SUV VS Crossover - What’s The Difference?

SUVs are one of the success stories of the motoring world. Even more popular than the big dune bashers we all know and love are ‘Crossovers’. These compact SUVs have become particularly prevalent on our city streets, where their smaller, more compact size is more suitable for city traffic and the daily commute. Spacious, family-friendly and comfortable, Lexus SUVs and Crossovers are particularly refined, whether you’re tackling a dry wadi in the middle of the Empty Quarter, or cruising to the Mall with the family at the weekend.

But what exactly is the difference? Here is a look at the key variations between SUVs and Crossovers. If you would like to experience them for yourself, why not book a test drive with Al-Futtaim Lexus?

What is an SUV?

Let’s start by defining exactly what an SUV and a Crossover are, starting with the SUV or ‘Sports Utility Vehicle’. With a heritage stretching back to the Second World War, SUVs have always been a part of our culture. SUVs have a body-on-frame construction which gives them a more rigid chassis. It’s this, along with the additional ground clearance and stronger suspension, that makes them more capable in off-road situations.

Combined with features such as split differential transmission (allowing power to be sent to each wheel individually) and ‘crawler’ gears for tackling steep inclines, SUVs are go-anywhere-do-anything vehicles. A prime example of a full-size SUV would be the Lexus GX, which is designed to conquer any conditions with absolutely no compromise on comfort or performance.

What is a Crossover?

When you combine the sophistication of a sedan and the capabilities of an SUV, you get a Crossover. For many people, a full-size SUV is just too big for their needs, but a sedan may be too small. Manufacturers saw a literal gap in the market between the two categories and developed the Crossover. Also sometimes known as ‘Compact SUVs’, these are smaller, more compact and more urban-friendly vehicles. Rather than a body-on-frame construction, they use a ‘Unibody’ or Unit Body build which is lighter, cheaper and more adaptable.

Crossovers are capable of taking on mild off-road adventures such as the occasional dusty track, but they are not fully-fledged dune bashers or desert adventurers. They are family-friendly vehicles that are more at home on the urban highway, but still offer plenty of room for luggage for a weekend adventure to the beach or the mountains. A great example of a Crossover would be the Lexus NX, which is packed with luxury features and has a higher road position and exceptional performance.

So what is the difference between the two?

Apart from the chassis construction techniques, the only real differences between an SUV and a Crossover are the size and the off-road capabilities. Both SUVs and Crossovers have 4WD, they both perform on off-road tracks and urban tarmac, and they both offer considerable comfort, luxury and convenience.

Which one you choose will depend on what you want to do. If you want a family-friendly vehicle that has plenty of space for the children and all their luggage for weekend trips but is nimble enough to cope with the daily commute, a Crossover is an obvious choice.

However, if you spend much of your spare time heading off the beaten track and into the Great Outdoors, you want a vehicle that is capable of dealing with rougher terrain with higher ground clearance and more torque for taking on steep inclines. In that case, a full-size SUV would be the best choice.

The best advice we can give you is to find out for yourself. Book a test drive online at Al-Futtaim Lexus and you can Experience Amazing in a Lexus GX that will take on any challenge, or a compact Lexus UX for those urban adventures.