel drive vehicle that's roughly halfway between a saloon and a minivan in terms of size. They are generally built on a light-truck chassis, are 4x4s, and are used for driving off-road.