What is an SUV?

Acronyms are handy things, so long as you know what they stand for. If you’ve heard the term SUV but have never been quite sure what those three letters mean, you’ve come to the right place. This Carwow guide will explain what an SUV is, what SUV stands for, and the different types of SUV car. We’ll explain everything you need to know about an SUV – and a bit more besides.

What is an SUV?

An SUV is a sports utility vehicle. So, what is a sports utility vehicle? Well, this description has come to refer to a broad range of cars that ride a little higher from the ground the normal and look tougher and more adventurous than your average hatchback. SUV is used to describe everything from small crossovers to big 4x4s.

The meaning of SUV has evolved over time. Go back a few years and ‘SUV’ was a popular term in the US, but not so common in the UK. It has made its way across the Atlantic and is now used to describe cars with tough, off-roader-like styling, but which don’t necessarily have four-wheel drive.

What are the characteristics of an SUV?

These are the characteristics of a modern SUV:

1. High ride height
The key thing that marks out an SUV from a hatchback is the ride height. SUVs sit higher from the ground, usually with a taller body and a more upright riding position.

2. Raised seating position
Originally, this higher ride height was so that an SUV could deal with rough and bumpy surfaces without the underside of the car grounding out. But car makers and car buyers have both realised that sitting further from the ground gives a good view out and a supportive, comfortable driving position. Rather than sitting low to the ground with your legs stretched out in front, an SUV driving position allows more of the driver’s weight to be supported by the seat rather than their heels.

3. Chunky, tough appearance
Another characteristic that’s important to many buyers is the look of an SUV. They’re chunkier and tougher in appearance than a hatchback. In reality, you may be driving to Homebase rather than the Scottish Highlands, but it looks as if you could be setting off on an adventure.

4. May be a 4×4, but not necessarily
Originally, SUVs backed this style with substance. An SUV like a Jeep Cherokee or a Land Rover Discovery would have four-wheel drive and was designed for off-road and on-road use. Nowadays many SUVs are two-wheel drive and won’t go further beyond Tarmac than a gravel car park. There are still plenty of SUVs that can handle off-roading, but this is no longer one of the defining characteristics of an SUV – the meaning of the term has evolved.

5. Some have practical, MPV-style interior features
Another change is the way the modern SUV has pinched aspects of MPV and people-carrier design. Lots of buyers want an SUV but benefit from the space and flexible seating of an MPV. Some models which started out as MPVs, such as the Renault Scenic and Peugeot 5008, have now evolved into SUVs without leaving all the benefits of an MPV behind. They look tough on the outside, but inside they have interiors designed for the demands of family life.

Advantages and disadvantages of an SUV

From a small niche, SUVs have become one of the most popular types of car in the UK. They suit the needs of many car buyers well but aren’t for everyone. There are pros and cons to choosing an SUV over a hatchback or saloon with a lower ride height.

Advantages of an SUV

• Higher seating position.
• Good visibility compared with sitting lower to the road.
• Adventurous looks.
• Interiors are often roomy and practical.
• An SUV with four-wheel drive can handle bad weather well and is capable of off-road driving.

Disadvantages of an SUV

• Higher centre of gravity can make cornering feel uncomfortable.
• May use more fuel than a similar hatchback.
• Emissions may be higher than those of other cars.
• Large SUVs can be difficult to park.
• The purchase price of some SUVs, especially large and luxurious models, can be high.
• An SUV may not match an estate car of similar size for luggage space.

Types of SUV

The term SUV started out quite specific but now covers a diverse range of cars. Although SUVs share some characteristics there are many different types of SUV.

Budget SUVs, like the MG HS, bust the myth that an SUV is always an expensive choice. You don’t have to spend a fortune to own an SUV, especially if you shop for a keen finance or leasing deal through Carwow.

Don’t think SUVs are all gas-guzzlers. There are plenty of electric SUVs if you want to make the switch to a car with no exhaust emissions. We’re thinking of cars like the Kia EV9 and Volvo EX30.

You don’t have to go for a purely electric SUV. There are many hybrid SUVs, both full hybrids and plug-in hybrids, which use an engine and an electric motor. The Lexus NX is a good example, and very reliable.

Although one criticism of SUVs is that they don’t corner well, that’s not true of all SUVs. In fact, there’s a whole sub-genre of sports SUVs that should appeal to keen drivers, like the Porsche Cayenne.

Go back 20 years and if you wanted a seven-seater, most of your options were MPVs and people carriers. Now, if you want space for seven people, the chances are you will be shopping for a seven-seat SUV. Think Skoda Kodiaq and Kia Sorento (below).

If you can afford to spend big, then a luxury SUV could be on your shopping list. Cars like the Aston Martin DBX and Range Rover offer the style and presence of an off-roader with the premium comfort of a limo.

Maybe you run a car through the Motability scheme. That’s no barrier to having an SUV – there are plenty to choose from.

SUV FAQs

What does the SUV stand for?

SUV stands for sports utility vehicle. Originally, an SUV was a tough and utilitarian vehicle, but the meaning of the term has evolved and broadened over time.

What are SUVs called in the UK?

We used to call SUVs ‘off-roaders’ or ‘4x4s’. But SUV is now a common name for this type of car in the UK. While 20 or 30 years ago it may have been an Americanism, it’s now a widely used description for this type of car.

What is the difference between an SUV and a crossover?

A ‘crossover’ is a car that has some features of a hatchback, and some of an SUV. These days, that covers an awful lot of cars that are also referred to as SUVs.

So, as the definition of an SUV has broadened, so crossovers have become one type of SUV. You might call a small, two-wheel-drive car like the Renault Captur a crossover or an SUV. But you wouldn’t describe a big SUV like the Land Rover Defender as a crossover.

In effect, a crossover is a smaller, more road-focused SUV, usually with two rather than four driven wheels.

Do SUVs have four-wheel drive?

The term SUV was originally used for 4×4 vehicles. While many SUVs have four-wheel drive, as the meaning of ‘SUV’ has drifted over time that’s no longer one of the defining characteristics. Many cars which we now describe as SUVs are two-wheel drive or may be sold with both two- and four-wheel-drive versions.

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