You may wonder if there is an actual difference between Crossover vehicles and SUVs? While vehicle owners and manufacturers use both names interchangeably, there are some key differences between the two vehicle types.
- Crossovers are lighter and built on a car platform. A crossover's frame and body are built in a single piece. This is called “unibody” construction. This design proves to be lighter and provides a better ride quality. The crossover generally achieves better fuel efficiency than the SUV.
- Sport-Utility Vehicles, better known as SUVs, use a “body-on-frame” design instead of the unibody design. A traditional SUV is heavier than the crossover and uses a truck chassis. That means the frame and body are built separately, then they are joined together during the manufacturing process. These truck-based type vehicles are more rugged and can haul larger payloads. That's not to say, however, that you can't tow with a crossover. Some crossovers built on unibody platforms have towing capacities ranging from 1,500 lbs to 2,000 lbs.
The origin of the name “Crossover” comes from crossing the best traits of a car, (efficiency and convenience) with the best traits of an SUV (functionality and versatility). But at the end of the day, whether they are called crossovers or SUVs, what matters most is that your choice of vehicle fits your budget and meets your needs.
Contact me today if you are in the market or have more questions about SUVs or crossovers.
