Crossover (automobile)

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2009 Dodge Journey, CUV

A crossover—variously called CUV or crossover utility vehicle—is a marketing term for a vehicle that derives from a car platform while borrowing features from a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

A crossover uses a car's monocoque/unibody platform construction while forgoing the body on frame construction in use on most SUVs. Crossovers also feature an independent rear suspension which allows for better on-road handling manners and greater rear interior space. The crossover combines, in highly variable degrees, the design features such as tall interior packaging, high H-point seating, high ground-clearance, or all-wheel-drive capability of the SUV—with design features from an automobile such as car-like handling, interior roominess and fuel economy. CUVs typically are designed for only light off-road capability, if any at all.[1]

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[edit] Origin

2007 Saturn Outlook XR

The term crossover began as a marketing term,[2] and a 2008 CNNMoney article indicated that "many consumers can't tell the difference between an SUV and a crossover."[1] A January, 2008 Wall Street Journal article called the CUVs, "wagons that look like sport utility vehicles but ride like cars,"[3] To avoid referring to their vehicles as station wagons, some nameplates will instead call them crossovers.[4]

While the segment has notable historical antecedents, it had come into strong visibility in the US by 2006, when crossover sales "made up more than 50% of the overall SUV market."[5] Sales in the crossover market segment increased in 2007 by 16%,[3] Notably in the US, the crossover segment is one of the few segments of the light truck market where import brands lead domestic brands,[1] and the segment has strong appeal to aging baby boomers.[1]

The broad spectrum of CUVs or crossovers includes:

The European MPV or large MPV may broadly resemble the crossover, including vehicles such as the Mercedes-Benz R-Class, VW Golf Plus, Ford Kuga, Renault Koleos and Ford S-Max. Notably, during the development of the Dodge Journey CUV, Dodge benchmarked the S-Max.[6]

In 1998 the Lexus RX 300 became the first luxury crossover.[7] In 2006, the Toyota RAV4 became the first small crossover SUV to add a 7-seat version during the redesign. Previously 7-seat seating was available only on the midsize crossover SUV's. Recently the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV's which share a platform switched to the car-based unibody design along with a rear independent suspension arrangement. The redesigned Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer will also switch to this layout.

[edit] CUV models

A short list of current crossovers with their platform genealogy follows (similar vehicles are grouped together):

Model(s) Platform
Acura MDX Honda Odyssey
Audi Q7 Audi A6
Audi Q5/Audi Allroad Quattro Audi A4
Škoda Octavia Scout Škoda Octavia Combi
BMW X3 BMW E46 (BMW 3 Series)
BMW X6 BMW X5
Cadillac SRX Sigma platform (Cadillac CTS/STS)
Chevrolet Captiva/Saturn Vue GM Theta platform
Chrysler Pacifica Chrysler CS platform (Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan)
Ford Ecosport Ford B3 platform (Ford Fiesta)
Ford Flex Ford D4 platform
Ford Escape/Mazda Tribute/Mercury Mariner Ford CD2 platform
Ford Taurus X Ford D3 platform (Ford Five Hundred/Taurus)
Ford Territory Ford Falcon
Dodge Journey Dodge Avenger
Buick Enclave/Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia/Saturn Outlook GM Lambda platform
Holden Adventra/HSV Avalanche Holden Commodore
Holden Crewman/HSV Avalanche XUV Holden Commodore
Honda CR-V Honda Civic
Honda Element Honda Civic
Honda Pilot Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Tucson/Kia Sportage (2nd) Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Santa Fe/Hyundai Veracruz Hyundai Sonata
Infiniti EX Nissan FM platform
Infiniti FX Nissan FM platform (Infiniti G35)
Jeep Compass/Jeep Patriot Mitsubishi GS platform
Jeep Grand Cherokee (fourth generation)
Lincoln MKX/Ford Edge Ford CD3 platform (Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ, Ford Fusion)
Mazda CX-7 Mazda 6
Mazda CX-9 Mazda 6
Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class
Mercedes-Benz M-Class (second generation)
Mitsubishi Endeavor Mitsubishi Galant
Mitsubishi Outlander Mitsubishi Lancer
Nissan Murano Nissan Altima
Nissan Rogue Nissan Sentra
Nissan X-Trail Nissan Note
Peugeot 3008 Peugeot 308
Subaru Forester Subaru Impreza
Subaru Outback Subaru Legacy
Subaru Tribeca Subaru Legacy
Suzuki SX4 Suzuki Alto
Suzuki Grand Vitara/XL7 Suzuki SX4 Sedan
Toyota Kluger/Highlander Toyota Camry
Toyota Harrier/Lexus RX Toyota Kluger/Highlander
Toyota RAV4 Toyota Corolla
Volkswagen Tiguan Volkswagen Group A platform (Volkswagen Golf)
Volvo XC60 Volvo P24 platform
Volvo XC70 Volvo P24 platform
Volvo XC90 Volvo P2 platform (Volvo S80)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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