Having a heavy chassis isn’t always a negative, though – it makes the majority of 4x4s incredibly resilient. However, this power and high-raised driving position come at the expense of a light chassis, precision and fuel efficiency. This means 4x4s are much more powerful than other vehicles. Images of big, bulky, powerful cars come to mind, but the most important feature of a 4x4 is in its namesake – the four-wheel drive.įour-wheel drive is a term that can be thrown around without being understood, but it simply means that the engine powers all four wheels, rather than just two. Most of us have preconceived notions of what a 4x4 is. Our detailed SUV guide covers more about the car’s pros and cons.
SUVs also tend to have higher driving positions and more room than crossovers. This is the key difference between SUV and crossover cars., and it leads to SUVs being considerably better when driving off-road. While crossovers and SUVs both have a connected body and frame, an SUV’s is built separately and fused later.įor a crossover, they’re never separated and are built together. These days, SUVs do not suffer the same problems as they used to.Īn SUV differs considerably from a crossover due to its body-on-frame design. This is mostly a relic of marketing, as, in the past, the term SUV brought with it connotations of poor mileage and a penchant for breaking down. To make things extra confusing, crossovers are often called SUVs and vice-versa. When deciding between an SUV or 4x4, you need to consider whether you want to sacrifice the power and off-road precision of the latter for the more lightweight, economical design of the former.ĭeciding between an SUV or crossover is more difficult as they’re both so similar. SUVs are considerably lighter than 4x4s, meaning they are cheaper to run with lower repair costs. Nowadays, it is used to refer to weight and build design. They were larger, 4x4-like vehicles that were better on roads, better on fuel and better for the modern driver. Once upon a time, the term SUV – which stands for Sports Utility Vehicle – was used to describe cars that were like 4x4s, but were more eye-catching, quiet and stylish. Of course, due to their similarities, the “crossover vs SUV” debate is a close one, so what does the SUV bring to the table compared to its compact cousin? What is an SUV? What crossover models are your best bet, though? Check out our crossover car guide to get an idea of what to shop for. So, if you love the aesthetics and practicality of a 4x4 or SUV, but want a style of driving akin to a larger-sized car, then consider a crossover. That covers CO2 emissions, too, making crossovers very popular for company cars or those who want an SUV-like experience without the environmental downsides.
Well, since it’s built on a unibody architecture, it means drivers can enjoy the space and other benefits of 4x4 and SUVs with the fuel efficiency and running costs of a larger-sized car. Of course, you wouldn’t know this unless you had a deep interest in motors, so what do these differences mean for general consumers? This means the body and frame of a crossover is built in one piece. A crossover is based on a regular car’s infrastructure and platform, whereas an SUV always uses the chassis of a truck. The difference, at least at a mechanical level, is black-and-white. Most people will say they’re an SUV, and there is a grey area between the two.
However, if you start talking about how you’re looking into buying a crossover, you may get a few raised eyebrows or confused looks. Some people have a good idea of what a 4x4 or SUV is. So, don’t judge a car by its cover, and find out the differences between each type below. While they may look similar, there are fundamental differences between each type of car. What is an SUV? In fact, what is a 4x4? Are there any differences between an SUV and a crossover? How do you decide which one is best for you?ĭon’t worry if you struggled to answer these questions – the terms 4x4, SUV and crossover are used interchangeably so often that many think they share the same definition.