Crossover (automobile)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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
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:
- Compact sedan-derived CUVs: e.g., BMW X3, Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4
- Mid-sized sedan-derived CUV's: e.g., Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 350
- Full-sized sedan-derived CUVs: e.g., Saturn Outlook/GMC Acadia, Ford Flex, Mercedes-Benz GL-Class
- Station wagon- or hatchback-derived CUVs: e.g., Subaru Forester, Ford Freestyle, Toyota Venza
- Minivan-like CUVs: e.g., Dodge Journey, Mazda 5 (Mazda Premacy)
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):
[edit] See also
- Car classification
- Compact SUV
- large MPV
- Mini SUV
- MPV
- Recreational vehicle
- Sport utility vehicle
- Station wagon
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "GM and Ford's New Cross to Bear". CNNMoney.com, Chris Isidore, January 9, 2006. http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/09/Autos/detroit_crossovers/index.htm.
- ^ "Smart Buying Essentials What is a Crossover Vehicle?". Intellichoice.com. http://www.intellichoice.com/carBuying101/what-is-a-crossover.
- ^ a b "Crossover Market Is Thinly Sliced". The Wall Street Journal, January 14, 2008. http://blogs.wsj.com/autoshow/2008/01/14/crossover-market-is-thinly-sliced/.
- ^ http://usedcars.about.com/od/glossaryatoe/g/Crossovers.htm
- ^ "Crossover vehicles pass up SUVs on road to growing sales". USAtoday, 5/3/2006, Sharon Silke Carty. http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/09/Autos/detroit_crossovers/index.htm.
- ^ "2009 Dodge Journey Road Test". Car Reviews.com, Feb 3, 2008, Justin Couture. http://car-reviews.automobile.com/Dodge/review/2009-dodge-journey-road-test/5449/.
- ^ http://www.autotrader.com/research/article/38309/first-drive-2010-lexus-rx-350.jsp
