Garden Grove Kia

What the Difference Between a Crossover and an SUV is

In the auto industry, Crossovers have become incredibly popular in the last decade.  Nearly every major brand pushes a crossover model, and the competition is fiercer than ever to have the best one on the market.  In many cases, a three-letter acronym is found in crossover model descriptions: “SUV”. 

But wait, you say, are SUVs the same? Our fellow employees thought about the same thing here at Garden Grove Kia, so we decided to figure it out!

The Difference Between Crossovers and SUVs

The main difference between SUVs and crossovers is in the vehicle’s platform.  SUVs, or Sport Utility Vehicles – are vehicles that use the chassis, or base framework, of a truck with the vehicle’s ‘body’ on top.  Crossovers, meanwhile, have a unified body and frame.  The bodies and chassis of an SUV are built separately until molded together while crossovers are built as one from the start. All of Kia’s SUV models are technically crossovers despite the continued use of the “SUV” term. However, the original 2002 Kia Sorento model (bottom left photo) was a traditional SUV until its second-generation debut in 2009.

Where Did The “Crossover” Term Come From?

The idea of crossover vehicles may have come from early negative connotations of SUVs.  Many SUVs were known to have poor gas mileage and large sizes despite their ground clearance and ability to perform in off-road conditions.  To get away from the stigma, many companies began pushing smaller models. These were advertised as vehicles that were SUVs but were “crossing over” into the handling and efficiency of cars. Thus, the crossover was born.

When Do I Call Something an SUV?

While there is a strict difference between SUVs and crossovers, many still use the term “SUV” interchangeably.  It could be due to their versatility, as crossovers typically have all-wheel drive availability and can store more cargo than cars.  Generally speaking, the industry does not define a difference since crossovers were bred from the SUV family.  The only way you could be wrong when classifying a vehicle is if you label a traditional chassis-and-frame SUV as a crossover.

Either way, modern-day crossovers are more versatile than ever – especially Kia crossover models.  If you want more clarification on the SUV-crossover discussion, stop by Garden Grove Kia and check out some crossovers for yourself!

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Read More: What is the Difference Between a Coupe and a Sedan?

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